American Austrian Foundation’s ‘Music for Medicine’ Gala
American Austrian Foundation (AAF) Music for Medicine Gala presented a magnificent evening of classical music, a lively auction, and supper to benefit the Open Medical Institute on Monday, December 2nd in Manhattan.
The chilly December night was perfect for the holiday decorations and candlelit tables inside The Metropolitan Club, the cocktail party was overflowing as guests AAF Chairman Thomas J. McGrath and his wife Diahn, Executive Director Katharine Eltz-Aulitzky, Medical Co-Directors James Callahan and Nancy Wolf, as well as Noreen and Ken Buckfire, Carole and John French, Lee Fryd, Michele Gerber Klein, Kelly and Dr. Robert Kim, Michael Koch, Betsy McCaughey (Former Lieutenant Governor of New York), Margaret Crotty and Rory Riggs, and many more arrived.
Since 1984 a group of Americans and Austrians keen on fostering closer ties between the two countries founded The American Austrian Foundation (AAF). AAF created the Open Medical Institute (OMI) in 1993 as an educational initiative for medical professionals to improve healthcare on a global scale. As countries struggle to care for patients amidst collapsed medical systems and economies, many physicians leave for better opportunities elsewhere, creating a brain drain of physicians and jeopardizing the health of millions living in less developed countries. OMI has awarded more than 28,300 fellowships to physicians in 133 different countries and granted 3,600 observer ships in Austrian and American hospitals.
After welcoming remarks by Dr. Wolfgang Aulitzky, Medical Director of AAF, he sincerely thanked the evening’s chairs, Dr. Antonio Gotto and Barbara Tober.
“In Nigeria, every single week more than 50 physicians are leaving the country. This is why we designed OMI to give doctors the knowledge and skills needed to deliver high-quality care in their home countries. It promotes brain gain instead”, said Dr. Wolfgang Aulitzky highlighting a long-standing reputation of support to the international medical community.
He introduced Pablo Legorreta, founder of Royalty Pharma, who expressed his wholehearted gratitude for the medical community’s support.
“The generosity that exists among Americans is unlike any other in the world”, shared Pablo Legorreta at the gala dinner. “That’s why the Open Medical Institute (OMI) program works so well. American doctors are generous with their time and knowledge. If you ask doctors from other parts of the world to actually close their practice for a week and go teach, it’s very hard to persuade them to do that. But in the U.S. that happens all the time.”
Sebastian Breit, Oboe, Katharina Engelbrecht, Violin, Sebastian Fuehrlinger, Viola and Wolfgang Haertel, Cello members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra performed Georg Druschetzky’s Quartet for Oboe and String Trio in G Minor, Benjamin Britten’s Phantasy Quartet OP. 2 for Oboe and String Trio, and the finale Mozart’s Oboe Quartet, F Major KV 370.
The Music for Medicine auctioneer invited benefit supporters to live bidding on a Porsche Chronograph all-black numbered edition timepiece, a Vienna City of Dreams trip, dinner at Michellin-starred chef Eduard Frauneder’s downtown restaurant Schilling, a four-day retreat in Atitlan, Guatemala for yoga and hiking, a Tiffany East West travel watch, Aena ‘Flower Power’ earrings in peach adorned with rose-cut white diamonds in 18-carat gold, a handcrafted porcelain Augarten Vase, and other luxuries to benefit the faculty of The Salzburg Weill Cornell Seminars and the Open Medical Institute programs.
The post-concert benefit dinner served a starter of salmon tartare and black caviar with avocado wasabi aioli, a choice of char-grilled filet mignon with pencil asparagus, parmesan carrots, and port reduction or roasted halibut with kale and butternut squash dressed with citrus & sage emulsion. A bountiful dessert of olive oil cake was complimented by mixed berry garnish, sour cherry compote, and whipped cream.
Enchanted guests were gifted a silver bag containing a collection of Staud’s Wien preserves. The proceeds from the sold out one-night benefit support the Open Medical Institute (OMI) commitment to addressing the global challenge, impacting the lives of thousands of healthcare professionals and their patients.
PHOTOS BY PATRICK MCMULLAN AND JARED SISKIN
