Considered to be founding father of German cardiology, this great man from Baesweiler has amassed an incredible list of accomplishments. For those of us here at the ESC, he will always have a special place as an ex-President of the European Society of Cardiology. He was also Head of the department of Cardiology, Pneumology, and Angiology at the University Hospital of Düsseldorf.
In 1960, Prof. Loogen, EFESC, became a member of the German Cardiac Society (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kardiologie, DGK), and by 1968 was a member of the Advisory Board.
Shortly after, due to regulations in 1972 for board-certification in internal medicine and cardiology encouraging cardiologists to set up medical practices outside of hospitals, Prof. Loogen sought to unite this growing group of cardiologists with a goal of pursing common interests in view of the many anticipated professional problems. The result was the clinically oriented and indisputably successful autumn meetings, supported by Loogen, EFESC, and Hans Blömer and developed by the DGK.
During this time, Prof. Loogen’s principle concern was that German cardiology was under-represented and, therefore, its influence was marginal. This same year, he was elected to the Board of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and will forever hold the distinction of being the first German ever on the Board. In recognition of his accomplishments for European Cardiology, he also received the Gold Medal of the ESC. While with the ESC, Professor Loogen, EFESC, was also a member of the Board of the International Society and Federation of Cardiology (ISFC), which today is the World Heart Federation (WHF).
His commitment to the ESC lasted for 16 years, including his four year term as President (1980-1984) and gaining recognition for German cardiology throughout Europe.
Prof. Loogen, EFESC, was also President of the DGK from 1974-1975. As a result of the rapid progress in the field at this point in time, he foresaw the need for both the university hospital and specialised and independent hospitals of cardiology. What was once his vision is today our reality. He realized the need to adapt to change and expand in scope. His first step into this new era of cardiology was the creation of the Committee for Clinical Cardiology which issued recommendations and guidelines on clinical practice and was contributed to significantly by both Loogen, EFESC, and Blömer.
Additionally, he realised his vision of an international congress that would bring together cardiologists from East and West, during a time when tensions were high as a result of the Cold War. With sincerity and political tact, he obtained the agreement of Eastern bloc countries, including the Soviet Union, to organise the World Congress in 1994 in the then still divided city of West Berlin.
Among his many other merits and honours are receiving the Federal Cross of Merit First Class, becoming an honorary member of the German Cardiac Society, receiving the Carl Ludwig honorary medal in 1998, and becoming an honorary member of the German Society for Internal Medicine in 1999.
Congratulations Professor Loogen, EFESC, on a long and accomplished life, and we wish you many more continued years of happiness.