Dear friends and colleagues,

It is with great excitement and gratitude that I invite you to my international “Farewell” symposium, which will take place on April 11, 2025. After more than three decades at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg, I officially retired on March 31, 2024, and this event marks a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the journey we’ve shared and to celebrate the scientific advancements in the field of sleep medicine together.

Looking back, I am deeply grateful for the many inspiring collaborations and friendships that have shaped my professional life. From my early days at the Max-Planck Institute for Psychiatry and the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim, to my tenure at Freiburg starting in 1993, this career has been an incredible journey. Highlights include over 500 publications, the Pisa Sleep Award (2021), and recognition as one of the most highly cited researchers in sleep research. But most of all, I cherish the relationships with the colleagues, mentors and students who have shared this path with me.

This symposium is not only a personal milestone but also an opportunity to gather with esteemed members of our scientific community to exchange ideas and celebrate the achievements we’ve made together. I am particularly thankful to Katharina Domschke and Mathias Berger for their support in organizing this event, as well as the European Sleep Research Society (ESRS) and the German Sleep Society (DGSM) for endorsing it.

The event will be held in a hybrid format, allowing both in-person and online participation. Seats are limited for the on-site event, but the live stream will make it accessible to a wider audience.

With warm regards,

Dieter Riemann
Medical Center – University of Freiburg