Elisabeth Pittermann is health spokesperson of the Austrian Pensioners’ Association, PVÖ. The physician and former member of the Austrian parliament assumed this position in 2010.
After studying Medicine at the Medical University of Vienna, she earned her PhD in 1971 sub auspiciis rei publica and started to work as a doctor at the Kanusch Hospital (HKH). As a renowned specialist in internal medicine, hemato-oncology, and blood group serology and transfusion medicine, among other things, she worked on Austria’s first cell separator and as chief physician of the 3rd medical department was responsible for establishing and managing a blood depot at the She held this position for the 20 last years of her medical career until she retired in 2011.
As a member of socialist youth organisations, Elisabeth Pittermann began her political career even before her A-levels. After her studies she secured offices in the Austrian Medical Chamber, as district councillor in Vienna, as member of the Austrian parliament (1994-2000) and as city councillor for health and social affairs in Vienna (2000-2004) for the Social Democratic Party of Austria, SPÖ. In addition to that, she worked for different committees in the academic, medical and social area. In 2022, the Dr. Elisabeth Pittermann Prize, established by her colleagues, was awarded for the first time on the occasion of the anniversary of the Austrian Society for Hemato-Oncology. She has been a long-standing member and honorary member of this organisation.
She is married to Univ.-Prof. Dr. Paul Höcker whom she met during her time at HKH. They have three sons, all of them are married, and eight grandchildren.
