In Memoriam
Professor Herbert Voigt
IFMBE President 2009 – 2012
IUPESM President 2012 – 2015
Professor Herbert Frederick Voigt III, Past President of the International Union for Physical and Engineering Sciences in Medicine (IUPESM), and Past President of the International Federation of Medical and Biological Engineering (IFMBE) – of Milton, MA, passed away suddenly on 25 January 2018. He is survived by his loving wife Ronit, and children Justin and his wife Jennifer, granddaughters Madeline and Charlotte of Milton, MA, and daughter Emily of Milton, MA. He leaves behind his mother Simona and eight siblings.
Professor Voigt was elected in 2006 to be the President of IFMBE during the term 2009 to 2012, and subsequently to be the President of IUPESM from 2012 to 2015. As President of IUPESM, which is the parent organization of IFMBE and International Organization for Medical Physics (IOMP), he played an important role in promoting the collaboration and development amongst these constituent organizations. Professor Voigt was a visionary leader, a great team builder and a highly respected colleague. During his presidency of IFMBE and IUPESM, Professor Voigt made significant and valuable contributions to the global community of Biomedical Engineers and Medical Physicists.
Professor Voigt was indeed a bright biomedical engineer. He earned his doctorate in Biomedical Engineering in 1980 from the top ranked Johns Hopkins University and spent his professional career devoted to education and research at another top ranked Boston University. He was a Professor of Biomedical Engineering and an Associate Research Professor of Otolaryngology at Boston University. Professor Voigt was an illustrious researcher and innovator. Professor Voigt’s research interests included auditory neurophysiology, specifically cochlear nucleus neural circuitry, heavy metal detection and global health. He was a dedicated professor and mentor to students providing consistent guidance and mentorship.
Professor Voigt served as the President of the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) in 1999 and the President of Alpha Eta Mu Beta from 2002 to 2008. He also served as the President of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) from 2006 to 2007. He received the BMES’s President’s Award in 2002 and its Distinguished Service Award in 2004, and was elected to the Johns Hopkins Society of Scholars in 2003. Professor Voigt was an AIMBE Founding Fellow in 1998 and a BMES Fellow in 2004. He was selected by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) as a Distinguished Lecturer from 2012-2013 and was also an honorary member of the Swedish Society of Medical Engineering & Physics in 2012. He received the honor of serving as a Fulbright Scholar in Peru in 2015.
Professor Voigt was a tireless worker. He spent enormous time with IFMBE colleagues at numerous events across the globe, with active involvement. He listened to different points of view on various matters and played a key role in reaching consensus among international colleagues. He was energetic and he showed interest in the BME activities of the constituent societies of IFMBE. He was very good-natured and he worked very well with diverse BME representatives from different countries.
Over the years, Professor Voigt’s illustrious efforts positively impacted a huge number of Biomedical Engineers and medical physicists worldwide. To cite just a few, he played key roles in IUPESM World Congresses in Munich in 2009, in Beijing in 2012 and in Toronto in 2015, which are major tri-annual events of Biomedical Engineers and Medical Physicists worldwide, in dozens of IFMBE conferences in Europe, North America, Latin America, and Asian Pacific regions, and in the Global Medical Devices Forum 1, 2 and 3 of the World Health Organization (WHO). He was active in the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU), where he initiated several cluster activities of interest to multiple international professional organizations. Professor Voigt took center stage in most events making important statements on the current and emerging trends and challenges, thus encouraging educators, students and researchers across the world.
Professor Voigt was warm, friendly and courteous. Undoubtedly, he was a devoted husband and affectionate father. He cared a lot for his family, talked about them and brought them to several international events. He appreciated their support. He was always kind and generous. He treated everybody fairly and with respect.
Professor Voigt was a dear friend to all of us. Our loss is irrecoverable. Our friendship as well as the delightful times that we, the IFMBE, IOMP and IUPESM volunteers, spent collectively with Professor Voigt to be involved in fantastic things to benefit the global biomedical engineering and medical physics community, will always be cherished. We will sorely miss our friend, Professor Voigt.
