Sanford Health’s German subsidiary has acquired a minority position in ISAR Klinik II AG, which includes Isar Klinikum, a hospital located in Munich, Germany.  This represents the first investment in an international hospital by the Sanford Health system.

ISAR Klinikum is a top-rated hospital in the Bavarian region of Germany, according to Focus Magazine. The hospital provides a full range of services, including a center for regenerative medicine.

Kelby Krabbenhoft, president and CEO of Sanford, will serve as a member of ISAR Klinik II AG’s board of directors.

“This is another significant step in our goal to advance health care around the world,” Krabbenhoft said. “ISAR’s ground-breaking procedures and medical technology are well-known, and we are eager to strengthen our relationship with the hospital and its leaders to bring that knowledge and care to our patients.”

The founder of ISAR Klinikum, Dr. Eckhard Alt, oversees The Sanford Project as its Todd and Linda Broin Distinguished Professor and Chair. The Sanford Project is an initiative of Sanford Research that is looking for a type 1 diabetes cure.

“Advancements in medicine and patient care come when knowledge is shared,” Alt said. “As we look to the future and our stronger relationship with Sanford Health, we are excited to further unite our work and spread it to more parts of the world.”

Since 2015, Sanford Health has arranged for U.S. patients to travel to ISAR Klinikum to gain access to stem cell therapies allowed in Germany. Sanford has also sent 11 physicians to the hospital to better understand the application and impact of these therapies.  The physicians’ experience has contributed to Sanford Health’s FDA-approved rotator cuff clinical trial in the United States.