Thomas Löscher studied medicine in Heidelberg, Munich and Freiburg and completed his doctorate in Munich in 1975. He began his training in internal medicine at the LMU's Innenstadt Medical Clinic under Professor Eberhard Buchborn. At the same time, he spent several stays abroad in Somalia, Tanzania and the Philippines, where he devoted himself in particular to schistosomiasis control. He further deepened this passion by obtaining a diploma from the renowned London School of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene.
In 1989, Thomas Löscher habilitated in internal medicine and tropical medicine before taking over the Chair of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich in 1990. Under his leadership, the institute developed into a national pioneer and international beacon of tropical medicine. In addition to traditional travel medicine, global health issues were of particular concern to him. He was passionately committed to improving medical care for migrants, combating poverty-related diseases and strengthening medical care in developing countries. Under his leadership, research at the Tropical Institute was internationalized, with a particular focus on the development and testing of new drugs and vaccines, research into resistance mechanisms in malaria and mycobacteria, and the fight against HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.
Thomas Löscher's enthusiasm and immense knowledge in the field of tropical medicine made him a role model and mentor for many young doctors. Treating patients and passing on his knowledge was his life's work. Until recently, he was active both as a practicing doctor and as a lecturer. As editor of the reference book "Tropenmedizin in Klinik und Praxis", he has been working on a new edition of this standard work for the last two years, which was last updated in 2010.
As head, Thomas Löscher created scope for the scientific development of his colleagues, and his empathetic personality fostered a climate of cooperation at the Tropical Institute Munich. He also brought these qualities to his work as a board member of the DTG, where he was particularly involved in the founding of the "Young DTG" as 1st Chairman from 2009 to 2014. He was also active on the advisory board of the German Society for Infectiology (DGI) and the International Society of Travel Medicine.
In Thomas Löscher, tropical medicine has lost one of its most important representatives. The Tropical Institute Munich will miss him as a brilliant scientist, visionary mastermind, passionate physician and calming influence.
Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family and friends.
Professor Dr. Michael Hoelscher,
for the staff of the Institute of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine at the LMU Hospital
Dr. med. Dr. rer. nat. Carsten Köhler,
for the Board of the DTG
