In Memoriam: Long-serving Former EAU Treasurer Manfred Wirth (1949-2024)
The EAU was saddened to hear of the passing of its long-serving former Treasurer and Honorary Member, Prof. Manfred Wirth. He held the EAU’s highest honour, the Willy Gregoir Medal for his contributions to the development of urology in Europe and was also awarded an Honorary EAU Membership in 2022.
Prof. Wirth was a member of the EAU’s Executive and its Treasurer for almost twenty years, from 2004 to 2021. In this capacity he was also responsible for the EAU’s Communications output, most directly in his capacity as Editor-in-Chief of membership newsletter European Urology Today. As member of the Executive he served as Adjunct Secretary General under Secretary Generals Prof. Per-Anders Abrahamsson and Prof. Chris Chapple.
Prof. Wirth was quick to recognise the importance and benefits for patients of a multidisciplinary approach to urological cancers. This led to the establishment of the annual EMUC multidisciplinary uro-oncology congress in 2007. The strategy of expanding European Urology into a family of journals, each with a different remit also came at the suggestion of Prof. Wirth.
Before becoming treasurer, Prof. Wirth was already involved in the EAU in the 1990s, helping to determine its structures and new bylaws, adopted in 1996.
Under Prof. Wirth’s guidance and financial decisions, the EAU grew tremendously and matured as an association. The solid financial underpinnings he has left his successors continue to serve the association well, allowing it to support initiatives like the EAU Guidelines, its educational courses and other projects to the betterment of urological care.
EAU Secretary General Prof. Stenzl, who worked with Prof. Wirth in different capacities for many years, reflected on his passing: “Manfred was an important voice in urology, a prolific and much-respected colleague. His sometimes stern but always thoughtful comments led to contributions, which for the EAU in particular are fundamental and long-lasting, helping greatly to manage its transition into a professional and stable association. His insights and friendship will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him.”
Urological legacy
Until his retirement in 2018, Prof. Wirth was Head of the Department of Urology at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus in Dresden in Germany, a position he had held since 1992. Between 2004 and 2009 he was a member of the executive board of the German Society of Urology (DGU), also holding its presidency between 2008 and 2009.
Between 2010 and 2014 Prof. Wirth was also a member of the board of directors of the European Cancer Organisation. He was an honorary member of several international urological societies, including the AUA. He was an extremely prolific researcher and author, serving on the editorial board of countless scientific journals.
Prof. Wirth was a holder of the Service Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany since 2003, and was the first honorary ring bearer of the town of Rieneck in 2022. He leaves behind his wife, their four children and their families.
Speaking on the occasion of his winning the 2020 Willy Gregoir medal, Prof. Wirth summarised his contributions to European urology thusly:
“It is very difficult to say what my proudest achievement as a urologist is. As an academic and a teacher, I’m proud to have worked with excellent colleagues, to have trained them to become masters in the field, heads of university departments, clinics and excellent researchers. Over the years I’ve motivated and guided people to prominent positions. I’ve trained more than fifty urologists. I think this is my legacy.”
