The latest annual Vienna School of Medicine Gala occurred on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at the historic lecture hall of the Josephinum Medical History Museum and the Van Swieten Hall of the Medical University of Vienna. 170 guests attended the evening celebrating the achievements of Austrian physicians in the medical field of urology and honoring the seminar faculty and observership mentors of the Open Medical Institute.
Dr. Christiane Druml, director of the Josephinum Medical History Museum, welcomed the guests and introduced Dr. Markus Müller, Dean of the Medical University of Vienna, who gave an insightful speech on the history of this eminent institution. The attendees then walked together to the historic Van Swieten Saal of the Medical University of Vienna, where the symposium on “Urology & Men’s Health” and dinner were held.
Dr. Shahrokh F. Shariat, OMI faculty member and head of the department of urology at the Medical University of Vienna, coordinated the scientific program of the symposium, giving an overview of the contributions Austrian physicians have made in the field of urology. He kept the audience rapt by offering a glimpse into the future of this fast-growing medical specialty, with references to historical, modern, and scientific literature. Dr. Shariat was followed by OMI faculty member Dr. Gero Kramer, who introduced the audience to new therapeutic concepts for prostate cancer. Dr. Bernhard Englinger, a scientific researcher in the department of urology, spoke about how transformative research can improve the quality of life for patients with urological cancers. A rising urology resident, Dr. Heidemarie Ofner, closed the scientific program with an update on the current state of men’s health.
In his presentation, Dr. Wolfgang Aulitzky, OMI CEO, spoke about OMI’s educational programs and long-lasting collaboration with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Medical University of Vienna, sharing examples of how the OMI helps physicians build careers and healthcare capacity in their home countries. Dr. Aulitzky thanked the OMI faculty for their contributions to teaching and mentoring physicians from all over the world, and together with Dean Dr. Müller, presented the OMI award to Dr. Oliver Strobel, head of the department of surgery at the Medical University of Vienna for his outstanding support. We thank all our friends and supporters for joining this year’s gala event and give special thanks to the speakers for presenting both historical highlights and insights into the future of the Vienna School of Medicine.
