Gottlieb Ueltschi (1941-2023)
July 29th, 2023, Prof. Dr. med. vet. Gottlieb Ueltschi, professor emeritus of equine radiology, nuclear medicine, and equine medicine, passed away after a prolonged illness.
Gottlieb Ueltschi was born in the Simmental, into a mountain family with many siblings. His experience as a farmer’s boy instilled Gottlieb Ueltschi with the drive and perseverance characterizing his outstanding academic career. His interest in technology and penchant for perfection shaped his career as an equine radiologist. The quality of his radiographs and scintigrams remain unmatched worldwide to this day.
In the early 1980s, he recognized the potential of scintigraphy for equine medicine and pursued perfecting studies in equine practice. In 1981, he was awarded the Venia Legendi by the University of Bern for his pioneering work. In 1985, he was promoted to Extraordinarius for Radiology and Nuclear Medicine and in 1992 to Ordinarius. Gottlieb Ueltschi became a charter member of the newly founded European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (ECVDI) in 1994. From 2002 until his retirement in 2008, he led the Equine Clinic at the University of Bern.
Students, PhD Students and equine veterinarians carry on his legacy at private and public institutions worldwide, guided by his immense knowledge, accumulated during a lifetime of experience.
Prof. Ueltschi’s level-headed, calm and reserved manner soothed both horses and people. He had a perfect command of the economy of words; he could get to the heart of the essentials in just a few sentences. When he raised his deliberate thoughtful, quiet voice at congresses, the hall was silent as new insights trickled out of his great fund of knowledge. The weight of his statement was inversely proportional to the number of words he used.
Gottlieb Ueltschi never liked to be the center of attention, preferring to remain stoically in the background. This contrasts with his fondness for fast cars. He was passionate about car racing and the Simmental with its many curves was his favorite racetrack. His love for horses, however, predominated and defined his professional career.
Once you had found the “connection” to Gottlieb Ueltschi, an unbelievably extensive “encyclopedia” opened to you, not only about equine radiology, but also equine medicine, surgery, and horsemanship. Therefore, we have lost not only a remarkable person with many fascinating facets but also an incredible amount of knowledge.
Gottlieb Ueltschi’s bright spirit and humble manner have impressed and influenced equine specialists and radiologists alike. We will remember him fondly and with great admiration.
Barbara Kaser-Hotz, Marco Hermann, Daniela Schweizer
on behalf of the Swiss radiologists and equine specialists