Franz Büchner (pathologist)
Encyclopedia
Franz Büchner was a prominent German
pathologist of the 20th century. Born in Boppard
in Rhineland-Palatinate
, Germany
, Büchner studied medicine
and natural sciences at the University of Gießen, graduating 1921. He began his career as a pathologist at the University of Freiburg
, under famous pathologist Ludwig Aschoff
and wrote his habilitation
thesis on the diagnosis and development of gastric cancer. In 1933, he became director of the Institute for Pathology at the Friedrichshain
Hospital in Berlin
and in 1934 he began teaching as a professor at the University of Berlin. Büchner returned to Freiburg in 1936 to head the Institute of Pathology at the university, a position he held until his retirement in 1963.
Franz Büchner did not only make a name for himself for his research on the role of hypoxia
in congenital malformations, but also for his public criticism of the Nazi euthanasia program. In November, 1941, Büchner held a speech at the University of Freiburg criticizing the program. It is one of the few known occasions of a prominent physician speaking out against these practices. Later in life, Büchner also became a staunch critic of abortion
.
Büchner was awarded with several medals for his work, including the Order of St. Gregory the Great
, the Paracelsus Medal of the German medical establishment, and the Romano Guardini Prize as well as several honorary doctorates. He died in 1991 in Freiburg im Breisgau.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
pathologist of the 20th century. Born in Boppard
Boppard
Boppard is a town in the Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, lying in the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It belongs to no Verbandsgemeinde. The town is also a state-recognized tourism resort and is a winegrowing centre.-Location:Boppard lies on the upper Middle...
in Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate is one of the 16 states of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has an area of and about four million inhabitants. The capital is Mainz. English speakers also commonly refer to the state by its German name, Rheinland-Pfalz ....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Büchner studied medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
and natural sciences at the University of Gießen, graduating 1921. He began his career as a pathologist at the University of Freiburg
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
, under famous pathologist Ludwig Aschoff
Ludwig Aschoff
Karl Albert Ludwig Aschoff was a German physician and pathologist. He is considered to be one of the most influential pathologists of the early 20th century and is regarded as the most important German pathologist after Rudolf Virchow.Aschoff was born in Berlin, Prussia...
and wrote his habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
thesis on the diagnosis and development of gastric cancer. In 1933, he became director of the Institute for Pathology at the Friedrichshain
Friedrichshain
Friedrichshain is a part of Berlin's borough of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, and like Kreuzberg across the river it has its own distinct character, with the result that the new double name is hardly ever used outside government administration. From its creation in 1920 until Berlin's 2001...
Hospital in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and in 1934 he began teaching as a professor at the University of Berlin. Büchner returned to Freiburg in 1936 to head the Institute of Pathology at the university, a position he held until his retirement in 1963.
Franz Büchner did not only make a name for himself for his research on the role of hypoxia
Hypoxia (medical)
Hypoxia, or hypoxiation, is a pathological condition in which the body as a whole or a region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply. Variations in arterial oxygen concentrations can be part of the normal physiology, for example, during strenuous physical exercise...
in congenital malformations, but also for his public criticism of the Nazi euthanasia program. In November, 1941, Büchner held a speech at the University of Freiburg criticizing the program. It is one of the few known occasions of a prominent physician speaking out against these practices. Later in life, Büchner also became a staunch critic of abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
.
Büchner was awarded with several medals for his work, including the Order of St. Gregory the Great
Order of St. Gregory the Great
The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great , was established on September 1, 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI, seven months after his election.It is one of the five orders of knighthood of the Holy See...
, the Paracelsus Medal of the German medical establishment, and the Romano Guardini Prize as well as several honorary doctorates. He died in 1991 in Freiburg im Breisgau.