Peter Deetjen: Recipient of the Volhard Medal 2000

Peter Deetjen, born in Berlin in 1932, studied Medicine at the Universities of MR unster and GR ottingen. After a twoyear clinical training he joined the Department of Physiology in GR ottingen in 1959. After a one-year Guest Professorship in New York, Buffalo, he became Associate Professor in Munich in 1965. Since 1971, he is chairman of the Department for Physiology in Innsbruck. Peter Deetjen has studied virtually all aspects of renal function including regulation of renal blood flow and glomerular filtration as well as mechanisms and regulation of renal tubular transport. His scientific oeuvre comprises more than 200 scientific papers. Among the most spectacular scientific achievements are the first experimental proof of active NaC reabsorption and the first demonstration of loop diuretic site of action. For almost 30 years, Peter Deetjen served as executive editor of PflR ugers Archiv European Journal of Physiology. Beyond that, he has been in the editorial boards of several scientific journals including Clinical Nephrology, Renal Physiology and Biochemistry, Urologia Internationals, News in Physiological Sciences and Kidney and Blood Pressure Research. Peter Deetjen has served the Gesellschaft fR ur Nephrologie as president in 1974/75, 1985/86 and 1989/1990. Furthermore, he has been president of the German Physiological Society (1980/81) and of the Van-Swieten-Gesellschaft of the Austrian Medical Association. Perhaps most importantly, Peter Deetjen has been and still is a charismatic teacher of both students and young scientists. His unmatched optimism has been andstill is the driving force for the reserach of his collaborators whom he taught to enjoy science and transmit their enthusiasm to fellow scientists and scholars. Thus, Peter Deetjen has not only inspired his collaborators, but significantly contributed to the culture of science. For his scientific achievements Peter Deetjen has received several honors including the Cross of Honor for Art and Science 1st class of the Republic of Austria, Order of Merit 1st class of the Federal Republic of Germany, honorary membership of the Allunion Society of Physical Medicine of USSR, as well as memberships of the Academia Europaea, London, the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the Academia Scientarium et Artium Europaea. With the Volhard Medal 2000, the Gesellschaft fR ur Nephrologie is pleased to honor one of the most prestigous member scientists.