ESGE Newsletter

A tribute in memoriam

It is with deep sorrow that we received the news that Aksel Kruse passed away January 28, 2015, after months of serious illness.

Aksel Kruse (1942 – 2015)

Aksel was born 1942 in Denmark and spent his life as a medical doctor in Aarhus, primarily at Aarhus County Hospital. After his first year, he initiated the method of ERCP in Denmark, April 1973 and performed the first endoscopic papillotomy in the Nordic countries august 1974. His series of the first 100 ERCPs were reported at the Scandinavian meeting in Oslo one year later.

Initially a full time endoscopist, Aksel went on to specialize in radiology. However, his passion for endoscopy prevailed and he held the position as Chief of Endoscopy until his retirement two years ago.

Aksel was also actively involved in the ESGE, serving initially as councilor, then treasurer and as education committee chair. He became an ESGE Honorary Member on leaving the board in 2004. He was a dedicated clinician, but also keenly involved in educational and organizational matters of endoscopy on the European level, and was well-known for his warm hospitality through the many ESGE grantees who spent time at his department in Aarhus.

We will deeply miss Aksel. He was a highly gifted endoscopist, but even more importantly a dear friend, with close links to many of those presently involved in ESGE activities.

Lars Aabakken, on behalf of the ESGE Governing Board