HOW IT ALL BEGAN
A first conversation turned into a joint project.
In January 2023, Katrin Klein established contact between osteopath Christiane Topf and Professor Dr. Heiko Reutter from the Erlangen Children's Hospital.
The impetus was the search for a topic for an osteopathic master's thesis. This led to the idea of scientifically investigating osteopathic treatments for premature infants in an inpatient setting.
THE JOURNEY TO TODAY
A project that should continue .
January 2023
December 2023
June 2025
March 2026
since March 2026
Today
Contact is established.
Katrin Klein brings Christiane Topf and Professor Dr. Heiko Reutter into conversation with each other.
The first study is starting.
After nine months of preparation, a study on osteopathic treatments in an inpatient setting is beginning. The central question is whether regular osteopathic treatments can influence the point at which premature infants begin to feed independently.
The results of the study were highly significant.
The results reinforced the desire of all involved to continue osteopathic support in the neonatology wards.
A foundation provides support.
With the Alexander Beck Children's Fund Foundation, a committed sponsor was secured for the first year, which supported the osteopathic treatments with 20,000 euros.
The support continues.
Thanks to this funding, premature babies in the neonatology wards in Erlangen have been able to receive osteopathic care again since March 2026.
The club is raising funds for the continuation.
Our goal is to make osteopathic treatments for premature babies permanently available in the neonatology wards in Erlangen – as a complement to medical care and in close cooperation with the treating specialists.
We share a common goal:
To provide the best possible support for premature babies during their first, particularly sensitive weeks of life and to gently support their development.
CONTACT IN THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
Expertise from various fields.
Christiane Topf (DO, MSc.)
A state-certified physiotherapist since 1995, she completed her osteopathy training at the Sutherland College in Ulm in 2005. Following this, she pursued further osteopathic training and qualified as a pediatric osteopath. From 2021 to 2025, she studied for a Master of Science in Osteopathy at the Vienna School of Osteopathy and Danube University Krems. As part of this program, she conducted the first osteopathic study with premature infants at the Children's Hospital of FAU Erlangen. Since 2004, she has lived and worked as a self-employed alternative practitioner specializing in osteopathy in Forchheim. Her particular interest lies in the osteopathic treatment of infants and children. She is currently conducting another study with premature infants at the University Children's Hospital Erlangen.
Dr. Christian Topf
He studied and received his doctorate in chemistry from 1992 to 2003 at the Friedrich-Alexander University in Erlangen. Since 2004, he has worked as a project manager for chemical decontamination in nuclear facilities worldwide at what is now Framatome GmbH in Erlangen. He currently holds personnel responsibilities as team leader for chemical decontamination and as product portfolio manager for chemistry.
He supported his wife in the written implementation of her master's thesis on premature babies.
Jasmin Borsdorf
From 2003 to 2006, she trained as a medical assistant in an ENT practice. From 2006 to 2020, she worked as a medical assistant in a gynecological practice in Zirndorf. Since 2020, Jasmin has been a medical assistant in the neonatal units of the Children's Hospital at FAU Erlangen. In this role, she helped oversee the first osteopathy study and provided invaluable support.
Professor Dr. med. Heiko Reutter
Professor Reutter studied medicine at the University of Tübingen from 1992 to 2000, where he also received his doctorate in August 2000. From 2000 to 2021, he worked at the University Hospital Bonn, where he completed his specialist training in pediatrics and neonatology and conducted research on a wide range of topics. From 2012, he served as a professor of pediatrics and medical genetics in Bonn. In 2021, Professor Reutter joined the Children's Hospital at FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg, where he has since been a professor of neonatology and intensive care medicine.
He facilitated the collaboration with the osteopaths and thus the implementation of the first study.
Katrin Klein
Katrin completed her training as a pediatric nurse from 1985 to 1988. She then worked in this capacity at Jena University Hospital until 1990. From 1990 to 1993, she worked at Alice Hospital in Darmstadt. Since 1993, she has been a pediatric nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit at the Children's Hospital of FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg. Katrin became deputy head nurse in 2011 and has been head nurse of NEO1 since 2023. It was through Katrin that contact with Professor Reutter was established.
Inga Süßenbach
Inga trained as a physiotherapist at the Bernd Blindow School in Bückeburg from 1998 to 2001. She studied osteopathy at the Sutherland College in Schlangenbad from 2003 to 2008. In addition, she completed her training as a naturopathic practitioner in December 2009. She has also participated in various continuing education courses in the field of pediatric osteopathy.
Inga's professional focus lies in the osteopathic treatment of children and adults in an osteopathic practice, and in her participation in studies with premature infants at the University Hospital of the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU). Inga was one of the osteopaths who conducted the first study.
Dr. med. Steven Hébert, MA
Steven studied medicine at the University of Cluj-Napoca in Romania and at FAU Erlangen, where he received his doctorate in 2017. He has been a specialist in pediatrics since 2023. In 2024, he obtained his subspecialty certification in neonatology and has since been a senior physician in neonatology and intensive care in Erlangen. Since 2026, Steven has been the deputy head of the pediatric intensive care unit and neonatology department.
He has acquired various additional qualifications and is, among other things, the author of the first osteopathy study, which was conducted in Erlangen from 2023-2025.