2025 Ars Legendi Prize for Medicine awarded to LMU endocrinologist

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Professor Ralf Schmidmaier’s outstanding achievements are rooted in many years of versatile service that began back when he himself was an undergraduate. A driving force behind reforms to the study of medicine at LMU, the specialist in internal medicine has been instrumental in continuously improving the entire program of study, far beyond the confines of his own specialty. At the heart of this curricular development is the principle of “constructive alignment”, which seeks to systematically coordinate learning objectives, teaching methods and examinations with a view to optimizing support for students’ learning processes and constantly advancing their skills.

“Ralf Schmidmaier’s work has delivered tremendous stimulus for evidence-based teaching not only at LMU, but throughout Bavaria and beyond,” explains Martina Kadmon, Vice President of the Medical Faculty Convention (MFT) and chair of the jury. “We, the jury, were convinced not just by a one-off project, but by his impressively holistic commitment to improving the study of medicine. His efforts range from actively shaping reforms in medical tuition, through his activities in further training and development and in the Master of Medical Education (MME) course, to the publication of high-caliber works on educational research. The breadth and depth of his commitment have enriched medical education and helped this entire field to make major strides forward.”

The jury likewise lauded Schmidmaier’s active involvement in a research group backed by the German Research Association (DFG) – an activity that further underscores his role as an innovator in medical teaching. The professor’s extensive network and relentless engagement have been pivotal to improving the quality of medical education.

“I am very happy to receive this accolade,” Professor Schmidmaier said. “Teaching clinical medicine is something that is very close to my heart. The students approach the subject from ever more widely varying individual backgrounds, with widely varying goals and resources, which is something that is definitely to be welcomed.”

On the other hand, he notes, the challenges facing doctors are growing constantly at a time when medicine is developing rapidly, at a time when digitalization and artificial intelligence are placing all knowledge at everyone’s fingertips instantly. Doctors’ skills in digital medicine are becoming ever more important as a result: Far from being a static product, he adds, this is a living, interdisciplinary and interprofessional process.

The Ars Legendi Prize for Good Teaching in University Medicine highlights the singular importance of higher education in training and developing future medical professionals. It creates an incentive that encourages people to develop their careers and commit to improving teaching above and beyond the boundaries of individual institutions. As such, it underpins the quality of tuition as a key criterion determining the excellence of medical faculties and specialist departments, and as a strategic objective of quality management.

Endowed with 20,000 euros, the award – contributed in equal parts by the German Association for the Advancement of the Arts and Sciences and the MFT – honors outstanding and innovative teaching. Its focus is on exemplary achievements in both teaching and the development of curricula – achievements that merit nationwide visibility. The award also recognizes advice and support given to medical faculties regarding the development and successful roll-out of teaching and learning materials, as well as the conceptual design and implementation of innovation examination methods.