On December 2nd, set in a swanky New York club, the American Austrian Foundation’s Music for Medicine benefit was a sold-out evening where elegance met artistry, and philanthropy didn’t miss a beat. Guest’s generosity advanced the mission of the Open Medical Institute, equipping physicians worldwide with the skills to raise the standard of medical care in their home countries and beyond. President of AAF, Robert P. Wessely noted “The appreciation for medical expertise is under review and under attack, so we are particularly delighted that in a year when many of the resources we relied on were not available, so many of you still came forward to support this work. You have all picked up the slack, and the donations are what these programs depend on.”
The evening commenced with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, as guests mingled in anticipation before moving to the ballroom for a podium talk beginning with Wolfgang Aulitzky, CEO of OMI “We began the otology program in 1996 to introduce technologies that were not available to many physicians, including sinus surgery and cochlear implantation. One of the doctors came from Nigeria. He later wrote to tell us that he now leads the most active cochlear implant team in the country. In a nation of more than 240 million people, that kind of progress represents a major step forward for patients—especially children.”
Pablo Legorreta, AMDA Chairman, then took the podium, stating: “Through OMI’s partnership with Alianza Médica para la Salud (AMDA), a total of 5,412 doctors have benefited from seminars in Salzburg over the past ten years. Remarkably, we have also launched our own seminars in Mexico, where last year we trained more than 500 Mexican doctors, as well as 118 physicians from across Latin America.”
Guests were then treated to an intimate performance by members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, whose masterful interpretations of Schubert and Beethoven enveloped the room, captivating the audience and lending the evening a moment of rare musical intimacy. Dinner followed, accompanied by a spirited auction, featuring highlights such as exclusive trips to Oaxaca, Mexico, and VIP access to the forthcoming Mozart Festival in Salzburg—an unforgettable celebration of music, culture, and generosity.”
The event welcomed a distinguished group of supporters, including AAF board members Jeanne Andlinger, Mathias Bostrom, Jonathan Coleman, Margaret Crotty, William Eacho, Antonio M. Gotto, Stephen Harnik, Tom McGrath, Alexander von Perfall, Zev Rosenwaks, Peter Schlegel, Cynthia Sculco, Robert Seber, Michael Stewart, Barbara Tober, and Nancy Wolf, and guests Skylar Brandt and Vladimir Rumyantsev,Katharine Eltz-Aulitzky (Executive Director of AAF), Barbara Friedman, Chiara Gorodesky, Michael and Diane Kellen, Michele Gerber Klein, Lola Abigail Koch, William Ivey Long, Ashley von Perfall, and Samuel H. Selesnick.
The American Austrian Foundation is a nonprofit with a global mindset, focused on closing knowledge gaps by offering fellowships to talented individuals pursuing postgraduate studies in medicine, media, and the arts. What began as a bilateral exchange has grown into an international network spanning more than 130 countries. Along the way, the Foundation has partnered with American, Austrian, and global organizations to bring its programs to life.
For more information, please visit: www.americanaustrianfoundation.