Mission

The Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences (SAMS) was founded in 1943 by the five Swiss medical faculties, the two veterinary medical faculties and the Swiss Medical Assocation (Foederatio Medicorum Helveticorum – FMH). The principle mission of this independent foundation, with its Headquarters in Basle, at that time – when Switzerland was in a state of isolation due to the Second World War – was the promotion of research and of the professional training of the coming generation of physicians.

Today, with its two main programmes, «Medicine and Society» and «Medical Science and Practice», the activity of the SAMS is concentrated on the following:

Clarification of ethical questions in connection with medical developments and their effects on society;
Comprehensive reflection on the future of medicine;
Engagement in university, scientific and education politics, combined with expert and advisory activity for the attention of politicians and authorities;
Promotion of the professional training of the coming generation of scientists, especially in clinical research;
Support of the high quality of the research in biomedical and clinical research;
The connection between scientific medicine and medical practice.

All these activities concern primarily the Swiss environment, but they are also strongly oriented towards international developments. These international connections are maintained through membership of various international organisations and the participation of members of the SAMS at international meetings and congresses in the fields of biomedical ethics and the future of medicine.