Obituary for Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. Klaus Peter

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Professor Klaus Peter took over the Chair of Anesthesiology at the University of Munich Medical Center in 1976. From 1983 to 1989, he was Medical Director of the Großhadern Medical Center. From 1989 to 2005, he made an outstanding contribution to medical research and teaching at Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) in Munich as Dean. From 2005 to 2007, he headed the LMU Medical Center as Medical Director and Chairman of the Board.

Professor Klaus Peter took over the Chair of Anesthesiology at the University of Munich Medical Center in 1976. From 1983 to 1989, he was Medical Director of the Großhadern Medical Center. From 1989 to 2005, he made an outstanding contribution to medical research and teaching at Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) in Munich as Dean. From 2005 to 2007, he headed the LMU Medical Center as Medical Director and Chairman of the Board.

"Professor Klaus Peter was a role model in terms of commitment, vision, and professional and personal greatness," says Prof. Markus M. Lerch, Medical Director of LMU Hospital. "His influence extended far beyond Munich and Bavaria, and he was active in many scientific policy committees."

Klaus Peter played a key role in establishing the Faculty of Medicine in Regensburg. With great dedication, he established cooperation between Munich and Harvard Medical School in Boston to improve medical studies at LMU.
"This collaboration opened up new perspectives for medical students at LMU," confirms Prof. Dr. Thomas Gudermann, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine. "Together with a group of other experts, he developed the innovative MeCUMLMU training program." In 2002, the Klaus Peter Award for International Medical Education was established by Harvard Medical School in his honor and presented for the first time.

His tenure as dean also saw the merger of the Großhadern Clinic with the Innenstadt Clinic to form the LMU Clinic Munich in 1999. As co-founder of the LMU Biomedical Center and through his promotion of cooperation between Munich's university clinics and the establishment of the medical faculty at Augsburg University Hospital, he had a lasting impact on the medical infrastructure in Bavaria.

"At LMU Hospital, he ensured that a new surgical center could be opened in 2014. This was the first step in the planned and upcoming construction of the Großhadern campus," recalls Markus Zendler, Commercial Director.

"Prof. Klaus Peter was a wise advisor, mentor, and supporter, and he uniquely combined extraordinary professional success, respect, and humanity," says Prof. Dr. Bernhard Zwißler, Director of the Department of Anesthesiology and Prof. Peter's successor in this role. "He headed the Department of Anesthesiology at LMU Hospital Munich for 31 years (1976-2007). His successful work as a physician and scientist, clinical and academic teacher, designer, and visionary set standards and left a lasting mark both nationally and internationally."

The scientific focus of his work at the Department of Anesthesiology included anesthesia and neural functions, sepsis and acute lung failure, volume replacement and artificial oxygen carriers, transfusion medicine and hemostaseology, and pain therapy. In the clinical field, Professor Klaus Peter focused primarily on anesthesia preparation, the administration of anesthesia, and post-treatment in the recovery room, as well as intensive care medicine, emergency medicine, and pain management. Together with Medical Clinic III and the Neurological Clinic, he founded palliative medicine at Ludwig Maximilian University as head of anesthesia.

When he retired in 2007, Prof. Peter took stock. "I consider the successes in academic medicine, in research and teaching, in professional and university policy to be prerequisites for successful clinical medicine. In this respect, the most satisfying achievement of all the staff involved is that, in the 31 years of our joint work, we have successfully provided anesthesiological care to more than 1.5 million patients, thereby creating the conditions for the success of surgical medicine."

In 1992, Prof. Klaus Peter was elected a member of the Leopoldina. In 1995, he received the Bavarian Order of Merit, in 2000 the Bavarian Pro meritis scientiae et litterarum award, and in 1993 the Federal Cross of Merit on Ribbon. Klaus Peter also received many other national and international awards and honors. The LMU Hospital and the Faculty of Medicine will honor his memory.