Dr. med. Bernd Guzek is a licensed physician, publisher, and science journalist with decades of clinical and editorial experience. As co-founder of a specialized publishing house, he now devotes himself almost entirely to raising awareness about addiction — a subject that has also shaped him deeply as an affected family member.
Alongside his medical and publishing work, he has founded several medical information portals and is a published book author.
📊 At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Academic Degree | M.D. (Dr. med., 1992, University of Hamburg) |
| Status | Licensed physician, registered nurse |
| Fields of Expertise | Science journalism, ophthalmology, environmental medicine, health policy |
| Media & Platforms | Founder of Ärztenachrichtendienst Verlags AG; former Die Neue Ärztliche / FAZ; contributor to dpa, manager magazin |
| Awards | German Phono Academy Award (1980, as a musician) |
🎓 Education & Academic Background
- Doctorate & Licensure (1992): Licensed as a physician; doctoral degree in ophthalmology (cataract surgery) from the University of Hamburg
- Medical Studies (from 1982): Self-financed studies at the University of Hamburg, while working in emergency departments and teaching at a vocational school for occupational therapy
- Clinical Foundation: Registered nurse with years of emergency department experience, most recently as deputy nursing director of an outpatient clinic
📰 Journalism Career
Long-standing contributor to major German media outlets, including the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), the German Press Agency (dpa), and manager magazin (Spiegel Verlag):
- Die Neue Ärztliche (FAZ): Editorial training, later deputy desk editor for medicine
- Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa): Freelance relief editor in Hamburg during the 1990s
- manager magazin (Spiegel Verlag): Long-standing, regular author on medical and health topics (together with Gaby Guzek in the 1990s, before shifting focus to their own publishing house)
- Trade Journals: Publisher and editor of several trade journals through his own publishing house, including Zeitschrift für Umweltmedizin and Ambulante Chirurgie
🌐 Digital Pioneering & Media Ventures
- Ärztenachrichtendienst Verlags AG (2000–2012): Founder, editor-in-chief, and publisher of what was then Germany’s leading independent health-policy information portal for physicians. Sold in 2013.
- Durchblick Gesundheit: Founder of the patient magazine
- alkohol-ade.com: Creator of a communication and information platform for people affected by alcohol dependence
- bye-bye-booze.com: Creator of the English-language counterpart to alkohol-ade.com
📚 Publications & Books (Selection)
Author, co-author, and contributor to medical reference works:
- Kurzlehrbuch Augenheilkunde — Comprehensive ophthalmology exam reference (German)
- Mensch, Körper, Krankheit — Anatomy and physiology textbook for healthcare trainees (German)
- Mykosen des Verdauungstraktes, with Prof. Siegfried Noltig and Dr. rer. nat. Reinhard Hauss, translated into Japanese
- Kompendium Umweltmedizin
- Alkohol adé — with Gaby Guzek (German original)
- Bye-bye-Booze — U.S.-adapted English edition of Alkohol adé, with Gaby Guzek
- Hautpilz erfolgreich behandeln — with Gaby Guzek (German)
- Tryptophan und 5HTP: Schlüssel für Stimmung und Schlaf (German)
- So kommt der Kopf zur Ruhe — on GABA and anxiety, ADHD, and sleep disorders (German)
🎸 Culture & Personal Life
- Music: Winner of the German Phono Academy Award, 1980.
- Personal: Father of three children with Gaby Guzek — “the best of everything.”