THE HEALTH CAPTAINS @ FÖHR ISLAND
RHÜM HAART, KLAR KIMING – A LARGE OPEN HEART AND A CLEAR HORIZON
(The Claim of the Seafarer Island of Foehr in the North Sea in Germany)
“Islands are the frontal zones of the earth in which the main problems of development and environmental change become apparent” – Kofi Annan -Former Secretary General of the United Nations (United Nations 1999)
FÖHR BLUE ZONE CARE – ISLAND STRATEGIC ACTIOPLAN
BLUE ZONE VISION for CAPTAINS ISLAND FÖHR
Transform Föhr Island into a European flagship for Blue Zone living, healthy longevity, and sustainable medicine—integrating science, community, innovation, and regional health resilience.
1. Local Strategy Integration: The Role of the Four Institutes
I. Institute for Strategy Studies for Universities, Academic Medical Centers & Health Foundations
Objective: Build a research and education-based foundation for evidence-driven Blue Zone development.
Actions on Föhr:
Establish the Föhr Blue Zone Academic Hub, affiliated with The Health Captains Institute, Charité Berlin, UKE Hamburg, and Kiel University.
Launch longitudinal studies tracking lifestyle, biomarkers of aging, and social determinants of health among Föhr’s population.
Host an annual “Föhr Strategy Summit for Sustainable Medicine”, bringing together thought leaders, scientists, and regional authorities.
Partner with health foundations and universities to develop a Health & Longevity Fellowship Program on the island.
II. Institute for Sustainable Medicine for Sustainable Health as a Regional Competitive Factor
Objective: Position Blue Zone health strategies as drivers of regional economic and social renewal.
Actions on Föhr:
Collaborate with local government to integrate Blue Zone guidelines into Föhr’s health, tourism, agriculture, and infrastructure policies.
Establish Föhr Blue Zone Clinics offering preventive care, lifestyle medicine, and age-friendly services.
Develop a “Health Tourism & Longevity Economy Cluster” focused on wellness tourism, local food systems, and integrative medicine.
Incentivize local businesses (e.g., food producers, schools, gyms) to become Certified Blue Zone Partners.
III. Institute for the Convergence of Sustainable Healthcare, Healthy Longevity, Blue Zones & One Health
Objective: Foster cross-sector collaboration and ecosystem convergence for planetary and personal health.
Actions on Föhr:
Implement a Föhr One Health Taskforce linking healthcare providers, veterinarians, ecologists, and farmers.
Pilot community gardens, local food co-ops, and biodiversity initiatives as part of both sustainability and healthy diet interventions.
Promote mobility redesign (bike paths, walking zones) and public spaces for intergenerational socialization.
Introduce community-led programs on purpose-driven living, intergenerational mentorship, and mental health resilience.
IV. Institute for the Synchronization of Regional, National, and Global Initiatives
Objective: Embed Föhr’s Blue Zone into a broader European and global transformation framework.
Actions on Föhr:
Position Föhr as the North Sea Flagship Site of the Global Blue Zone Alliance coordinated by The Health Captains Institute.
Align with the European Green Deal, WHO Healthy Cities, and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Use Föhr as a training and replication site for other island and coastal regions across Europe.
Host an annual Föhr Global Lifecare Congress, bringing together public health leaders, philanthropists, academics, and innovators.
2. Implementation Phases for Föhr Island
Phase 1: Foundation & Stakeholder Engagement (0–12 Months)
Establish the Föhr Blue Zone Steering Council with representatives from the island community, medical professionals, tourism, agriculture, and local government.
Conduct a baseline health and lifestyle audit (diet, movement, chronic disease, social engagement).
Map existing assets (clinics, walking routes, schools, food sources) that can support the Blue Zone model.
Phase 2: Pilot Projects & Health Infrastructure (12–30 Months)
Launch pilot projects:
“Eat Local, Live Long” food initiative with local producers
“Move Föhr” physical activity campaign (walking clubs, bike paths, nature gyms)
Longevity coaching and personalized prevention programs at health centers
Start certifying Blue Zone businesses and schools using The Health Captains’ criteria.
Phase 3: Expansion & Scientific Monitoring (30–60 Months)
Expand successful pilot interventions across the island.
Open the Föhr Blue Zone Innovation Center, combining health analytics, biotech, digital medicine, and telecare.
