Academic medicine stands at a critical crossroads-challenged by evolving clinical demands, funding constraints, and shifting expectations from the next generation of healthcare professionals.
The Alumni Club Symposium 2025 invites physicians, clinician-scientists, stakeholders from health policy and medical educators to join a focused dialogue on shaping the future of academic medicine in a rapidly transforming world.
Over two days, renowned speakers and participants will explore key questions surrounding research integration, medical teaching, clinical innovation, and institutional visions for the 21st century. Special emphasis will be placed on engaging Generation Z in medicine and strengthening the clinician-researcher pathway.
Join us in Vienna for thought-provoking lectures, interactive discussions, and valuable networking opportunities with peers who share a commitment to excellence in academic medicine.
A detailed program including speakers will be announced shortly. Participation is free of charge, but we kindly ask you to register in advance.
Programme
- 5.00 pm | Opening and Welcome
Welcome by the Rector
Welcome by the organizers
Introduction to the topic and objectives of the symposium - 5.15 pm | Opening Keynote: „Determining the position of academic medicine today“
Sadaf Farooqi (University of Cambridge) - 6.15 pm | Evening Event
- 9.00 am | Welcome
- 9.10 am | Challenges for the Clinical Practice (in combination with research)
Daniela Thommen (Netherlands Cancer Institute)
Examples from a Viennese perspective
Michael Trauner, Shahrokh Shariat (MedUni Wien) - 10.00 am | Clinical Research Funding | from Public Institutions
Michael J. Strong (Canadian Institute of Health Research), Christoph Binder (FWF) - 10.50 am | Coffee break
- 11.15 am | Clinical research Funding | from Industry – Is there academic support?
Jeremy Farrar (WHO, former Welcome Trust) - 11.40 am | Developing Enthusiasm for Clinician-Researcher Pathway early on – the role of teaching medicine
Martin Fischer, Isabella Salzer, N.N. (MedUni Wien) - 12.25 am | Lunch Break
- 1.30 pm | Educating the Next Generation of Physician-Scientists: Translational Competence for the 21st Century
Peter Hegyi (Semmelweis University) - 1.55 pm | Unterstanding Generation Z
Melanie Lenger (MedUni Graz) - 2.20 pm | Best-practice programs
Michael Geklé (Universitätsmedizin Halle), Irene Virgolini (MedUni Innsbruck), Irene Lang (MedUni Wien) - 3.10 pm | Coffee break
- 3.40 pm | Overarching visions: “Universitas” in the 21st Century and beyond
Britta Siegmund (DFG) - 4.15 pm | Final discussion round on „Synergies between research, clinical practice and teaching“, global and local visions
Markus Müller (MedUni Wien), Sadaf Farooqi (University of Cambridge), Britta Siegmund (DFG), Peter Hegyi (Semmelweis University) - 5.45 pm | Closing remarks and farewell
Registration
Please register by 5 November 2025!
Contact
Verena Schweiger
Alumni Club | Fundraising
Medizinische Universität Wien
Kommunikation und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090 Wien
T: +43 (0)1 40160 11521
verena.schweiger@meduniwien.ac.at
Site plan
Van Swieten Saal, Medical University of Vienna
Van-Swieten-Gasse 1a, 1090 Vienna