History of ÖGAHM
History of ÖGAHM – a success story in alpine and high altitude medicine since 1989
It began in mid-September 1988 at the Forum Davos International Symposium “Mountain Medicine, Safety in Alpinism.” Three young and enthusiastic high altitude physicians from Austria were invited as speakers.
They met during the coffee break and discussed how to promote alpine and high altitude medicine in Austria and establish it on an organized basis. Above all, they addressed the question of how to improve the exchange of information and experience in this barely recognized peripheral medical field. The spontaneous idea arose to establish an Austrian mountain medicine society. A few months later, these three gentlemen would become the founders of our society (from left to right):
Franz Berghold, Egon Humpeler, and Wolfgang Schobersberger
The founding of the society was marked by skepticism and uncertain expectations, particularly given the uncertainty as to whether all those interested in alpine medicine would truly find a place in the same boat. In Tyrol, there were two doyens of mountain and especially mountain rescue medicine, both of whom claimed this field for themselves: Gerhard Flora (†) and Elmar Jenny (†). Our three founding fathers employed their diplomatic skills and won over all protagonists for the shared vision of an Austrian identity within alpine and high altitude medicine. Elmar Jenny ultimately became the first president of ÖGAHM.
On April 15, 1989, the founding assembly of ÖGAHM took place at the Gasthof Sailer in Innsbruck. Kurt Diemberger delivered the keynote address. Approximately one hundred interested colleagues gave their approval and laid the foundation for the Austrian Society for Alpine and High Altitude Medicine.
Franz Berghold wrote on the occasion of the first edition of the yearbook in 1990:
Alpine medicine does not represent a monodisciplinary subject, but rather thrives on the close and multifaceted interweaving of science and practice; alpine medicine is pursued above all by people who themselves feel passionately connected to hiking and mountaineering.
Franz Berghold, 1990
History of ÖGAHM
International Alpine Medicine Courses since 1992
International Diploma in Mountain Medicine
Shortly after the founding of ÖGAHM, Franz Berghold launched the ambitious project of alpine medicine courses. At that time, it was hardly foreseeable what a success story this alpine medicine training program would become.
The first course took place in July 1992 as a summer course at the Oberwalderhütte. As early as the following year, the summer courses moved to the Franz-Senn-Hütte. Soon, the alpine medicine courses of ÖGAHM were organized as a cooperative project with the German BExMed.
In 1997, a joint curriculum (minimal requirements) for a diploma course in mountain medicine was adopted in Interlaken (CH) by the ISMM (International Society for Mountain Medicine) and the medical commissions of UIAA and ICAR. This established the first internationally recognized diploma training in mountain medicine (DIMM).
Since 1997, the alpine medicine courses of ÖGAHM have carried the accreditation of ISMM, UIAA, and ICAR.
Until 2000, the winter courses were conducted at the Rudolfshütte. Thereafter, the Franz-Senn-Hütte became the regular venue for both summer and winter courses. Thanks to the exceptional hospitality of the Fankhauser family and their efficient and exemplary hut management, we have remained loyal to the Franz-Senn-Hütte to this day. The spring courses, formerly called basic courses, were held at the Adamekhütte from 1994 onward. Interspersed among these were expedition courses and intensive refresher courses at the Karlsbader Hütte and Klinkehütte. Since 2011, additional winter courses have been offered at the Planneralm.
In 2010-2011, special courses in alpine emergency medicine were conducted in cooperation with the Air Rescue College of the Christophorus Air Rescue Association under the direction of Günther Sumann.
In summer 2011, we ceremoniously celebrated the 100th alpine medicine course at the Franz-Senn-Hütte. Franz Berghold as founding father and organizer of the alpine medicine courses and Klaus Hoi as long-standing alpine training director were honored for their great achievements.
Over the many years, the alpine medicine courses had become a flagship of ÖGAHM. In autumn 2017, Franz Berghold handed over the leadership of the alpine medicine courses to his successor after 26 years.
From 2018, Günther Sumann assumed medical leadership of the Austrian alpine medicine training. Reinhard Pühringer was entrusted with the alpine and organizational leadership (www.alpinaerzteschmiede.com).
