(Vienna, 10 October 2025) Following a professional evaluation, the Josephinum's museum work was rated positively in terms of internationally defined ethical museum standards. The museum has therefore been awarded the Austrian Museum Seal of Quality for the next five years and is committed to maintaining and continuously developing the standards it has achieved.
The Josephinum – Medical History Museum Vienna of the Medical University of Vienna received the Austrian Museum Seal of Quality on 8 October 2025 at the official award ceremony during Austrian Museum Day in Bolzano. After thorough examination and an independent evaluation process, a jury of experts from the International Council of Museums (ICOM Austria) and the Austrian Museum Association awarded the Josephinum this special distinction until 2030. "We are happy and proud," says Christiane Druml, director of the museum, "that the dedicated work of our small and highly competent team has been recognised with the seal of approval, especially in our anniversary year. We are delighted about this award!"
The Museum Seal of Quality was introduced in 2002 and is considered a mark of quality in the Austrian museum landscape. The assessment process focuses on the internationally defined ethical standards of ICOM and on best practice in museums in the areas of collection management, education, research and exhibitions. "The Josephinum represents a central part of Austrian scientific history. The Josephinum fulfils its museum task of communicating this to a broad audience in an accessible way and through exchange in an outstanding manner," said the jury of the Museum Seal of Quality. "The desire for continuous development means that we can expect many more exciting and enlightening things to come."
The Josephinum, which is celebrating its 240th anniversary this year, will be shining in new splendour from autumn 2022 onwards following several years of renovation. A medical history exhibition covering the period from the founding of the institution to today's high-tech medicine can be seen in an exhibition area of around 1,000 square metres. The biggest attraction is the world-famous anatomical wax models in their original display cases, which Emperor Joseph II had specially made in Florence for teaching purposes at the Joseph Academy, founded in 1785.
Other highlights of the collection include Giovanni Alessandro Brambilla's 18th-century collection of surgical instruments and the world's first endoscope, which Emperor Franz II purchased for the Josephinum. Also on display are the preserved stomach on which Theodor Billroth performed the world's first successful gastric resection in 1880, a handwritten life purchase by Sigmund Freud, and the file used to murder Empress Elisabeth in Geneva.
