The EFSUMB Honorary member Hans Henrik Holm (HHH) and the founder of the Danish Ultrasound
Diagnostic Society (DUDS) passed away at the age of 84. HHH’s importance to both Danish
and international ultrasound imaging simply cannot be overstated. Even his nicknames
“The father of interventional ultrasound” and “The father of Danish ultrasound” speaks
for the greatness of his achievements. HHH graduated from Copenhagen University in
1958. As a resident in the department of urology at Gentofte Hospital in the beginning
of the 60’s his vision for ultrasound was recognized early. HHH established a laboratory
of ultrasound with a dedicated group of other young residents at the hospital. No
B-mode scanners were commercially available at that time, so HHH had to build one.
HHH did the first ultrasound image guided puncture of a renal cyst and he named the
technique ‘2-D static scanning puncture.’ The procedure was filmed and presented at
the AIUM meeting in USA in 1970 intervention. Other achievements were a transurethral
ultrasound scanner in 1973 and presentation of the real-time ultrasound guided puncture
technique using a linear array transducer in 1974. In February 1974, the Danish Society
of Diagnostic Ultrasound was founded and HHH was elected as its first president.
Hans Henrik Holm
In 1983, Holm introduced the transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided implantation technique
for the treatment of prostatic cancer (brachytherapy). Several procedures, equipment
and applications of interventional ultrasound were born there in collaboration with
industrial partners. Ultrasound guided ablation techniques, using laser, microwaves,
radiofrequency, cryo and radioactive seeds were developed or clinically implemented
because HHH had created an unsurpassed environment for research and innovation. There
was a constant flow of doctors visiting the Ultrasound Department from all over the
world. All returned to their homelands stimulated and enriched by HHH, and several
of them returned and founded ultrasound units in their hospitals after the concept
they had experienced.
HHH had an incredible drive and commitment and combined with his winning character
he was in charge of many international congresses. The culmination was without a doubt
the ultrasound World Congress WFUMB 1991 when Hans Henrik was president. HHH became
honorary member of several international scientific societies and received numerous
awards for his work including The Novo Award and The August Krogh Prize. He was also
Honorary Member of the Norwegian Society for Diagnostic Ultrasound (NFUD). He also
received the great honour to be appointed adjunct professor at Copenhagen University
and honorary professor at the world’s oldest university, the University of Bologna.
After his retirement HHH continued his genuine interest in the development of Danish
ultrasound and for many years, he was a welcome participant at the annual scientific
meeting in DUDS. Our thoughts are with his wife Kirsten and their three children Jacob,
Niels and Trine with families. We know they will miss him dearly, so do we.
Bjørn Skjoldbye, Christian Nolsøe, and Odd Helge Gilja
