Dear Colleagues and Friends,

It is with deep sadness that I learned of the passing of Professor Eberhard Rabe last week.

On behalf of the Board of the International Union of Angiology, and personally in my capacity as President, I wish to express our heartfelt condolences to his family, his friends, his colleagues, and to the entire international phlebology and vascular medicine community.

Professor Rabe was far more than an outstanding physician and scientist. He was one of the defining figures of modern phlebology. His contributions to dermatology, venous disease, and vascular medicine have shaped our specialty in lasting and meaningful ways. Through his research, teaching, leadership, and unwavering commitment to patients, he influenced generations of physicians around the world and helped elevate phlebology to where it stands today.

For many of us, Eberhard was also a colleague, a mentor, and a friend. He brought knowledge with generosity, rigor with humility, and leadership with remarkable humanity. His voice carried authority, but always with openness, elegance, and respect. His presence in our meetings, discussions, and scientific exchanges was both inspiring and reassuring.

His legacy extends far beyond publications, guidelines, and academic achievements. It lives on in the countless professionals he trained, in the friendships he cultivated across continents, and in the patients whose lives were improved because of his work.

The international vascular community has lost one of its most respected leaders. I have lost a colleague whom I deeply admired, and many of us have lost a friend whose wisdom and kindness will remain with us.

We are profoundly grateful for Professor Rabe’s extraordinary life, his service to our field, and the example he leaves for future generations.

He will be remembered with admiration, gratitude, and affection.

With deepest respect,

Jorge H. Ulloa, MD
President
International Union of Angiology

On behalf of the Board of Directors
International Union of Angiology