In the Hannibal program physiology is taught in a course that combines physiology with physics. This course encompasses basic physics lectures and seminars during the first year, whereas physiology is taught in lectures, a laboratory course and small group discussion seminars in the second year. Laboratory courses in physiology are combined with physics laboratories with related topics, i.e. diffusion potential and cellular excitability, electrical dipole and ECG, optics and acustics with eye and ear physiology, etc. After completing both laboratory courses of a particular topic, the physiology of each organ system is repeated in small group discussions that are based on the clinical presentation of patients with pathological changes in typical organ functions. In these discussions, students are expected to explain and discuss pathophysiological processes using knowledge acquired in the preceding sections of the course. Seminars usually provide high level discussions within students and teachers and demonstrate a good knowledge of physiology as well as the ability to acquire knowledge from additional sources. The Hannibal program is characterized by a strict schedule and a clear definition of learning aims that leave little space to teach the scientific basis of physiology. Students are provided with detailed scripts summarizing the main topics of each lecture. Many students prepare themselves mostly with these scripts or with short physiology text books. The success of the teaching concept was evaluated by the students as well as by the teachers in terms of satisfaction and knowledge in physiology in the final exams. Physiology is well accepted by medical students and is successful in terms of knowledge transfer. In recent years, physiology has won various teaching awards. Physiology teaching is satisfying for teachers, and physiology knowledge has been greatly improved compared with other physiology courses taught in Hannover before.