Women in Life Sciences in the Swiss Health Valley

The Swiss Health Valley continues to shine, thanks to the talent, leadership, and vision of extraordinary women shaping the future of medicine and science.

Prof. Sophie Pautex, Head of the Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics and Chief Physician of the Palliative Care Service at the HUG, has received the EAPC Clinical Impact Award 2025, a prestigious distinction awarded by the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC). This is a wonderful recognition of her exceptional commitment to the development of palliative care. Her pioneering work in the care of elderly patients, pain assessment, advance care planning and interprofessional training has had a lasting impact on clinical practice in Switzerland and Europe.

Prof. Laura Rubbia-Brandt and Prof. Caroline Samer (UNIGE-HUG) are elected to the Senate of the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences (SAMS). Laura Rubbia-Brandt, full professor in the Department of Pathology and Immunology at the UNIGE Faculty of Medicine, head of the Diagnostic Department and chief physician of the Clinical Pathology Service at the HUG, has been elected an honorary member for her outstanding services to the promotion of science, the healthcare system and/or the SAMW. Caroline Samer, Associate Professor and Director of the Department of Anaesthesiology, Pharmacology, Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine at the UNIGE Faculty of Medicine and Chief Physician of the Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology Service at the HUG, has been elected as an individual member in recognition of her scientific excellence. They are among the nine new members elected – eight of whom are women – to the Senate of the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences (SAMS), its supreme body.

And finally, At UNIL’s Dies academicus, Prof. Jocelyne Bloch, Chief of Neurosurgery at CHUV / Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois and ONWARD’s co-founder, received the University of Lausanne Prize. She was particularly recognized for her pioneering research in neurosurgery and regenerative medicine, including groundbreaking work on deep brain stimulation and its role in improving movement in people living with spinal cord injury and other movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. Prof. Bloch also received a BioAlps Academia Award in November 2022.

These scientists are trailblazers whose work transforms healthcare, science, and society. Their achievements reflect the strength of collaborative, multidisciplinary research and the power of diverse leadership in shaping a healthier tomorrow in the Swiss Health Valley.

📸 © Félix Imhof / UNIL, UNIGE, ECPA