25 years of the Austrian Academy of Physicians

The Austrian Academy of Physicians celebrated its 25th anniversary in October 2025 with a conference. In 1995, the Diploma Continuing Education Program was established under the auspices of the Austrian Medical Association to create a uniform framework for the continuing education and training of physicians. Since 2014, physicians have been required to provide evidence of 250 continuing education units (= 250 diploma continuing education points) every five years. The DFP thus became the quality assurance standard for continuing medical education. This program also ensures that courses are quality-assured and transparently documented.
At a conference in Vienna in October, the most important milestones and the growing significance of the Academy of Physicians for the Austrian medical profession were presented. In addition, the founding members of the Academy of Physicians were thanked with certificates of honor.
Among them was Univ.-Prof. Dr. Heinrich Klech, Managing Director of the Vienna School of Clinical Research, Public Health and Medical Education (VSCR), who co-founded the Academy of Physicians after many years as continuing education officer of the Austrian Medical Association.
Since the Academy of Physicians was founded, the VSCR has been a reliable partner for accreditations and also contributes to the success of the Academy of Physicians’ DFP program with its own continuing education events.

Photo: “Austrian Academy of Physicians / Stefan Seelig”
People from left to right
Prof. Manfred Dierich, emeritus director, Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology Innsbruck, founding member of the Academy
Prof. Heinrich Klech, managing director, VSCR, Vienna, founding member of the Academy
Prof. Heinrich Weber, emeritus director of cardiology, Donauspital SMZ Ost, Vienna, founding member of the Academy
Dr. Peter Niedermoser, President of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Academy of Physicians
Dr. Wolfgang Routil, Founding Member, President of the Academy of Physicians from 2000 to 2012
Mag. Günther Ochs, Managing Director of the Academy of Physicians