Between 1986 and 1987 he completed his internship in the Department of Neurology at Cologne University and was a research associate at the Laboratory for Vascular Ultrasound at the Max-Plank Institute for Brain Research. From 1987 to 1989 he was a postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Cardiovascular Physiology at the Heinrich-Heine University in Du¨sseldorf with Prof. J. Schrader his scientific mentor. During this time he was a visiting scientist to Prof. J. Pearson at the Clinical Research Centre, Vascular Biology Section, Kings College, London. Prof. Kelm spent most of his clinical career (1989–2005) in the Department of Medicine, Division for Cardiology, Pulmonary Diseases, Vascular Medicine, and Intensive Care, Heinrich-Heine University, Du¨sseldorf. During this time, he rose up the ranks from resident and Fellow, to assistant and finally associate professor of Medicine and Vascular Medicine. From 1998 to 2005 he continued as a full professor for Internal Medicine, Cardiology, and Vascular Medicine. In 2005 he was appointed Professor and Chairman, Department of Cardiology, Pulmonary Diseases, Vascular Medicine, and Intensive Care, University Hospital Aachen, where he was until March 2009. During his career he has won several prestigious awards including the Homburg Award, Walter Clawiter Award, Gerhard Hess Fellowship, Albert Fra¨nkel Award, and Arthur Weber Award.