Publish annual Föhr Blue Zone Impact Reports to track improvements in healthspan, chronic disease rates, well-being, and sustainability metrics.
Phase 4: International Convergence (60+ Months)
Fully integrate Föhr into the Global Lifecare Network of Blue Zone Islands (e.g., Sardinia, Okinawa).
Become a training site for European policymakers and health system leaders.
Scale digital twin tools for Blue Zone monitoring and replication across other North Sea islands and beyond.
3. Key Impact Areas for Föhr
Public Health: Reduction in chronic diseases, increase in life satisfaction and longevity.
Healthcare System: Shift from treatment to prevention, lower long-term costs.
Economy: Boost in sustainable tourism, local food production, and health-tech innovation.
Environment: Stronger biodiversity, clean transport, and local circular economy.
Society: Increased social cohesion, purpose-driven community life, intergenerational bonding.
4. Governance and Coordination
Led by The Health Captains Institute, the Föhr Blue Zone initiative will operate under a multi-stakeholder governance model, including:
Island Municipality of Föhr
Regional Health Authorities (Schleswig-Holstein)
Academic Partners (e.g., Charité, UKE, Kiel University)
European Blue Zone Policy Group
Private Sector & Foundations
Föhr Community Members
5. Communication and Engagement
Launch a multilingual Föhr Blue Zone Portal for public updates, research publications, and educational resources.
Develop a docuseries and educational campaigns documenting the transformation.
Host annual Föhr Blue Zone Festivals focused on food, health, nature, and community.
Conclusion
Föhr Island has all the core ingredients to become one of Europe’s first scientifically coordinated Blue Zones. Through its strategic geography, cultural cohesion, active medical community, and existing engagement with sustainability, Föhr can lead the way in demonstrating how small islands can become powerful models for large-scale, system-driven healthy longevity.
The Health Captains Institute, in partnership with academia, healthcare, government, and local communities, provides the structure to turn this vision into a replicable, impactful reality.
FÖHR Island
The Health Captains (LEADERSHIP)
The Health Captains on Föhr Island are since 2002 the founding format of SÜNJHAID! = HEALTH! which was in 2020 the starting point to built THE HEALTH CAPTAINS CLUB with the outbreak of #COVID19 with the founding spirit of 2002 “From North Frisian Island Centered towards World Centered” (The Davos Perspective) with a central focus on value-based Leadership – since 2003 the Think Tank, Symposium and the brain pools of the “Health Captains” have been taking place on the Ascension Day every year on the North Frisian Seafaring Island of Föhr – first thinking, then acting – SÜNJHAID! is always a possible combination of think tank and authentic short vacation on the island of Föhr according to our motto: “RHÜM HAART, KLAR KIMMING” (Fering: “A big open heart and a clear horizon”). As a Concerned Citiziens in health care, we feel committed to this motto of the North Frisian Islands from Föhr. As people and as responsible persons, we look beyond the professional horizon – because responsibility for health is a task for society as a whole!
On Föhr Island we supplement this spiritual nucleus to insular commitment and cheerfulness and the experience of being able to share with friends – “SÜNJHAID! The Health Captains: Partners, Family, Friends and Collegues are always welcome – since 2003 “: Wadding, riding, golfing, sailing, surfing, cycling, moving: participating in SÜNJHAID! on the health island Föhr is always a family experience with a high emotional anchorage. Our goal is for all participating health captains from Föhr Island to return to their work places charged with an authentic “wellbeing experience” and in this sense the leadership compass from SÜNJHAID! internalize and disseminate.
Always welcome @ our HQ of THE HEALTH CAPTAINS CLUB c/o INSELKONTOR – Faith – Love – Hope @ Jens-Jacob-Eschel-Strasse 17, 25938 Nieblum auf Föhr in the North Sea in the middle of the World Nature Heritage Waddensea in Germany.
To visit our HQ on FÖHR ISLAND please contact the President’s Office of THE HEALTH CAPTAINS CLUB for your Input and Support.
“WE DON’T KNOW WHAT WE DON’T KNOW”
EXPLORING THE UNEXPLORED
LEADERSHIP FOR EXPLORING SUSTAINABLE HEALTH
“360º NEXT GENERATION SUSTAINABLE VALUE-BASED LIFECARE POWERED BY NEW INNOVATIONS AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND THE SUPER-CONVERGENCE IN MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCES NAVIGATING US TOGETHER TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE HEALTH INDUSTRY”