History

In the early 19th century patients with syphilis were seen in
the general surgery department in Innsbruck. Increasing patient numbers resulted in foundation of a department of syphilology and dermatology by Dr. Eduard Lang in 1873 after approval by the Austrian emporer Franz Joseph. In 1874 student teaching commenced with a lecture on pathology and therapy of skin disease. In 1894, a new 3 story building was dedicated to dermatology. Although earlier plans to share the building with internal medicine were dispelled by official concerns that syphilis patients must have separate wards, the building was initially shared with psychiatry and ENT.

Former chairs of the department of dermatology, Innsbruck Medical University

Eduard Lang (1873-1887)
subsequently chair II. Abteilung für Syphilis in Vienna. Special interest: Infections (syphilis, tuberculosis)

Adolf Jarisch (1888-1892)
subsequently chair department of dermatology in Graz. Text book: "Die Hautkrankheiten", coined the ‘Jarisch-Herxheimer-reaction

Wladimir von Lukasiewicz (1892-1898)
subsequently chair department of dermatology in Lemberg. Special interest: Lichen scrophulosorum, Erythema multiforme, Folliculitis exulcerans, Mycosis fungoides, Xeroderma pigmentosum

Johann Heinrich Rille (1898-1902)
subsequently chair department of dermatology in Leipzig. Text book: "Lehrbuch der Haut- und Geschlechtskrankheiten"

Ludwig Merk (1903-1925)
Special interest: pellagra, dermatopathology; Reruitment of a 2nd resident, established Syphilis serology (Wassermann test)

Leopold Arzt (1926)
subsequently chair II. department of dermatology in Vienna. Text books: "Die Haut- und Geschlechtskrankheiten", "Allgemeine Dermatologie", "Atlas der Haut- und Geschlechtskrankheiten"

Wilhelm Kerl (1926-1927)
subsequently chair II. department of dermatology in Vienna. Special interest: radiation therapy, Salvarsan-Therapy, established phototherapy unit

Leo Kumer (1928-1938)
1938 dismissed and arrested, after 1939 subsequently chair department of dermatology Wilhelminenspital in Vienna. Textbook: "Dermatologie", Special interest: radiation therapy (Radium), infections (mykoses, tuberculosis, viral diasease)

Kommissarische Leitung der Klinik (1938-1945)


Josef Konrad (1945-1971)
established photography of skin lesions, Special interests: burns, radiation therapy, tuberculosis, Lupus erythematodes, syphilis

Gustav Niebauer (1971-1975)
subsequently chair II. department of dermatology in Vienna. Special interest: soft tissue, pigment, melanoma

Klaus Wolff (1976-1981)
subsequently chair II department of dermatology in Vienna. Text books: "Dermatology in General Medicine", " Color Atlas and Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology ", "Challenge Dermatology", Special interests: Langerhans cells, melanoma, therapy of inflammatory skin disease

Peter Fritsch (1983-2008)
text books: "Dermatologie, Venerologie", "Dermatologie & Venerologie für das Studium", Special interests: SSSS, TEN, melanocytes, Langerhans cells, retinoids