Promoting human well-being

The Mogren Foundation

The Mogren Foundation annually awards two prizes for human well-being, in medicine and classical music. The purpose is to promote research and education.


The Medicine Prize is awarded to professional clinicians who emphasise empathy and patient contact, while the Music Prize is awarded to newly graduated musicians who have just started their careers.

The Mogren Music Prize 2024 is awarded to the 29 year old bass-baritone Kristoffer Töyrä. The prize sum, SEK 250,000, is awarded for an exceptional voice as well as a purposeful expression and a musical style that the jury believes can lead to a successful international career.

2023 Mogren Music Prize

Helena Schuback sings to survive – now she is being celebrated

The 2023 Mogren Music Prize is awarded to opera singer Helena Schuback. Schuback was awarded the prize of SEK 250,000 for her impressive and brave career change from violinist to opera singer, with a voice tailored for a challenging new repertoire.

The 2023 Mogren Medicine Prize is awarded to Marie-Louise Lydrup, surgeon and Chief physician at Skåne University Hospital. Lydrup was awarded the prize of SEK 250,000 for her distinguished care provision for patients rehabilitating after pelvic cancer, a complex treatment associated with severe stigma.

This is how it started...


Håkan Mogren identified two important areas that are often overlooked. He noticed the importance of empathy in healthcare, but also how the space for it is shrinking. And he experienced the joy that music brings to people, but saw how young musicians struggle to afford to develop their talent.

In this video, we explain why the Mogren Foundation exists and the exceptional individuals we are tasked with honouring. Please watch it!

Get to know our awardees


The Mogren Medicine Prize is awarded to professional clinicians who emphasise empathy and patient contact, while the Music Prize is awarded to newly graduated musicians who have just started their careers.

Why is empathy so important?

In a society where time is increasingly scarce, human interaction and empathy risk being impaired.

When the patient meeting is not granted enough time, it becomes a problem not only for the patient but also for the entire healthcare system.

This is why we support young musicians

A strong cultural life allows different thoughts and feelings to come together. By supporting young musicians early in their careers, we want to support the cultural sector

"Being a patient today requires quite a lot of strength"

"For physicians to be given the space to pause and listen to the patients they are meeting – and make that a prioritisation – is an absolute prerequisite for successful healthcare," says Ola Björgell.

How we make a difference

We support professional clinicians and young, promising  musicians – and for a good reason.