10th Veronika Fialka-Moser Diversity Prize for outstanding contributions to diversity

MedUni Vienna is setting a clear example of promoting a conscious approach to diversity. This year marked the 10th anniversary of the Veronika Fialka-Moser Diversity Prize. Since 2016, the award has been given to over 60 individuals, groups and projects that highlight the importance of sex, gender and diversity in medicine. The prize honours people and projects that have made outstanding contributions relating to the topic of diversity. The prize, named after the late Veronika Fialka-Moser, Professor of Physical Medicine, is awarded in four categories: Research, Teaching, Diploma/Master's Thesis and Commitment. In 2025, outstanding achievements in the categories of research and teaching were recognized. Employees, graduates and students of MedUni Vienna were able to submit their work. With this award, MedUni Vienna continues to show its support for equality, diversity and inclusion.  

First place Research: Diana Klinger
The submitted research project "Mental Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth" by Diana Klinger examines the mental health of transgender and gender diverse adolescents and young adults. It is based on three scientific publications: a clinical study on mental health problems and differences between individuals assigned male or female at birth, a systematic meta-analysis on the mental health of non-binary youth and a study on the influence of media use on depressive symptoms in this population group. The results show increased burdens such as depressive and anxiety symptoms as well as specific challenges for non-binary individuals. The aim of the research is to create an evidence-based foundation for preventive and therapeutic measures.
The project contributes to better visibility of gender diverse adolescents in mental health research and has already brought about structural improvements in clinical care, including adapted diagnostics and the establishment of an interdisciplinary board to care for these patients. In addition, content on gender diversity has been integrated into university teaching. As the first comprehensive research project on this topic in Austria, it closes a scientific gap and provides innovative approaches for clinical interventions and social inclusion.

Second place Research: Jojo Steininger
The research paper "Treatment trajectories of gender incongruent Austrian youth seeking gender-affirming hormone therapy" by Jojo Steininger is the first analysis of trans* and gender-diverse adolescents in Austria seeking gender-affirming hormone therapy. The retrospective study examines the data of all individuals who presented to the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at University Hospital Vienna between 2008 and 2023. In addition to demographic information, mental and physical health data, aspects of fertility protection and changes in name and marital status were also recorded. The aim of the research was to present  the care situation of trans* adolescents in a fact-based manner, to categorise it scientifically and to create a basis for future discussions and research.
The results of the study have not only closed a scientific gap in Central Europe, but have also already been used in specialist conferences, courses and political debates. What is particularly innovative is that this is the first paper at MedUni Vienna to be written by a non-binary person on trans* issues. This emphasises the importance of involving the community in research. The publication has also provided impetus for further prospective studies and makes an important contribution to clarifying and objectifying the social debate surrounding gender affirmative action.

Third place Research: Jürgen Grafeneder, Anita Holzinger, Jan Niederdöckl, Dominik Roth
The randomised controlled study "Immigration bias among medical students" by Jürgen Grafeneder, Anita Holzinger, Jan Niederdöckl and Dominik Roth investigates the influence of patients' migration background on pain treatment by medical students. In cooperation between the Teaching Center and the Department of Emergency Medicine, it examines whether subtle prejudices play a role in clinical decision-making, particularly in the prescription and dosage of painkillers. In addition, gender-specific differences among both patients and students are analysed. The results show that unconscious preconceptions and stereotypes can influence clinical behaviour. The study contributes to raising awareness of intercultural competence in medical training and improving  the quality of care for patients with a migration background.  
A key aspect of the study is the sustainable integration of its findings into the medical curriculum. Based on the results, the course "Medical dialogue" was expanded to include the topics of migration sensitivity and diversity. This is intended to sensitise future doctors to unconscious discrimination and contribute to fairer patient care. In addition, the study was presented at scientific conferences, seminars and training courses in order to promote interdisciplinary dialogue. The research work thus makes an innovative and practical contribution to reducing inequality in healthcare and is recognised as an example of best practice in medical teaching.
 
