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Frank Hoffmann

Wir retten Leben durch den Tastsinn sehbehinderter Menschen in der Brustkrebs-Früherkennung - Gründer von discovering hands

Frank Hoffmann is a German gynecologist and social entrepreneur who founded Discovering Hands in 2004.13 He revolutionized breast cancer early detection by training blind and visually impaired women to become Medical Tactile Examiners (MTEs).13 These MTEs use their superior sense of touch to detect breast tumors earlier and with higher precision than average doctors.3

Hoffmann developed this innovative program after recognizing a gap in breast cancer diagnosis for women between 30 and 35 years old.1 The Discovering Hands method not only improves early detection of breast cancer but also creates employment opportunities for visually impaired individuals.3

Key achievements of Frank Hoffmann and Discovering Hands include:

  1. Establishing a new profession for blind women as MTEs3
  2. Receiving the innovation award from the German health system in 20112
  3. Expanding the program to Austria and exploring opportunities in other countries24
  4. Training 47 MTEs who work in about 90 medical practices, clinics, and Discovering Hands centers in Germany5

Hoffmann's work has gained recognition, and he became an Ashoka fellow for his social entrepreneurship.2 His organization continues to grow, with interest from various countries and potential for further expansion in the international healthcare market.5

Highlights

Mar 1 · ashoka.org
Frank Hoffmann | Ashoka
SDG 3 startup of the week: discovering hands 1MS
SDG 3 startup of the week: discovering hands 1MS
Mar 21 · caf.com
Discovering Hands, an innovative public health model for the early ...
Feb 23 · bbc.com
The blind breast cancer detectors - BBC News

Related Questions

How did Frank Hoffmann come up with the idea for Discovering Hands?
What challenges did Frank Hoffmann face while developing Discovering Hands?
How has Discovering Hands impacted the early detection of breast cancer?
What is the training process for Medical Tactile Examiners (MTEs) at Discovering Hands?
How has the expansion of Discovering Hands to Austria been received?
Frank Hoffmann
Frank Hoffmann, photo 1
Frank Hoffmann, photo 2
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Location

Mülheim an der Ruhr, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany