In Memory of Prof. Dr. med. Gerd Werner Wolf Staehler (1939–2014)

doi:10.1515/plm-2014-0049

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In Memory of Prof. Dr. med. Gerd Werner Wolf Staehler (1939–2014)

Published/Copyright: February 27, 2015

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From the journal Photonics & Lasers in Medicine Volume 4 Issue 1

We mourn the loss of Prof. Dr. med. Gerd Werner Wolf Staehler, who died on October 22, 2014, at the age of 75. Prof. Staehler’s life was closely connected with both the development of laser medicine in Germany and the history of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Lasermedizin (DGLM) e.V.

The beginnings of medical laser applications in Germany go back to laser research work which was started in the 1960s and 1970s at the Department of Urology in Munich. At that time, there was very little documented experience regarding the interaction of laser beams and tissue. The industry essentially only offered CO₂, Argon and Nd:YAG laser systems, but motivated by the fast-growing research activities in the field of urology, the Munich high-tech industry was willing to support new development projects that offered ideal conditions for interested medical doctors to familiarize themselves with the technical and biophysical principles of laser systems and possible clinical applications in theory and experiment.

Consequently, several working teams were established in the years 1973 and 1974, among others, a urology group led by A. Hofstetter where the young Gerd Staehler became a committed member – something that is borne out by the numerous scientific publications from that time on this topic.

Driven by the manifold research activities, the necessity for the formation of an extensive organized society, that would enable interdisciplinary exchange of experience, became obvious. This led to the DGLM being founded in 1981. Prof. Staehler was a DGLM member of the first hour and was its honorable president from 2003 to 2005.

One essential task in perceiving the objective of the DGLM to support laser medicine has been the publication of a scientific journal since 1981. From the start, Prof. Staehler actively accompanied this process as valued co-editor-in-chief of the journals Progress of Medicine (1981–1985), Laser in Medicine and Surgery (1986–1990), Lasermedizin (1991–2000) and Medical Laser Application (2002–2008), the precursor of the current DGLM journal Photonics & Lasers in Medicine.

In Prof. Staehler we have lost a dedicated fighter for the cause. We would like to express our deep sympathy to the family and relatives of Prof. Dr. med. Gerd Werner Wolf Staehler, Professor Emeritus of Urology, Heidelberg University.

On behalf of the

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Lasermedizin (DGLM) e.V.

Dr. C. M. Philipp, President of DGLM e.V.

Editors-in-Chief of Photonics & Lasers in Medicine

Dr. F. Frank, Editor-in-Chief

Published Online: 2015-2-27

Published in Print: 2015-2-1

Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/plm-2014-0049