Remembering Gerhard Wiedermann: Scientist, Teacher, Humanist

Gerhard Wiedermann 1929 – 2023

How – people at universities are often asked – how is their success measured? Well, the answer seems simple: First and foremost, and rightly so, is publishing activity. This is also understandable, because the will to discover new things and to communicate this to society is one of the tasks of the universities and their teachers. Gerhard Wiedermann was a successful scientist. He was interested in immunology, a fascinating subject that also formed the core of his habilitation (1965); We owe him the founding of the Institute for Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine and the further development of this department from a scientific and practical point of view, especially in the field of vaccination, tropical and travel medicine.

However, it is particularly important to the writer of these lines to remember what a wonderful personality Gerhard Wiedermann was: he was not only a doctor and professor who fulfilled his academic tasks as a researcher and teacher in an exemplary manner, but he was also a true humanist . His comprehensive education was not an external facade, but the source of his deep understanding of humanity. He always found the right tone, praising, encouraging or admonishing; if anyone needed help, he was always the first to come. He radiated warmth that attracted and motivated those around him.

It must have been a pleasure and satisfaction for him to see how the Institute for Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine, which he founded, flourishes and prospers as a successful member of the Medical University of Vienna, combined with internal university and international recognition.

Outstanding university teachers can be recognized by the number and quality of their students, and Gerhard Wiedermann has also achieved a lot here. The best thing that can happen to one of his students is when such a teacher and role model becomes a friend – a very special distinction that he bestowed on me.

If only there were enough people of his character and ethos, I believe we would have fewer problems on this earth.

Ao Univ.-Prof. dr. Otto Scheiner

Gerhard Wiedermann May 13, 1929 – May 27, 2023
Stations of a scientist’s life

1954 doctorate in medicine

1955 – 1960 Specialist training in internal medicine at the Second Medical School
University Clinic Vienna (Head Univ.-Prof.Dr.Fellinger)

1959 – 1964 Research associate at the University’s Hygiene Institute
Vienna (headed by Univ.-Prof.Dr.Hans Moritsch), accompanied by a
two and a half year stay at New York University Medical Center
for the study of hepatidids and the basics of complement
binding and antibody-dependent cellular immunity

1964 entrusted with the management of the immunological department of the Institute of Hygiene
(Head of Univ.-Prof.Dr.Hans Moritsch)

1965 Habilitation with the work “Immunological phenomena in hepatitis”

1965 Head of the vaccination clinic at the University’s Hygiene Institute
Vienna (head of Univ.-Prof.Dr.Hans Moritsch)

1967 Expansion of the vaccination outpatient clinic to include a tropical medicine outpatient clinic
Hygiene Institute of the University of Vienna (Head of Univ.-Prof.Dr.Heinz Flamm)

1967 – 1972 Studies at the Hamburg Institute for Ship and Tropical
diseases and in East Africa for further training in tropical medicine

1972 appointment as extraordinary university professor

1974 appointment as full university professor for specific prophylaxis and
Tropical medicine, taking over the management of the institute of the same name

1998 retirement

Awards: Erasmus Prize, Cardinal Innitzer Prize, Wander Prize, Höchst Prize, Medical Association Prize, Vienna Economy Prize, Badge of Honor from the Medical University of Vienna