Hans Müller (physician)


Dr. Hans Müller was a German-born Ashkenazi Jewish physician who immigrated to China and made contributions to improving health care in China over several decades. Müller contributed in the research effort into hepatitis B and development of a vaccine, in addition, he became the Vice President of Beijing Medical University in China.

Early life

Hans Müller was born in Düsseldorf-Golzheim, Germany as the only child of Henriette Müller née Ballin and Simon Fred Müller. His father owned an electrical goods factory in Düsseldorf. Because he was Jewish, Simon Fred Müller was held captive in the Theresienstadt concentration camp from 1942 to 1945. Hans Müller went to study medicine at the University of Basel, Switzerland from 1933 to 1939.

Career

Hans Müller left Switzerland in April 1939 and traveled to Hong Kong via Marseille. During June and July of the same year, he made his way to Yan'an via Nanning, Guiyang, Chongqing, Chengdu, Baoji, and Xi'an. In Yan'an, he worked in the emergency room of the International Peace Hospital. He held medical posts in the Eighth Route Army and the People's Liberation Army. After the war, he held a position in the Changchun Hospital. The further stages of his career were an appointment as Professor at the Shenyang Medical College, where he later served Dean and head of pediatrics, an appointment as Professor of Internal Medicine at Beijing's Jishuitan Hospital, and finally vice president of Beijing Medical University. He conducted research in the areas of pediatric medicine and hepatitis B.

Honors and awards

Müller was married to Kyoko Nakamura with whom he had a daughter.
In 1994, Müller died in China after a long history of heart disease. Müller is buried at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in Beijing.

Legacy

His personal artifacts have been donated to the Anti-Japanese War Museum in Beijing, China.