Download Franz Trautinger, Dermatologist

QUOTE: Dermatology is an art of seeing.
Franz Trautinger
Dermatologist
Professor Franz Trautinger is head of the Department of Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Diseases
(STDs) at Landesklinikum St. Pölten hospital and Associate Clinical Professor of Karl Landsteiner University
of Health Sciences. He spoke to Eva-Maria Gruber about the most fascinating features of the body's largest
sensory organ, the importance of a trained eye for dermatologists, and how he combines clinical work with
research.
You are a dermatologist. What fascinates you about the largest human sensory organ?
I was fascinated by skin even as a student. At the time I didn’t know exactly why. In hindsight I would say that
there are two reasons. First of all, my discipline offers the possibility to make diagnoses by sight.
Dermatology is an art of seeing: when you are faced with a new patient and carefully analyse the alterations
in their skin you can often immediately make an initial diagnosis without any further evidence or technological
aids. This is not possible in most other disciplines. The second aspect is the fact that the field is so diverse
and multi-faceted. You get to see everything – from harmless rashes to life-threatening illnesses. There is a
varied and wide spectrum that demands a great deal of interdisciplinary collaboration. I can also do both
things – work as a surgeon but also provide non-surgical treatment.
Sharpened and trained sight is therefore essential for a dermatologist?
Absolutely. One of my favourite tasks is to train young doctors and help them develop this sight. Where a
layperson sees only a red mark, an experienced dermatologist can identify illness-specific patterns by
analysing details such as colour shades, surfaces, shape and definition. It is possible to train this skill so that
it can be deployed automatically and almost unknowingly.
Which area fascinates you the most?
I have two preferred areas of interest that overlap. Dermato-oncology (i.e. skin cancer) and photobiology i.e.
the impact of ultraviolet radiation on the skin – from sunburn to carcinogenesis.
So two hearts beat in your chest - that of the doctor and that of the researcher?
Yes, but you can’t actually separate them. As far as I’m concerned, patient-oriented medicine is just as
important as scientific findings. Both areas depend on each other. Happily I can combine them both in my
current position; I like taking care of patients but also enjoy developing research projects together with my
colleagues. Experimental research was a major aspect of my work at the Medical University of Vienna. The
focus at the St. Pölten state hospital has naturally shifted a bit and clinical medicine has moved into the
foreground. But I also combine patient care and research here. Amongst other things, we are currently
focusing on a project that I started in Vienna, namely an investigation of cutaneous lymphomas. This is a rare
group of diseases and we still know far too little about their pathophysiology.
You grew up in Krems, spent time in Vienna and Germany and came back to Lower Austria seven
years ago. Do you cherish small town life?
Absolutely. Of course: if you come from a small town like Krems, big cities are interesting and exciting and
offer very many opportunities for development. But I still never became a true Viennese. I suppose that in
your heart you always remain a small-towner. I like being in Vienna and have a practice there together with
my wife. That is fantastic for both of us and gives us contact to a big city. But I prefer living in Lower Austria.
If you grow up in Krems, in the beautiful Wachau, you automatically retain a strong affinity to your homeland.
Biography:
Primar Univ.-Prof. Dr. Franz Trautinger
Born in 1962 in St. Pölten. Degree in Medicine at Vienna University. Head of the Department for Skin and
Venereal Diseases at St. Pölten state hospital (since 2006). Founder and Head of the Karl Landsteiner
Institute for Dermatological Research (since 2006). Module coordinator in module 3 of the BA in Health
Sciences at Karl Landsteiner Private University of Health Sciences. Major memberships (inter alia): Board
member of the Karl Landsteiner Society. Member of the Steering Committee of the Austrian Society for
Dermatology. Board member of Lower Austria Cancer Aid. Major awards (inter alia): Johannes Ritschl
Research Prize from Lower Austria Cancer Aid (2007). Unilever Prize from the Austrian Society for
Dermatology (1993). Scientific advancement award for dermatology from AESCA (1993).
The book:
[State] of Science. An authentic glimpse into the scientific landscape of Lower Austria. State of Lower
Austria. Residenz Verlag, 344 Seiten, € 35,-