With Affection and Fond Memories,
International Friends from IFMBE, IOMP and IUPESM
Remembrances from IFMBE & IUPESM for Herbert F. Voigt III (29, Jan, 2018)
KinYin Cheung (President of IUPESM): I am very sorry to share this shocking sad news of the passing away of Herb. Herb has been a wonderful leader who has made outstanding contributions to IUPESM. His death is a tremendous loss to every one of us. I shall send formal condolences to his family on behalf of IUPESM. We should include an obituary in IUPESM official journal and website.
James Goh (President of IFMBE): I know how shocked you were when you heard the news of Herb’s passing. It was the same with me, I just could not believe it. I messaged Herb’s daughter,Emily immediately and she confirmed my worse fear. Herb had been such a great advocate of our profession and had given much to promoting BME nationally as well as globally. It was such a delight for me to have worked closely with him during his IFMBE Presidency. He was a wonderful leader and friend. He will be sadly and greatly missed. He’s gone too soon!
Slavik Tabakov (President of IOMP): I am shocked of this sad news. Herb was full of energy. I am sure his legacy will be with us for many many years, and we all will keep excellent memories for him. Most sincerely.
SM Krishnan: I was terribly shocked and deeply saddened when I heard the news about Herb. It was unbelievable. He was such a great friend, educator, leader and contributor to the global community of Biomedical Engineers. He will be truly missed. I share the sentiments expressed in your mail. May God rest his soul. We include his family in our prayers. With deep sorrow.
Adriana Velazquez Berumen: Herb Will be greatly missed in our community. He was extraordinary person. Condolences to all His family. May He rest in peace. May God bless him and his family! His wife, 2 children and grandchildren!
Ratko Magjarević: I just couldn’t believe that the information we got through Facebook was true, and I was trying to find some official confirmation from the BU on the Internet. Now, after confirmed from Krishnan, actually from Herb’s son, it became a fact. Herb was a nice person and a good friend, and I will miss him personally, and at the same time it is a large loss for IFMBE and for biomedical engineering community. I share the sorrow with his family.
Marc Nyssen: Very sad indeed.
Kang-Ping Lin: It is unacceptable that Herb’s passing. Herb was friendly and willing to give juniors advice. His brilliant contributions towards biomedical engineering in the world, in particular, towards young scholars in the Third World, are valuable. His confident speeches and laughs will be missed forever.
Tom Judd: Thank you Herb for a life well lived, serving others. His wife Ronit, children, and grandchildren, and wider family (he was oldest of 9 siblings) are in our prayers. You will be missed locally and globally.
Jim Wear: Judy and I have known Herb and his family for several years and have done social things with them. We are really shocked and sad about losing him and especially so far from his home. We are offering our prays to his family for their great loss. It would be nice if the IFMBE/CED could do something to honor his contribution to Clinical Engineering.
Mario Forjaz Secca: I was really saddened! I had become good friends with the family, and his daughter Emily had the kindness of sending me a private message through Facebook to let me know. It was a shock. I sent a message right away to all the AC members, some of them did not know. We will have a proper homage during WC 2018. All the best.
Rossana Rivas: Herb was a distinguished person, partner and colleague. It was great to work with him in activities in Peru and other countries and also learn from his vision and commitment with the profession, the community and the culture, Herb won’t be forgotten as he inspired teams around the world. My prayers and love for Herb and his family.
Ernesto Iadanza: I’m really shocked and terribly sad.
Nicholas Adjabu: Sad to hear this My condolence the family and all. May soul rest in perfect peace.
Saide Calil: This is a shocking news. Herb was a very active person, always willing to help people and full of energy for new projects. You are right, he will be missed a lot by all of us. Last week we spoke about adding some suggestions for the abstract he was writing for the Congress. It is really a great loss for the BE and CE community.
Fred Hosea: Can we establish some kind of memorial award in Herb’s name? His loss is a cruel and crushing blow to us all, personally and professionally. Hopefully, CED can help create some kind of leadership award in his name.
Zheng Kun: Dear All, On behalf of many colleagues from CSCE (Chinese Society of Clinical Engineering) and me myself, we are sending our deepest condolences to Prof. Herb Voigt family as well as his close friends for their great loss. We met Prof. Herb Voigt in person during the congress of the first ICEHTMC held in Hangzhou China in 2015. What a huge loss his pass away brought to the global BME/CE community!
