Abstract
Prof. Dr. med. Dr.
The World Federation for NeuroRehabilitation (WFNR) is very sad to announce that our Honorary President Prof. Dr. med. h. c. mult. Franz Gerstenbrand passed away on the evening of June 30, 2017, at age 92, after a brief illness. He was accompanied at the end by his family and friends.
Prof Franz Gerstenbrand was, for many decades, one of Europe’s most eminent neurologists and a “Founding Father” of the modern field of neurorehabilitation. He was a dedicated supporter of WFNR and all its activities since its formation.
Prof Franz Gerstenbrand was born on September 6, 1924, in Hof, Moravia, today the Czech Republic, as the son of a general practice physician. He took his medical training with Prof Hans Hoff in Vienna and worked as a consulting neurologist in Vienna for many years, including work in neuropediatric institutions. His great intellect and curiosity led him to make important contributions to many areas of neurology. Very early in his career, Franz developed an interest in aspects of what we now call “neurorehabilitation”, for example, working on disorders of motor function with Prof Tischer in the Orthopedic Hospital in Speising, close to Vienna. During this time, Franz also developed an interest in neurological intensive care, seeing many patients with diminished states of consciousness. His skills in clinical observation prompted him to analyze these cases more deeply, in order to understand their phenomenology and underlying pathophysiology. In 1967, he coined the term apallic syndrome and published a very influential book on this previously neglected entity.
In 1976, Franz left Vienna for Innsbruck University, where he was appointed full professor and chairman of the Department of Neurology. Over many years, he developed it into one of the major neurology institutions in Austria. He also was very influential in encouraging professional interactions between neurologists in Eastern and Western Europe, resulting in the creation of the Danube Symposia. At that time, the existence of the “iron curtain” made it particularly important to have in Franz Gerstenbrand a pragmatist who could forge scientific friendships and thus bridge the gaps that had separated regions of Europe for so long. As part of this legacy, Franz helped found the European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFFNS), now a part of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN), and greatly contributed to the effectiveness of these organizations in promoting scientific progress and education.
Franz maintained a lifelong interest in the creative aspects of neurology, promoting the application of innovative strategies and concepts to the field. For example, Franz was one of the first neurologists to use oral levodopa in Parkinson’s disease and one of the first to see HIV infection as a primarily neurological problem. Through his interest in applying neuromodulatory techniques to spinal cord injury, he founded the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Restorative Neurology. He also had a lifelong appreciation of the importance of proprioception in human performance, and by application of his indefatigable enthusiasm for neuroscientific innovation, be extended this to the field of space neurology.
Franz could not have had as great an impact as he did had his abilities been narrowly professional. Fortunately for the field of neurology, he had a strong practical streak, and was a good friend to many politicians and decision makers, using this influence to promote the field. He certainly was one of the first neurologists in Europe to understand how great an impact the concept of neurorehabilitation could have on applied neuroscience.
Franz Gerstenbrand was a very talented neurological teacher, training many distinguished neurologists during his active career. Even after his formal retirement, he remained vigorously active in advancing neurological science, neurological services, and especially neurorehabilitation. He adapted neuroethics also as an important new field. He continued to be sought after as a speaker, discussant, and critic at major neurological meetings into his nineties, until shortly before his death.
In recognition of Franz’ countless contributions to the field of neurorehabilitation, in 2014 the WFNR created the “Franz Gerstenbrand Award,” which is given for outstanding clinical or basic research in the field of neurological rehabilitation.
We will never forget how, after presenting this prize for the first time at our 2014 world congress in Istanbul, Franz Gerstenbrand gave the closing lecture of the meeting, providing a summary of his philosophy of neurology and rehabilitation.
We thank Prof Franz Gerstenbrand for his continuous support of WFNR knowing that the world of neurology has lost a most significant person and hero in the field. We will never forget him as an eminent neurologist, a dear friend, a dedicated teacher, and a politically astute and effective supporter. We will miss him greatly, and we express our profound condolences to his wife, daughters, and to all of his relatives and many friends.
The World Federation for NeuroRehabilitation