University Professor Emeritus Dr. Otmar M. Pachinger, MD, FESC, FIHA, FICA (1944–2019)

Dr. Otmar M. Pachinger, MD, FESC, FIHA, FICA

University Professor Dr. Otmar M. Pachinger, MD, FESC, FIHA, FICA, a loving husband to Carolyn, a father, and a grandfather, passed away on October 7, 2019, after a brief illness. He was an Austrian pioneer of invasive coronary intervention and a long-time professor of cardiology at the Medical University of Innsbruck and the Tyrol Clinics.

Dr. Otmar M. Pachinger was born in 1944 in Wels in Upper Austria and received his MD degree in 1968 from the Medical School, University of Vienna. He received his postdoctoral training in prestigious institutions and with famous people. After receiving his MD degree, his mentor was Prof. Fritz Kaindl from the University of Vienna. He had the opportunity to work with Prof. Albrecht Fleckenstein, who is famous for the development of calcium channel blockers used for hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases, in Freiberg, Germany, from September 1970 to December 1971. Prof. Pachinger then moved to the University of Southern California to work with Prof. Richard Bing, who was the father of cardiac metabolism and a legend at that time. From the University of Southern California, Prof. Pachinger moved to the Department of Radiology at the University of Loma Linda, Loma Linda, California, United States, in 1973 to work with Prof. Melvin P. Judkins, MD, who was a pioneer of coronary angiography.

After training, Prof. Pachinger returned to Vienna in 1979 and worked as Associate Professor in Internal Medicine at the Medical Faculty, University of Vienna. In 1986, he moved to Wels (Upper Austria) as the Head of the Division of Cardiology. Prof. Pachinger then moved to Innsbruck in 1995 as full Professor and Chairman of the Department of Cardiology, University of Innsbruck. He was the Executive Director of the Department of Internal Medicine, University of Innsbruck, from 2008 until his retirement in 2013. In 2006 Prof. Pachinger was awarded the Teacher of the Year award from the Medical University of Innsbruck. His research achievements are numerous, excellent, and of very high quality. He has published 239 full-length papers with 4,831 citations in high-impact journals. He is a renowned cardiologist worldwide. Prof. Pachinger has trained numerous cardiologists and taken good care of his patients. Considering his academic achievements, superior teaching and training of interns and residents, excellent patient care, extensive administrative ability, and service to the International College of Angiology, the International College of Angiology has established the Prof. Otmar M. Pachinger‘s Oration Lecture in his honor.

He was a member and fellow of 14 medical societies. He has served as the Secretary of the Austrian Heart Foundation, President of the Austrian Heart Foundation, and President of International College of Angiology, and Chairman of the Scientific Committee of International College of Angiology until his passing. He has served as a member of the Editorial Board of eight prestigious journals and as a Senior Editor of the International Journal of Angiology until his passing. He has served our International College of Angiology and the International Journal of Angiology with sincerity, honesty, and his fullest ability. In September 2019, Prof. Pachinger was bestowed the highest award, “Lifetime Achievement Award,” from the International College of Angiology.

In conclusion, Prof. Pachinger had a distinguished career in terms of academic, research, teaching, patient care, and administrative ability. His achievements were prominent both in quality and quantity.

Prof. Otmar M. Pachinger will be missed by his patients, as well as his colleagues, and will truly be remembered as an outstanding person, dedicated mentor, and friend to all.