Building on the experience of previous years and with fresh motivation, the alpine medicine courses were reorganized and continued as successfully as before. In addition to the well-established Franz-Senn-Hütte, new course bases were found: Heidelberger Hütte (Winter Course 1), Arco, and Muttekopfhütte (spring courses).
In 1997, a joint curriculum (minimal requirements) for a diploma course in mountain medicine was adopted in Interlaken (CH) by the ISMM (International Society for Mountain Medicine) and the medical commissions of UIAA and ICAR. This established the first internationally recognized diploma training in mountain medicine (DIMM). Since 1997, the alpine medicine courses of ÖGAHM have carried the accreditation of ISMM, UIAA, and ICAR.
International Alpine Medicine Courses of ÖGAHM
History of ÖGAHM
The Alpine Medicine Cross on the Innere Sommerwand
3,122 m
The summit of the Innere Sommerwand stands amid the spectacular ice and rock mountains of the northern Stubai Alps and is one of the most attractive tour destinations around the Franz-Senn-Hütte in both summer and winter. The ascent from the Franz-Senn-Hütte via the challenging route over the Kräulscharte takes approximately three hours.
In recognition of the popular main base of the alpine medicine courses, the Franz-Senn-Hütte, an exceptionally beautiful summit cross was erected on the Innere Sommerwand in summer 2006 on the initiative of Franz Berghold and the Fankhauser hut keeper family. The cross was crafted by August Koller, a locksmith from Kaprun, who was then the local head of mountain rescue and a member of ÖGAHM.
The ceremonial blessing of the summit cross took place on July 7, 2007. The costs for the alpine medicine cross of ÖGAHM were privately borne by Franz Berghold and Gerhard Flora.
History of ÖGAHM
Presidents and Honorary Members of ÖGAHM
Since the founding of the society, ÖGAHM has been led by seven presidents.
Prof. Dr. Oberstarzt Elmar Jenny†
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Gerhard Flora†
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Franz Berghold †
Univ.-Prof. DDr. Martin Burtscher
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Domej
Profile
- Specialist in Internal Medicine
- Specialist in Pulmonary Diseases
- Specialist in Nuclear Medicine
- Specialist in Geriatrics
- Diplomas in Sports Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Geriatrics, High Altitude Medicine
Alpine Medicine Focus Areas
- Alpine medicine lectures
- High Altitude Physiology
- Forms of altitude intolerance
- Internal medicine therapy of altitude sickness
Prim. Mag. Dr. Günther Sumann DESA EDIC
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine
Kardinal Schwarzenberg Klinikum GmbH
Kardinal-Schwarzenbergplatz 1
A-5620 Schwarzach im Pongau
Profile
- Specialist in Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine
- Emergency Physician, Air Rescue Physician Christophorus Air Rescue
- Delegate MEDCOM ICAR
Alpine/Sports Medical Focus Areas and Research
- Alpine air rescue
- Alpine emergency medicine
- Polytrauma in the mountains
- Accidental hypothermia and avalanche medicine
Prof. Dr. Marc Moritz Berger MBA DESA
Medical Director
Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine, Emergency Medicine and Pain Therapy
RHK Klinikum Ludwigsburg
Posiliopostr. 4
D-71640 Ludwigsburg
Profile
- Specialist in Anesthesiology
- Emergency Medicine
- Specialized Intensive Care Medicine
- Specialized Pain Therapy
- Editorial Board of the journal High Alt Med Biol
- Research Council of the Wilderness Medical Society
Alpine/Sports Medical Focus Areas and Research
- Pathophysiology, prevention, and therapy of acute altitude sickness
- Alpine emergency medicine
- Humans at extreme altitudes
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Egon Humpeler
Profile
- Specialist in Internal Medicine and Honorary Professor
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schobersberger
Head of the Institute for Sports, Alpine Medicine and Health Tourism
(ISAG) of Tirol Kliniken Innsbruck and UMIT TIROL, Hall/Tyrol
Anichstraße 35
A-6020 Innsbruck
wolfgang.schobersberger@tirol-kliniken.at
isag-sportmedizin.at
Profile
- Specialist in Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine
- Sports Physician
Alpine/Sports Medical Focus Areas and Research
- Responsible for ÖÄK Diploma in Alpine and High Altitude Medicine
- High Altitude Physiology
- High Altitude Training
- Medication/Doping and Altitude