The American Austrian Foundation mourns the loss of Lya Pfeifer, the former president of the Max Kade Foundation.
The AAF’s partnership with the Max Kade Foundation began in 1996 but flourished when Lya joined the foundation in 2003. The Max Kade Foundation and the AAF share a core mission of advancing programs that open doors for students, scholars, and artists on both sides of the Atlantic. Lya’s partnership and guidance will be missed.
The Max Kade Clinical Clerkship Program offers one-month clinical rotations in Austria for American fourth year medical students or in the United States for Austrian medical students in their final year of study. The program introduces the students to a different patient population, healthcare system, language, and culture. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the program has provided 169 fellowships in the United States for Austrian medical students, and 573 fellowships in Austria for American medical students.
Testimonial from Taylor Lis of Weill Cornell Medical College on her experience at the Department of Pediatrics at the Medical University of Vienna:
“This fellowship was invaluable in introducing me to Austria’s national healthcare system and contrasting it with the U.S. system. I observed that, despite differences in structure and funding, the overarching goal of prioritizing high-quality patient care is shared across both systems. I also noted differences in perceptions of public versus private institutions and in unit-specific clinical practices. For example, I learned about differing approaches to neonatal airway management such as prioritizing earlier feeding through nasal intubation in Austria versus minimizing infection risk through oral intubation in the U.S., which highlights how different clinical priorities can coexist within evidence-based care.
This experience has encouraged me to think more broadly about multiple approaches to achieving the same clinical goals, to recognize the universality of patient-centered care, and to deepen my interest in global medicine, culture, and healthcare systems. It will influence my professional life by fostering adaptability, cultural humility, and a more global perspective in clinical practice.”