The Austrian Society for Allergology and Immunology (ÖGAI) was founded in 1971 and is now younger than ever. The founders’ vision of helping patients with allergies and other immunological diseases through interdisciplinary collaboration has proven to be very successful, as has been particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the ÖGAI has also developed into a platform that connects scientists on specific immunological research topics and is particularly dedicated to promoting young scientists. This has only been possible thanks to the commitment of a large number of scientists and physicians who have volunteered their time to serve on the ÖGAI board, professional committees, and ÖGAI working groups. A list of all board members, committee spokespersons, and working group speakers since the founding of the ÖGAI can be found at the bottom of this page.

The ÖGAI board since 1971

Today, the ÖGAI board consists of 13 board members: President, President-elect, former President, Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Treasurer, Recording Secretary and six ordinary board members. The representatives of the specialist groups (Clinical Immunology, Clinical Allergology, Vaccination, Immunology Education and Next Generation Immunologists) are also co-opted to the Board without voting rights.

ÖGAI Presidents

Carl Steffen (1971-1984), Othmar Förster (1984-1988), Walter Knapp (1988-1992), Georg Wick (1992-1994), Martha Eibl (1994-1996), Konrad Schauenstein (1996-1998), Georg Stingl (1998-2000), Dietrich Kraft (2000-2002), Hannes Stockinger (2002-2004), Beatrix Grubeck-Loebenstein (2004-2006), Josef Smolen (2006-2008), Rudolf Valenta (2008-2010), Gerhard Zlabinger (2010-2012), Fatima Ferreira-Briza (2012-2014), Winfried Pickl (2014-2016), Barbara Bohle (2017-2018), Alexander Rosenkranz (2019-2020), Erika Jensen-Jarolim (2021-2022), Wolfram Hötzenecker (2023-2024), Wilfried Ellmeier (2025-2026)

ÖGAI Vice-presidents – ÖGAI President-elect ab 1994

Hans Asperger (1971-1976), Gustav Niebauer (1976-1982), Klaus Wolff (1982-1984), Georg Stingl (1984-1988), Dietrich Kraft (1988-1992), Otto Scheiner (1992-1994); Konrad Schauenstein (1994-1996), Georg Stingl (1996-1998), Dietrich Kraft (1998-2000), Hannes Stockinger (2000-2002), Beatrix Grubeck-Loebenstein (2002-2004), Josef Smolen (2004-2006), Rudolf Valenta (2006-2008), Gerhard Zlabinger (2008-2010), Fatima Ferreira-Briza (2010-2012), Winfried Pickl (2012-2014), Barbara Bohle (2014-2016), Alexander Rosenkranz (2017-2018), Erika Jensen-Jarolim (2019-2020), Wolfram Hötzenecker (2021-2022), Wilfried Ellmeier (2023-2024), Ursula Wiedermann-Schmidt (2025-2026)

ÖGAI Secretaries

Alois Ferstl (1971-1976), Walter Knapp (1976-1982), Dietrich Kraft (1982-1984), Josef Smolen (1984-1988), Thomas Luger (1988-1990), Erwin Tschachler (1990-1992), Nikolaus Neu (1992-1994), Hannes Stockinger (1994-1996), Kurt Zatloukal (1996-1998), Dieter Maurer (1998-2000), Christoph Ebner (2000-2002), Gerhard Zlabinger (2002-2004), Heribert Stoiber (2004-2006), Marcus Säemann (2006-2010), Wilfried Ellmeier (2010-2012), Albert Duschl (2012-2014), Rudolf Valenta (2014-2016), Zsolt Szepfalusi (2017-2018), Kathrin Eller (2019-2020), Eva Untersmayr-Elsenhuber (2021-2022), Sabine Altrichter (2023-2024), Nicole Boucheron (2025-2026)

ÖGAI Deputy-secretaries

Alois Ferstl (1976-1977), Karl Holubar (1977-1982), Gerhard Wiedermann (1982-1984), Otto Majdic (1984-1988), Werner Aberer (1988-1990), Karel Hala (1990-1992), Hannes Stockinger (1992-1994), Dieter Maurer (1994-1996), Werner Aberer (1996-1998), Hermann Wolf (1998-2002), Heribert Stoiber (2002-2004), Winfried Pickl (2004-2008), Wilfried Ellmeier (2008-2010), Clemens Scheinecker (2010-2014), Zsolt Szepfalusi (2014-2016), Kathrin Eller (2017-2018), Zsolt Szepfalusi (2019-2020), Kathrin Eller (2021-2022), Eva Untersmayr-Elsenhuber (2023-2024), Sabine Altrichter (2025-2026)

ÖGAI Treasurers

Peter Wodniansky (1971-1977), Heinz Ludwig (1977-1984), Reinhart Jarisch (1984-1986), Thomas Luger (1986-1988), Christoph Zielinski (1988-1990), Werner Aberer (1990-1996), Gerhard Zlabinger (1996-2000), Reinhart Jarisch (2000-2002), Felix Wantke (2002-2006), Barbara Bohle (2006-2010), Winfried Pickl (2010-2012), Stefan Wöhrl (2012-2014), Clemens Scheinecker (2014-2018), Sylvia Knapp (2019-2022), Georg Stary (2022-2026)

