After completing his medical studies in Berlin, Munich, and New York, Professor Willich obtained a Master of Public Health degree from Harvard University, USA, and an MBA from INSEAD, France. Following residency and cardiology fellowship he passed his boards in internal medicine. From 1993 to 1995 he served as acting chair of epidemiology at Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University in Greifswald and as visiting professor at Harvard University. In 1995 he was appointed professor and director of the Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics at the Charité University Medical Center in Berlin, Germany. In 2006 he was additionally appointed chairman of the Charité Center 1 for Human and Health Sciences. In 2011 he was elected President of the Berlin Academy of Music "Hanns Eisler" and stepped down from this position in 2014 to return to his work at the Charité . Professor Willich is member of numerous professional organizations and a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and of the European Society of Cardiology. His research focus is on cardiovascular disease, preventive medicine, health economics, integrative medicine combining conventional and complementary methods, and music and medicine. He is the author and coauthor of more than 500 publications.
In addition to his work in medicine, Stefan Willich is an avid and accomplished musician. He began playing violin at the age of six, supported from the very beginning by his music-loving parents. He studied violin, chamber music, and conducting in Stuttgart and Berlin. Since then, he has participated in prestigious conducting workshops under Sergiu Celibidache in Munich, Leon Fleisher in Boston/Tanglewood, and Leon Barzin in Paris. He regularly engages in conducting activities and chamber music and founded the World Doctors Orchestra in 2007.
Combining fine music
with global medical responsibility.
World Doctors Orchestra
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Since its founding in 2007, WDO has grown to nearly 700 musicians from 50 countries worldwide. The combination of fine music and a sense of global medical responsibility enable WDO to make a real difference in the lives of both the participants and charity recipients.
our participants
World Doctors Orchestra USA
Musicians' Countries of Origin
WDO's roster has grown to over 900 members from 50 countries, including:
Germany 246
USA 161
United Kingdom 71
Switzerland 49
Japan 41
Australia 28
Taiwan 26
Sweden 19
China (incl. Hong Kong) 17
Italy 16
South Africa 14
Ireland 14
Poland 13
Canada 11
Spain 10
Armenia 6
Netherlands 6
Norway 5
Austria 5
Brazil 5
Finland 4
France 4
India 3
Denmark 3
Greece 3
Hungary 3
Israel 3
New Zealand 3
Portugal 3
Romania 2
Various other Countries 26
Musicians' Medical Specialization
Internal Medicine 60
General Practitioner 56
Pediatrics 47
Anesthesia 34
Psychiatry/Psychotherapy 28
Surgery 25
Neurology 23
Orthopedics 21
Radiology/Nuclear Medicine 20
Cardiology 19
Gynecology 17
Dermatology 14
Pathology 12
Gastroenterology 11
Emergency Medicine 10
Nephrology 8
Plastic Surgery 8
Public Health/Social Medicine 6
Rheumatology 6
Pharmacology 5
Otolaryngology 5
Occupational Medicine 4
Infectious Diseases 4
Hematology 4
Endocrinology 4
Homeopathy 3
Urology 3
Oncology 3
Our founder
Stefan Willich
Founder and Conductor of the World Doctors Orchestra
WDO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation driven by the generosity of its players and underwriters. Participants cover their transportation costs, donating their time and talents so that the funds raised can be directed to the highlighted charities.