Interview with Dr. Hugo Partsch (by Jose Antonio Olivencia)

Is it necessary to write an introduction for a man whose name is familiar to every phlebologist and angiologist, and who is currently the President of the International Union of Phlebology? (Figure 1) The list of Professor Hugo Partsch's publications (more than 360) and his memberships in scientific committees and advisory boards would fill several pages. In the early 1970s I was reading, with great interest, his articles in "VASA," and several of them have become part of my basic medical knowledge. In all these years, the flow of numerous publications has not diminished, now covering the entire spectrum of angiology. Just by looking to his enormous scientific production, the average reader would probably picture the author as a "typical textbook scientist" caught in a strange world consisting of vessels, either too wide or too narrow. Anyone who has met Hugo Partsch will agree that the contrary is true. It must be assumed that most readers have already seen him as a regular guest speaker at international meetings. It is still a mystery to me how he finds time for all his scientific work, at the same time overseeing the University Clinic in Vienna and traveling from one Congress to the next. Readers will know him as a highly respected scientist, as a fair and diplomatic discussant that speaks several languages, and last but not least, an untiring skier and dancer. Hugo Partsch has helped to bring European Angiology to the United States, and using his broad knowledge and Viennese charm, to merge the diverse studies and interests of phlebology, angiology, lymphology and dermatology.He was born in Vienna in 1938 where he completed all of his studies. He graduated in 1962 and served three years as a resident in southern Austria. In 1965 he continued his residency at the Wilhelmine Spital; at this hospital he would become the head of the dermatological department in 1987. Starting his training in dermatology in 1966, he became a senior registrar in 1970. He acquired the Venia Legendi in 1978 and received the title of Professor of Dermatology at the University of Vienna in 1985. He is the father of three children and has four grandchildren. One could simply define Hugo Partsch as Professor of Dermatology in Vienna. But he is the only dermatologist, to my knowledge, having done so much in the fields of thrombosis, lymphology, peripheral neuropathies, phlebology and angiology in general.