ÖGAI recording secretary

Georg Wick (1971-1982), Konrad Schauenstein (1982-1986), Otto Scheiner (1986-1990), Radvan Urbanek (1990-1992), Konrad Schauenstein (1992-1994), Evelin Irschik (1994-1998), Christine Heufler (1998-2002), Achim Schneeberger (2002-2004), Tamara Kopp (2004-2008), Stefan Wöhrl (2008-2012), Karin Hoffmann-Sommergruber (2012-2016), Gabriele Gadermaier (2017-2020), Wilfried Posch (2021-2024), ), Eva Untersmayr-Elsenhuber (2025-2026)

ÖGAI Board members

1978-1982: Heinz Huber, Dietrich Kraft, Johannes Menzel, Konrad Schauenstein, Gerhard Wiedermann, Klaus Wolff
1980-1982: Heinz Huber, Dietrich Kraft, Johannes Menzel, Konrad Schauenstein, Gerhard Wiedermann, Klaus Wolff
1982-1984: Othmar Förster, Christoph Huber, Reinhart Jarisch, Walter Knapp, Gustav Niebauer, Georg Wick
1984-1986: Manfred Dierich, Christoph Huber, Heinz Ludwig, Carl Steffen (bis 23.11.1985), Otto Scheiner, Georg Wick
1986-1988: Manfred Dierich, Christoph Huber, Dietrich Kraft, Hugo Wolf, Christoph Zielinski
1988-1990: Martha Eibl, Dieter Niederwieser, Konrad Schauenstein, Gerold Schuler, Hugo Wolf
1990-1992: Martha Eibl, Dieter Niederwieser, Konrad Schauenstein, Gerold Schuler, Georg Stingl
1992-1994: Gheorge Boltz-Nitulescu, Fritz Horak, Evelin Irschik, Georg Klein, Georg Stingl
1994-1996: Manfred Dierich, Beatrix Grubeck-Loebenstein, Fritz Horak, Nikolaus Romani, Otto Scheiner
1996-1998: Christoph Ebner, Wolfgang Holter, Hans Lassmann, Dieter Maurer, Nikolaus Romani, Hugo Wolf
1998-2000: Jan de Vries, Christoph Ebner, Walter Knapp, Hans Lassmann, Zsolt Szepfalusi, Hugo Wolf
2000-2002: Beatrix Grubeck-Loebenstein, Jan de Vries, Walter Knapp, Zsolt Szepfalusi, Georg Wick, Gerhard Zlabinger
2002-2004: Werner Aberer, Thomas Baumruker, Fatima Ferreira-Briz, Reinhart Jarisch, Otto Scheiner, Georg Wick
2004-2006: Thomas Baumruker, Fatima Ferreira-Briza, Roswitha Gruber-Sgonc, Erika Jensen-Jarolim, Johannes Stöckl, Rudolf Valenta
2006-2008: Gernot Achatz, Hans-Peter Brezinsek, Roswitha Gruber-Sgonc, Erika Jensen-Jarolim, Johannes Stöckl, Martin Thumher
2008-2010: Gernot Achatz, Hans-Peter Brezinsek, Thomas Decker, Roswitha Gruber-Sgonc, Patrizia Stoitzner, Reinhard Würzner
2010-2012: Thomas Decker, Winfried Graninger, Sylvia Knapp, Patrizia Stoitzner, Josef Thalhamer, Reinhard Würzner
2012-2014: Barbara Bohle, Winfried Graninger, Herbert Strobl, Josef Thalhamer, Michael Wallner, Doris Wilflingseder
2014-2016: Alexander Rosenkranz, Herbert Strobl ,Eva-Maria Varga, Michael Wallner, Richard Weiss, Doris Wilflingseder
2017-2018: Christine Hafner, Cornelia Lars Flörl, Georg Stary, Birgit Strobl, Eva-Maria Varga, Richard Weiss
2019-2020: Iris Gratz, Christine Hafner, Wilfried Posch, Irma Schabussova, Georg Stary, Birgit Strobl
2021-2022: Michael Bonelli, Patrick Brunner, Simona Saluzzo, Irma Schabussova, Michael Sixt, Birgit Weinberger
2023-2024: Michael Bonelli, Patrick Brunner, Kathrin Eller, Karin Hoffmann-Sommergruber, Sylvia Knapp, Simona Saluzzo,
2025-2026: Kathrin Eller, Thomas Eiwegger, Sylvia Knapp, Wilfried Posch, Johanna Strobl, Doris Wilflingseder

Ehrenpräsident

Carl Steffen (1985-1990), Othmar Förster (1992-2016), Georg Wick (2017-2022)