{"id":9625,"date":"2026-03-30T19:06:29","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T17:06:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpinmedizin.org\/oegahm\/geschichte-der-oegahm\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T14:29:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T12:29:00","slug":"history-of-oegahm","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/alpinmedizin.org\/en\/oegahm\/history-of-oegahm\/","title":{"rendered":"History of \u00d6GAHM"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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History of \u00d6GAHM<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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History of \u00d6GAHM \u2013 a success story in alpine and high altitude medicine since 1989<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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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. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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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): <\/p>

Franz Berghold, Egon Humpeler, and Wolfgang Schobersberger<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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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 (\u2020) and Elmar Jenny (\u2020). 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 \u00d6GAHM. <\/p>

On April 15, 1989<\/strong>, the founding assembly of \u00d6GAHM 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<\/strong>. <\/p>

Franz Berghold wrote on the occasion of the first edition of the yearbook in 1990: <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAlpine 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.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFranz Berghold, 1990\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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History of \u00d6GAHM<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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International Alpine Medicine Courses since 1992<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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International Diploma in Mountain Medicine<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Shortly after the founding of \u00d6GAHM, 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. <\/p>

The first course took place in July 1992 as a summer course at the Oberwalderh\u00fctte. As early as the following year, the summer courses moved to the Franz-Senn-H\u00fctte. Soon, the alpine medicine courses of \u00d6GAHM were organized as a cooperative project with the German BExMed. <\/p>

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). <\/p>

Since 1997, the alpine medicine courses of \u00d6GAHM have carried the accreditation of ISMM, UIAA, and ICAR.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Until 2000, the winter courses were conducted at the Rudolfsh\u00fctte. Thereafter, the Franz-Senn-H\u00fctte 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-H\u00fctte to this day. The spring courses, formerly called basic courses, were held at the Adamekh\u00fctte from 1994 onward. Interspersed among these were expedition courses and intensive refresher courses at the Karlsbader H\u00fctte and Klinkeh\u00fctte. Since 2011, additional winter courses have been offered at the Planneralm. <\/p>

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 G\u00fcnther Sumann.<\/p>

In summer 2011, we ceremoniously celebrated the 100th alpine medicine course at the Franz-Senn-H\u00fctte. 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.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Over the many years, the alpine medicine courses had become a flagship of \u00d6GAHM. In autumn 2017, Franz Berghold handed over the leadership of the alpine medicine courses to his successor after 26 years. <\/p>

From 2018, G\u00fcnther Sumann assumed medical leadership of the Austrian alpine medicine training. Reinhard P\u00fchringer was entrusted with the alpine and organizational leadership (www.alpinaerzteschmiede.com<\/a>). <\/p>

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-H\u00fctte, new course bases were found: Heidelberger H\u00fctte (Winter Course 1), Arco, and Muttekopfh\u00fctte (spring courses). <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAlpine Medicine Academy\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIn 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 \u00d6GAHM have carried the accreditation of ISMM, UIAA, and ICAR. \t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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History of \u00d6GAHM<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Alpine Medicine Cross on the Innere Sommerwand<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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3,122 m<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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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-H\u00fctte in both summer and winter. The ascent from the Franz-Senn-H\u00fctte via the challenging route over the Kr\u00e4ulscharte takes approximately three hours. <\/p>

In recognition of the popular main base of the alpine medicine courses, the Franz-Senn-H\u00fctte, 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 \u00d6GAHM. <\/p>

The ceremonial blessing of the summit cross took place on July 7, 2007. The costs for the alpine medicine cross of \u00d6GAHM were privately borne by Franz Berghold and Gerhard Flora. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Presidents and Honorary Members of \u00d6GAHM<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Since the founding of the society, \u00d6GAHM has been led by seven presidents.<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tProf. Dr. Oberstarzt Elmar Jenny\u2020\t\t\t\t\t<\/h6>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPresident from<\/br>\n1989\u20131995\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tUniv.-Prof. Dr. Gerhard Flora\u2020\t\t\t\t\t<\/h6>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tUniv.-Prof. Dr. Franz Berghold \u2020\t\t\t\t\t<\/h6>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tUniv.-Prof. DDr. Martin Burtscher\t\t\t\t\t<\/h6>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tUniv.-Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Domej\t\t\t\t\t<\/h6>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Hafnerriegel 11
A-8010 Graz<\/p>

wolfgangdomej@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Profile<\/strong><\/p>