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Rolf Ackermann (1941–2015): European Urologist and Gentleman
EUROPEAN UROLOGY 67 (2015) 1198–1199
available at www.sciencedirect.com journal homepage: www.europeanurology.com
Memorandum Rolf Ackermann (1941–2015): European Urologist and Gentleman
The urologic community was shocked to learn that Rolf Ackermann, aged 73, died on February 12 after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage 10 days earlier. In many respects, for many of us, Rolf personified German urology. He belonged to a generation that came of age in the 1970s and early 1980s. With strict training in clinical–surgical and scientific medicine, in the tradition of the German university, combined with additional training in the United States, this group was instrumental in making German urology visible beyond the borders of the Germanspeaking world in the post–World War II era. Born in Ulm, Germany, Rolf trained in Vienna, Austria, and Wu¨rzburg, Germany, under the authority of H. Frohmu¨ller with F. Schroeder as leitender Oberartz. It is easy to imagine that this was a very serious urologic upbringing indeed. He http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2015.03.025 0302-2838/
followed with a year in Joe Kaufman’s Department of Urology at the University of California Los Angeles. Having completed such an excellent education in clinical and scientific urology, Rolf was naturally led to an academic position as professor and chairman of the Department of Urology at the University of Du¨sseldorf (1983–2007). Apart from his clinical and surgical work, he focused his clinical and scientific research on uro-oncology and immunology. Extensively well read and knowledgeable, always very elegantly dressed, Rolf was a tough moderator of scientific sessions at meetings. He was hardly tolerant of approximations and what he viewed as misconceptions but always in a kind way (although he may have ruffled a few feathers). He always made his point very precisely, never accepting an evasive answer. Widely recognized as a key opinion leader in Europe and in the United States, Rolf was elected in 1989 as an international member of the prestigious American Association of Genitourinary Surgeons. Apart of his important position in German urology, Rolf played a major role in the ‘‘rebirth’’ of the European Association of Urology (EAU). In 1992, already a member of the EAU management committee when Frans Debruyne succeeded A. Steg as secretary-general, Rolf became chairman of the statutes and by-laws committee and a member of the new EAU board. In this position, he achieved the difficult task of rewriting the EAU statutes and by-laws in an atmosphere sometimes made slightly uncomfortable by the strong personalities involved but who he managed to convince using patience and diplomacy. At the same time, he became a member of the EAU East–West exchange committee, which did fantastic and pioneering work to bridge the gap that still existed between Western and Central and Eastern Europe. Along with the European Board of Urology East–West teaching program run by Schroeder (later integrated into the EAU as the European School of Urology), these programs brought teams of academic urologists from different countries to various locations. They provided a fantastic boost to the development of strong and durable friendships among participants, leading to further transnational cooperation and further strengthening the spirit of the EAU. In 1996, Rolf stepped down as a board member and joined the EAU Academy of Urology, of which he was
EUROPEAN UROLOGY 67 (2015) 1198–1199
chairman from 2010 to 2012. In this position, he represented the academy on the newly created search and nomination committee, implemented to improve the selection of future executive and board members of the EAU. For all of these services to the EAU, Rolf was awarded the Frans Debruyne Life Time Achievement Award in 2008.
1199
Rolf is survived by his wife Christl, to whom we send our very best and sad condolences. This year, in which we have seen the losses of Rolf Ackermann and John FitzPatrick— both prominent figures of European Urology—has been a very sad year indeed. Laurent Boccon-Gibod Chairman of the Academy of the EAU
available at www.sciencedirect.com journal homepage: www.europeanurology.com
Memorandum Rolf Ackermann (1941–2015): European Urologist and Gentleman
The urologic community was shocked to learn that Rolf Ackermann, aged 73, died on February 12 after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage 10 days earlier. In many respects, for many of us, Rolf personified German urology. He belonged to a generation that came of age in the 1970s and early 1980s. With strict training in clinical–surgical and scientific medicine, in the tradition of the German university, combined with additional training in the United States, this group was instrumental in making German urology visible beyond the borders of the Germanspeaking world in the post–World War II era. Born in Ulm, Germany, Rolf trained in Vienna, Austria, and Wu¨rzburg, Germany, under the authority of H. Frohmu¨ller with F. Schroeder as leitender Oberartz. It is easy to imagine that this was a very serious urologic upbringing indeed. He http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2015.03.025 0302-2838/
followed with a year in Joe Kaufman’s Department of Urology at the University of California Los Angeles. Having completed such an excellent education in clinical and scientific urology, Rolf was naturally led to an academic position as professor and chairman of the Department of Urology at the University of Du¨sseldorf (1983–2007). Apart from his clinical and surgical work, he focused his clinical and scientific research on uro-oncology and immunology. Extensively well read and knowledgeable, always very elegantly dressed, Rolf was a tough moderator of scientific sessions at meetings. He was hardly tolerant of approximations and what he viewed as misconceptions but always in a kind way (although he may have ruffled a few feathers). He always made his point very precisely, never accepting an evasive answer. Widely recognized as a key opinion leader in Europe and in the United States, Rolf was elected in 1989 as an international member of the prestigious American Association of Genitourinary Surgeons. Apart of his important position in German urology, Rolf played a major role in the ‘‘rebirth’’ of the European Association of Urology (EAU). In 1992, already a member of the EAU management committee when Frans Debruyne succeeded A. Steg as secretary-general, Rolf became chairman of the statutes and by-laws committee and a member of the new EAU board. In this position, he achieved the difficult task of rewriting the EAU statutes and by-laws in an atmosphere sometimes made slightly uncomfortable by the strong personalities involved but who he managed to convince using patience and diplomacy. At the same time, he became a member of the EAU East–West exchange committee, which did fantastic and pioneering work to bridge the gap that still existed between Western and Central and Eastern Europe. Along with the European Board of Urology East–West teaching program run by Schroeder (later integrated into the EAU as the European School of Urology), these programs brought teams of academic urologists from different countries to various locations. They provided a fantastic boost to the development of strong and durable friendships among participants, leading to further transnational cooperation and further strengthening the spirit of the EAU. In 1996, Rolf stepped down as a board member and joined the EAU Academy of Urology, of which he was
EUROPEAN UROLOGY 67 (2015) 1198–1199
chairman from 2010 to 2012. In this position, he represented the academy on the newly created search and nomination committee, implemented to improve the selection of future executive and board members of the EAU. For all of these services to the EAU, Rolf was awarded the Frans Debruyne Life Time Achievement Award in 2008.
1199
Rolf is survived by his wife Christl, to whom we send our very best and sad condolences. This year, in which we have seen the losses of Rolf Ackermann and John FitzPatrick— both prominent figures of European Urology—has been a very sad year indeed. Laurent Boccon-Gibod Chairman of the Academy of the EAU