Aesculap Academy Recognized by Frost & Sullivan as Medical Professional Education Institution of the Year.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Frost & Sullivan will present Aesculap Academy with the 2005 Medical Professional Education Institution of the Year Award at tonight's Excellence in Medical Devices & Healthcare Awards Banquet for consistently providing quality education globally. Its wide range of courses, specialties, methodologies, and its presence in 30 countries have made it one of the most sought-after educational institutions in the world.

Local competence centers on all continents make sure that doctors, nurses, hospital Management and other medical professionals in all parts of the world can avail of the same quality of education as their counterparts in Germany or the United States through contact programs.

"Promoting effective teaching and learning processes is one of the key goals of the Aesculap Academy," says Frost & Sullivan research analyst Vaishnavi Ananthanarayanan. "Some key techniques used include digital high-tech media, interactive dialogue, and virtual simulation."

The Aesculap Academy organizes various seminars and symposia and it has established e-learning tools allowing students to learn from the location of their choice and upgrade themselves as needed.

Some of the specialty courses covered by the institute include abdominal/visceral surgery, general medicine, anesthetics, arthroscopy, dentistry, diabetologists, endoscopy, and gynecology. Neurosurgery, neuroendoscopy, orthopedics, thoracoscopy, accident surgery/traumatology, urology, veterinary medicine, and spinal surgery are some others.

"Not only does the Academy impart general medical education, it also has special training programs on management and health care topics," observes Vaishnavi. "As the demand for constant knowledge upgrades in the medical field is increasing, this initiative by a healthcare company to have a center for further education is highly commendable."

Frost & Sullivan presents this Award to a professional education institution or training center that has excelled in in-house education standards. The Award is based on numerous factors including the courses offered, target audience for the courses, and global reach. This recipient institution has the exceptional skill to take advantage of market changes through the execution of innovative strategies and the adoption of new methodologies of teaching within the existing competitive landscape.

Held in San Francisco, Calif., Frost & Sullivan's 2005 Excellence in Medical Devices & Healthcare Awards Banquet honors world-class companies for outstanding performance and achievements in the medical industry. An annual event, the banquet recognizes the quality and merit of distinguished individuals and companies.

About Aesculap Academy

The Aesculap Academy enjoys a world-wide reputation as a leading forum for medical training and answers the demands of physicians and medical staff in OR, anaesthesia, ward, outpatient care and hospital management. Since 1995, it has been offering accredited medical education under the umbrella of the B. Braun Group. The course program comprises a wide range of hands-on workshops, management seminars and international symposia.

Aesculap Academy courses are of premium quality and are accredited by the respective medical societies and international medical organizations. A scientific advisory board guarantees the perfect selection of speakers and topics.

The Aesculapium in Tuttlingen is cradle and headquarters of the Aesculap Academy. A global network of Aesculap Academy coordinators in more than 30 countries ensures the efficient transfer of know-how around the globe. In 2004, more than 38000 medical professionals have been trained according to local medical education guidelines and standards.

The use of state of the art training equipment, high-tech media, virtual simulation, online learning and the interactive dialogue is a must.

For more information, please visit www.aesculap-academy.com.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company founded in 1961, partners with clients to create value through innovative growth strategies. The foundation of this partnership approach is our Growth Partnership Services platform, whereby we provide industry research, marketing strategies, consulting, and training to our clients to help grow their business. A key benefit that Frost & Sullivan brings to its clients is a global perspective on a broad range of industries, markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. With a client list that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, as well as the investment community, Frost & Sullivan has evolved into one of the premier growth consulting companies in the world. For more information, visit www.frost.com.