The 2025 Award of the San Salvatore Foundation, Lugano, has been granted on May 16, 2026, in Lugano to
Professor Karin Jordan
The prize consists of an amount of 50'000.00 Swiss Francs each.
Professor Karin Jordan
Motivation for the 2025 Award
In recognition of her outstanding contributions to supportive and palliative care in oncology.
The San Salvatore Foundation Award is presented to Karin Jordan, Professor of Medicine and Head of the Department of Haematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine at the Ernst von Bergmann Hospital in Potsdam, Germany.
Professor Jordan has devoted her career to improving the quality of life of patients with cancer, consistently placing their needs and those of their relatives at the center of clinical decision-making. Her medical education at Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg and her subsequent clinical appointments laid the foundation for a career that combines scientific excellence with compassionate care. Throughout her professional path, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to ethical standards, including her service as Vice Executive Director of the Ethics Committee at the University of Halle.
As a clinical leader, Professor Jordan has held key positions at major academic centers, including the University Hospital Heidelberg, before assuming her current role in Potsdam, where she leads an integrated department encompassing haematology, oncology, and palliative medicine. In this role, she has been instrumental in embedding supportive care as a core element of comprehensive cancer treatment and health system management.
Her expertise has significantly influenced best practices in supportive oncology, particularly in the prevention and management of treatment-related side effects. She is internationally recognized for her work on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, as well as the supportive management of adverse effects associated with novel cancer therapies.
Professor Jordan has played a pivotal role in shaping national and international clinical guidelines through her involvement in leading professional organizations and guideline panels. Her contributions to supportive care guidelines have helped standardize high-quality, evidence-based care across health systems. In addition to her clinical and guideline work, she has shown exceptional academic leadership through her editorial roles and longstanding commitment to oncology education. With more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, she has made a lasting scientific impact on the field of supportive and palliative care.
What distinguishes Professor Jordan’s work is her unwavering closeness to patients and their families, ensuring that medical excellence is paired with empathy, communication, and respect. Her approach exemplifies how advanced oncology care can remain deeply human and patient-centered. The San Salvatore Foundation honors Professor Karin Jordan for her visionary leadership, highest-level expertise, and lifelong dedication to advancing supportive and palliative care for patients and their loved ones worldwide.