In 1891 he received his medical doctorate from the University of Bonn, and later was a surgeon in Bonn and Leipzig where he worked with Friedrich Trendelenburg (1844–1924).
Godine 1891. diplomirao je na Sveučilištu u Bonnu, i kasnije radio kao kirurg u Bonnu i Leipzigu gdje je radio sa Friedrich Trendelenburgom (1844.-1924.).