The Thomas and Doris Ammann Prize
Recognizing excellence in pediatric medicine.
The Children’s Hospital Zurich Thomas and Doris Amman Prize is awarded to an outstanding and internationally recognized individual who has contributed greatly to pediatric research or clinical practice. With an endowment of CHF 200,000, the prize celebrates medical excellence and scientific innovation. Dr. Stefan Pfister is awarded in recognition of outstanding contributions to pediatric neuro-oncology.
The Thomas and Doris Ammann Foundation
The Thomas and Doris Ammann Foundation was established in 2021 in accordance with the last will of Zurich art dealer Doris Ammann. She left behind an outstanding art collection that originated with her brother Thomas Ammann, who passed away in 1993. Together with her partner Georg Frei, she continued to expand the collection over the years. In her will, Doris Ammann stipulated that the collection be sold to support charitable causes. The foundation’s mission is to support medicine, education of children and young people, and the fine arts.
University Children’s Hospital Zurich
Media Releases
Der Thomas und Doris Ammann-Preis des Universitäts-Kinderspitals Zürich geht an Prof. Stefan Pfister
FAQ Thomas and Doris Ammann Prize - Update 12. März 2026
Since its inception the Thomas and Doris Ammann Foundation has supported the University Children's Hospital Zurich – Eleonore Foundation (Kispi), donating a total of CHF 70 million for pioneering research projects and infrastructure such as the GMP lab for skin replacements and the stem cell lab. As part of this collaboration, the “University Children's Hospital Zurich Thomas and Doris Ammann Prize” is awarded for an outstanding achievement in pediatric medicine. The prize has an endowment of CHF 200,000 and goes to an outstanding and internationally recognized individual who has contributed greatly to pediatric research or clinical practice.
The jury was made up of five to seven internationally recognized experts from the fields of research and clinical practice. They represented the various disciplines of pediatric medicine and regions of the world: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania.
Each member of the jury could nominate one person. The jury drew up a written proposal for the Committee on the award of the prize, stating its reasons for selecting the nominee.
The committee selecting the prize winners was made up of five people. Two members were appointed by the Thomas and Doris Ammann Foundation, and two by the Eleonore Foundation, operating the University Children’s Hospital Zurich. The Foundation and the Children's Hospital jointly agreed on the fifth member. This individual acted as chairperson.
The committee decided who should receive the prizes based on the proposals from the interdisciplinary and international jury.
When nominating candidates and proposing the laureate the jury considered the following criteria:
a. Scientific quality and clinical relevance;
b. Innovation potential;
c. International reach;
d. Career-developing nature (in the case of young talent prizes);
e. Interdisciplinary collaboration and translational approach.
The ceremony for the University Children’s Hospital Zurich Thomas and Doris Ammann Prize was held on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Kispi’s Research and Teaching Building.
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