With the Stern-Gattiker Prize, launched in 2018, the SAMS is making female role models more visible, so as to motivate young women to pursue an academic career. The prize, which carries an award of CHF 15'000, is named after two women with distinguished medical careers: Lina Stern (1878–1968), a Russian emigrant who was in 1918 the first woman to hold a professorship at the Faculty of Medicine in Geneva, and Ruth Gattiker (1923–2021), who in the 1970s was among the first female professors appointed at the Faculty of Medicine in Zurich.
While 62% of human medicine graduates in 2023 were women, only 57% of assistant doctors and 19% of chief physicians were women. In order to plug the «leaky pipeline» and to ensure that sufficient medical scientists are available over the medium and longer term, more women will need to pursue a career in academic medicine.
An Oxford University study explored the question of why, when entry to medical schools is evenly split between men and women, those working in university medical departments are predominantly men. Beyond factors related to the culture of the profession and the systems in place, one of the main factors cited was a lack of role models for women. This provides the rationale for the Stern-Gattiker Prize.
Participation requirements
The Stern-Gattiker Prize is to be awarded every two years to a female medical scientist who:
- has obtained her postdoctoral qualification within the past ten years,
- holds a permanent position as a senior hospital physician, and
- is suitable, for reasons to be explained in each case, to act as a role model.
The proximity to young doctors and the commitment to gender equality are a plus.
Members of the SAMS Senate are not eligible.
Prize money
The Prize is awarded every two years with a prize money of CHF 15'000, in general for a single laureate.
Evaluation procedure
The Stern-Gattiker Prize Committee is in charge of the evaluation of nominations. The Committee then makes a recommendation to the SAMS Senate who decides on the Prize winner.
Submission of nominations
Nominations can be submitted by individuals (in particular, female junior and senior physicians) or by academic institutions. Institutional nominations must be signed by the management. Self-nomination is not possible.
Nominations must be registered online by one contact person, representing all individuals/institutions supporting the candidate to the Prize. Details on the format and submission procedure can be found on the registration page.
The call for nominations for the Stern-Gattiker Prize 2026 is open.
Submission deadline: 9 March 2026
Prize winner 2024
Former prize winners
In 2022, the prize laureates were PD Dr. Vanessa Banz (Bern) and Professor Susanne Wegener (Zürich). Media release of 23 June 2022 in French or in German
In 2020, the prize laureates were Professor Sophie de Seigneux Matthey (Geneva) and Professor Sara C.Meyer (Basel). Media release of 2 November 2020 in English.
In 2018, Professor Annalisa Berzigotti (Bern) was the first to be awarded the Stern-Gattiker Prize. Media release of 29 May 2018 in French or in German.
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