About Friederichs Mindelegat

In 1983, two general practitioners who were also researchers received the first allocation from this memorial grant. Since 1987, the grant board has been able to award several grants annually, often on or around Magda Friederich’s birthday. What is the story behind the name, where does the money come from, and why is general practice supported?

A grant with capital, a charter, and a board does not emerge on its own. Someone must wish to earmark their funds for a purpose other than passing them on to heirs, someone must organize it, and someone must ensure that it serves a meaningful purpose. That it was dedicated specifically to advancing research in general practice was a forward-thinking decision in the mid-1970s.

Svend Aage Friederich was an accountant. He built his own wealth, which grew further through his marriage to Magda. She passed away in 1967, and he in 1978 at the age of 87. He lived in Nørrebro, Copenhagen, spending his last years with his relative Ragna Bach. Until his death, he maintained a keen interest in many topics, including the comprehensive social legislation known as the Social Assistance Act (Bistandsloven), which was introduced in his final years, as well as the role of the general practitioner. He engaged in many discussions with his doctor, K. B. Rasmussen, about contemporary issues, and this undoubtedly played a significant role in his decision to allocate part of his fortune specifically to general practice. According to his will, the grant board was to consist of the estate’s executor, I. Enevoldsen, Ragna Bach, and K. B. Rasmussen. It is evident from the will and the founder’s correspondence that grants were to be awarded based on the board’s decision, without application.

After the grant founder’s death, a lengthy and time-consuming process followed to manage the estate and draft a charter. A further challenge was that the grant’s assets consisted of properties where the modest rental income was largely absorbed by operational and maintenance costs. As a result, in 1983, only a small sum could be awarded, divided between Paul Backer and Poul A. Pedersen, in recognition and support of their work with the Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care. The following year, there was nothing to distribute.

During this period, Enevoldsen stepped down due to age, and attorney Mogens Popp-Madsen joined the board. Over the following years, he successfully sold the properties under favorable conditions, significantly improving the financial returns. By 1985, only a single grant could be awarded, but from 1987 onwards, the annual awarding practice was established and has continued ever since. Three types of grants are awarded from the fund.

The Danish Prize

For many years, the Danish Prize has been set at 100,000 DKK, occasionally split between two recipients. It has been awarded, in chronological order, to Carl Erik Mabeck, Inga Marie Lunde, the Balint Society through Jack Norell, Henrik Wulff, Niels Bentzen, Poul Krogh-Jensen, Gert Almind, Frede Olesen, Niels Nørrelund, Jørgen Lous, Preben Hertoft, Hanne Hollnagel, Ivar Østergaard, Torsten Lauritzen, Jens Georg Hansen, Henrik Schmidt, Anders Munck, Jakob Kragstrup, Arvid Frank Jørgensen, John Sahl Andersen, Niels Damsbo, Poul Erik Heldgaard, and Jens Søndergaard.

The Nordic Prize

Every other year, the Nordic Prize is awarded. So far, recipients have included Dag Bruusgaard (Norway), Carl Erik Mabeck (Denmark), Carl Edvard Rudebeck (Sweden), Johann Sigurdsson (Iceland), Kirsti Malterud (Norway), Sirkka-Liisa Kivelä (Finland), Steinar Hunskår (Norway), Anders Håkansson (Sweden), Hanne Hollnagel (Denmark), Marjukka Mäkelä (Finland), and Irene Hetlevik (Norway). Before awarding this prize, the board invites nominations from Nordic general medical research communities and through professional journals. It is emphasized that a national contribution alone is not sufficient to be considered.

Both prizes are awarded in recognition of past achievements and in anticipation of future contributions. Additionally, a significant number of smaller grants are awarded, collectively representing the largest portion of the fund’s distributions. These are given to young researchers who are just beginning their careers or to researchers with unconventional ideas and methods that make it difficult for them to secure funding. Over the past 14 years, more than 100 grants have been awarded. Young researchers do not necessarily have to be young in age; many grants have been given to established general practitioners as support for their first steps into research.

Finally, the fund has previously supported research development activities, such as Nordic methodology courses in qualitative research and travel to international research conferences.

Thanks to the significant and forward-looking efforts of K. B. Rasmussen and Mogens Popp-Madsen, among the many medical grants and prizes, there is now also a substantial one dedicated to general practice.

In the late 1990s, K. B. Rasmussen and Ragna Bach stepped down from the board due to health reasons and were replaced by Gert Almind and Carl Erik Mabeck. In 2001, Mabeck was succeeded by Niels Bentzen.

By Gert Almind and Carl Erik MabeckOriginally published in Danish in Practicus, autumn 2000, with updated text June 2009