Yadin David: This is very sad news and such a large loss that will be hard to overcome. Herb, as we knew him, was great family man, first to volunteer in his community, leader in our profession and model teacher. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and vast number of friends he impacted and left behind.
Mario Castaneda: Indeed, he will be missed. His contributions, and his passing have touch my life.
Mohammad Ameel: May his soul rest in peace.
Eva Bezak: Extremely sad and shocking news KY. Herb has been superb leader and advocate for our professions. Huge loss.
Lenka Lhotska: I cannot still believe it. Herbert was very good friend and he supported us first in the candidacy and then in preparation of the World Congress.
Maria Siebes: What a tragic and unexpected loss! Herb was exceptionally committed to support the young and underprivileged, while tirelessly serving the BME community, the Federation, and IUPESM with integrity and dedication. His friendly attitude and calm courteous demeanor even in the face of difficult negotiations will be sorely missed.
Bruce Wheeler: What a huge loss for the world of Biomedical Engineering and for the Voigt family. Herb had tremendous impact in his multiple roles across multiple continents.
Mario Forjaz Secca: I am in a state of shock. I cannot believe that our dear colleague and friend, Herbert Voigt, has died suddenly of a heart attack! He was still so young! He dedicated so much energy to Biomedical Engineering and to this Federation that he believed in so!!! A good homage is due for him during WC 2018! He will be sadly and greatly missed.
Min Wang: We were still talking a week ago in the CoS EB teleconferencing meeting. Herb has always been setting up the teleconferencing meetings for us and taking minutes. He has dedicated himself to biomedical engineering. Surely he will be missed by all of us who have had the opportunities of getting to know him and working with him. He was President of both international federations. The federations may need to consider a special session dedicated to him in WC2018.
Guillermo Avendano: Many times life is very unjust, neither his family nor us his colleagues, deserve to lose a so valuable person, curiously yesterday, for no reason I had the memory of a pleasant conversation with Herb and his wife at the restaurant of the hotel in Tampere. I will appreciate if someone can send my condolences to his family, for this loss that I regret so much.
Timo Jamsa: I have not much to add on what is said. We have had a loss of a person who we all know as our friend and colleague, and who has made a great work for BME and the society, locally and globally. As Monique and Min wrote, we just few days ago shared CoS EB telco with him. If anyone will be in contact with his family, please forward my condolences.
Lee Fong: I am shocked and saddened by this news! I had the privilege of meeting Prof Voigt twice and he exhibited such passion for his work.
Monique Frize: It was with disbelief that I read Mario’s message today and am devastated! I cannot stop thinking about this tragic news, especially that is it about Herb who was so young and such a dedicated biomedical engineer within IFMBE and IUPESM and so many other organizations! He arranged the teleco for the CoS EB 10 days ago and, as usual, sent the minutes very quickly. He sounded as he normally does: so knowledgeable and energetic! He will be really missed, as a colleague and as a friend! We need to recognize his contributions and celebrate his life in Prague.
Shauna Mullally: I’m so sad to hear this. Herb had such a warm, engaging presence and his dedication to serving others through his work always shone through.
Tony Easty: I first came to know Herb well during the preparation work for the 2015 World Congress. His constant help and advice was invaluable and he always tried to be as open and inclusive as possible. He always thought carefully about the situations that we faced and was creative and collegial in suggesting solutions. This experience gave me a special appreciation for Herb, both as a scientist and as a human being. Reading his list of interests and his accomplishments makes me realize just what a fine person we have lost. The world is a poorer place for his passing. My heartfelt condolences to his family.
Baset Khalaf: It is really sad to hear the passing on of Herbert. My sincere condolences to his family. Clearly, he is the man of achievement to our community. May his soul Rest In Peace.
Jennifer Jackson: I am heartbroken but reconciled knowing that he left his legacy with countless biomedical engineers that he trained and inspired.
Howell Round: This is tragic news. A colleague who we respected hugely and who contributed so much.