[Universities and medicine].

History of universities with special emphasis on medicine as part of universities is presented as a short survey. Particular attention is thereby focused on the development of university based medical schools in Austria, especially in the city of Vienna. The importance of Abraham Flexner for both the US and european medical schools is recognized. The Bologna-system of european curriculum design is mentioned as well as the development of non-public universities in Austria. Finally the peculiarity of the development of medical schools in Austria within the past twenty years is addressed. Digressions on Humboldt's vision of university and on lectures as an essential didactic item in universities are integrated within the text.