First place in teaching: Kathrin Kirchheiner and Igor Grabovac
The course "Sex-Positive, Queer-Positive, and Kink-Positive Sexual Medicine and Psychology," led by Kathrin Kirchheiner and Igor Grabovac, was established in 2021 at the Medical University of Vienna. It provides a comprehensive understanding of gender and sexual diversity and advocates for a destigmatizing and depathologizing approach to sexual health. The content reflects current societal, scientific, and political developments, including LGBTQIA+ diversity, the classification of non-conventional sexual interests, expressions, and practices within a consent-oriented diagnostic framework (kink/paraphilias), alternative relationship models, and the influence of social movements such as #MeToo and Body Positivity. Furthermore, it addresses the effects of chem-sex, pornography, and consent on sexuality.
The course integrates medical and psychological perspectives and provides students not only with scientific publications but also with multimedia content for critical reflection and informed opinion-building. The innovative teaching concept places particular emphasis on critical self-reflection to enhance students' awareness of the diversity of their future patients. In addition to evidence-based knowledge, the course fosters soft skills such as academic discourse, reflective discussion, professional confidence in medical communication, and inclusive behavior in addressing issues of sexual health. This enables students to recognize their own values, boundaries, and blind spots in interactions with patients and colleagues.
The course is continuously updated and has established itself as an educational model that integrates socio-political developments into academic discourse. In this way, it contributes to the creation of a more inclusive healthcare system in the long-term.

Second place in teaching: Susanne Gahbauer
The seminar "feminize your resonance!", developed by Susanne Gahbauer, is an interactive teaching format at the Medical University of Vienna that deals with the significance of the voice in the context of gender and health. It offers students in-depth insights into voice transition in trans* people and the medical and social dimensions of this process. The course includes theoretical content on voice feminization, voice apps and their diagnostic application as well as an interactive element, the "Gendered Voice Competition", in which students can gender modify and analyze their own voice through practical exercises. The aim is to raise awareness of the challenges faced by trans* people in everyday life and in the medical care system and to convey a better understanding of gender diversity.  
The seminar has a direct impact on medical training by sensitizing students to inclusive communication and differentiated diagnostics in the field of voice therapy. It closes a gap in the Austrian Standards of Care, as voice therapy for trans* people has not yet been explicitly anchored in the treatment programme of the Ministry of Health. The innovative teaching method combines scientific content with practical digital tools to actively involve students in reflecting on gender diversity and social norms. In addition to university teaching, the project also encourages the further development of voice apps and research in this area. In the long term, the seminar will help to break down prejudices and improve healthcare for trans* people through better medical communication and transdisciplinary approaches.

Ex aequo third place in teaching: Luka Laub and Melanie Schirl
The podcast "Interdisziplinäre Fallkonferenzen kompakt - Interview über Gender Medicine", developed by Luka Laub and Melanie Schirl, is an innovative teaching project that focusses on gender-specific aspects of medicine. The tutors regularly produce podcasts on relevant medical topics for 5th year medical students at the Medical University of Vienna. A particular highlight is the interview with Miriam Hufgard-Leitner, an expert in endocrinology, which deals with gender medicine and gender-specific differences in diagnostics, therapy and research. The podcast shows that medical studies are often focused on male norms, which can lead to poorer care for women. The aim is to sensitize prospective doctors to these inequalities and motivate them to take gender aspects into account in their future practice.
The podcast makes an important contribution to the diversity debate in medicine and helps to improve medical training. Thanks to its free availability under a Creative Commons license, it provides access to scientifically sound content not only for medical students, but also for specialists and other interested parties. The innovative combination of auditory knowledge transfer and interactive learning methods makes the podcast a modern, flexible learning format that promotes sustainable learning. The close connection to the interdisciplinary case conferences and the integration into MedUni Vienna's Moodle platform ensure practical and curriculum-relevant implementation. In the long term, the project will help to integrate gender-sensitive medicine more strongly into everyday clinical practice and promote fairer healthcare.

Ex aequo third place in teaching: Türkan Akkaya-Kalayci
The Master's programme "Transcultural Medicine and Diversity Care", led by Türkan Akkaya-Kalayci, was extensively revised and expanded based on student feedback. The interdisciplinary degree programme at the Medical University of Vienna teaches transcultural competence in healthcare and addresses the care of marginalized groups, including people with a migration background, LGBTQIA2S+ people, socially disadvantaged and neurodiverse people. Through a mixture of theoretical knowledge transfer, excursions, seminars and group work, cultural, social and religious aspects are integrated into medical and psychosocial care. The number of academic ECTS credits has been increased from 98 to 120 to enable a more in-depth examination of diversity care.  
The course aims to reduce prejudice in the healthcare sector and promote more equitable care. It improves the cultural awareness and transcultural communication skills of healthcare professionals in order to reduce misunderstandings, misdiagnoses and systemic inequalities. The intersectional approach is particularly innovative, linking different dimensions of diversity and providing practical measures for inclusive healthcare. Due to its unique breadth of content, the programme is seen as a model for similar educational initiatives in Europe. The positive feedback from participants and the international demand show that the Master's curriculum makes a sustainable contribution to diversity in the healthcare sector

to the Flickr gallery