Womens Health & Reproductive Medicine

Biography

After graduating from the Realgymnasium Wels (1966), Beate Wimmer-Puchinger studied psychology at the University of Vienna, where she earned her doctorate in 1974. In 1976 she became a university assistant at the Institute of Depth Psychology and Psychotherapy. From 1979 to 1980 she was a scientific assistant at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Birth Control and Pregnancy Care at the Semmelweis Women's Hospital . There she set up a comprehensive clinical-psychological care model. Already with one of her first research on the motives for abortion, the psychologist sparked heated discussions. In 1985, Beate Wimmer-Puchinger habilitated at the University of Vienna. From 1989 to 1992 she was chairman of the clinical psychologists in the professional association for psychologists. In 1993, the University of Salzburg awarded her the title of Associate Professor. In 1994, she became WHO Country Coordinator for Women's Health. In 1996 she was elected Study Director of European "Parent Support" by the Council of Europe. In 1996, the psychologist created the first Vienna Women's Health Report, which resulted in the Vienna Women's Health Program. In 1999, Wimmer-Puchinger became the city's women's health officer to implement the program. She remained in this role until 2015. Her research and education activities included topics such as eating disorders, medial beauty ideals and "grocery" beauty surgery, postnatal depression, breast cancer screening, violence against women, female genital mutilation, health promotion for socially disadvantaged women or training for hospital staff for early detection of domestic disorders Violence. Teaching assignments have taken her to Berlin, the USA and Switzerland, among others. As a pioneer of women's health promotion, the psychologist has received several awards. Among other awards, she received the Golden Medal of Merit for the Province of Vienna in 2010, the Golden Medal for Services to the Republic of Austria in 2011 and the Women's Prize of the City of Vienna in 2016. In 2017, Beate Wimmer-Puchinger was elected President of the Professional Association of Austrian Psychologists (BÖP).

Research Interest

Eating disorders, medial beauty ideals and "grocery" beauty surgery, postnatal depression, breast cancer screening, violence against women, female genital mutilation, health promotion for socially disadvantaged women or training for hospital staff for early detection of domestic disorders Violence.