Member-related | January 13th, 2025

Obituary: Professor Dr. Berndt Urlesberger (February 5, 1961 – December 30, 2024)

 

It is with profound sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of Professor Dr. Berndt Urlesberger at the age of 63, following a tragic accident.

With Berndt Urlesberger, the medical community has lost an outstanding individual. As an internationally respected scientist and teacher, he devoted decades to advancing the understanding of cerebral development and oximetry. His pioneering work on non-invasive monitoring techniques, particularly using near-infrared spectroscopy to measure oxygen saturation in the brain and other tissues, remains a landmark in the field. Through this research focus, he was also an esteemed member of the ESPR Circulation, Oxygen Transport and Hematology Section and founding member of the Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Special Interest Group.

Professor Urlesberger was a visionary researcher and educator who inspired countless colleagues, young scientists, and doctors to pursue careers in pediatrics and neonatal care. His guidance profoundly shaped the journeys of numerous medical practitioners and researchers worldwide.

Above all, Berndt Urlesberger was deeply admired as a physician. With immense dedication and empathy, he guided premature infants through their most critical early days. For over 30 years, including 12 years as Head of the Division of Neonatology at the Medical University of Graz, he tirelessly worked to improve the lives of newborns and their families. Even after retiring, he remained passionate about advancing neonatal care, with plans to establish new facilities and continue his research.

Beyond his professional achievements, Berndt Urlesberger's empathy and dedication leave an enduring legacy. His work will continue to resonate through the lives of the children he helped, the professionals he mentored, and the innovations he championed.

Berndt Urlesberger leaves behind his wife, his daughter, his son, and his two beloved grandchildren. The medical community and all who knew him mourn the loss of an exceptional individual whose contributions to neonatology will shape pediatric care for generations.

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