ISUOG Honors Prof. Kurt Hecher for Outstanding Contributions to Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
London, United Kingdom – The International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG) is pleased to announce that Prof. Kurt Hecher has been awarded the prestigious Ian Donald Gold Medal for his exceptional scientific contributions to the field of obstetric and gynecological imaging. The award ceremony will take place at the 2025 ISUOG World Congress in Cancun, Mexico, where Prof. Hecher will also deliver the Ian Donald Gold Medal lecture.
The Ian Donald Gold Medal is the highest honor presented by ISUOG and is given to one prominent researcher each year for their outstanding work in the field of obstetric and gynecological imaging. This year, Prof. Hecher has been recognized for his significant role in the advancement of diagnostic ultrasound in obstetrics and fetal medicine, which has helped to improve outcomes for high-risk pregnancies.
With over 45 years of experience and an impressive 286 scientific publications, Prof. Hecher is a highly regarded expert in ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology. He currently serves as a professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine at the University Medical Centre Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf in Hamburg, Germany, where he gained his professorship in 2003. Beyond his medical career, Prof. Hecher has a passion for Asian cultures and has studied Sanskrit and Indian culture, as well as mountaineering through the Himalayas.
Prof. Hecher’s research career began after obtaining his doctorate in medicine from the University of Graz, Austria. He has worked at prestigious institutions such as the Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine at King’s College in London. During his time at King’s, Prof. Hecher became fascinated by the emerging Doppler technique. He introduced this technique in Germany, where his center in Hamburg has become a major referral and training hub for many countries.
Throughout his career, Prof. Hecher has been involved in several groundbreaking research projects, including Eurofoetus. He has played a leading role in comparing Doppler and cardiotocography in early-onset fetal growth restriction (FGR), which laid the foundation for the TRUFFLE study. Additionally, Prof. Hecher has been a key contributor to the development of the WHO fetal growth charts. Due to his internationally renowned expertise, Prof. Hecher has been involved in developing recommendations and guidelines for various professional societies on the management of twin pregnancies, fetal growth restriction, and fetal heart examination.
Within ISUOG, Prof. Hecher has gained a high reputation through his work as President (2006-2008). He has served as an editor of the society’s journal, Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (UOG), since 2003 and was the Chair of the 19th and 29th ISUOG World Congresses in 2009 and 2019, in Hamburg and Berlin, respectively.
Upon receiving the Ian Donald Gold Medal, Prof. Hecher expressed his gratitude, stating, “I feel extremely honored and am very happy to have been nominated by my peers and colleagues for the most prestigious award bestowed by ISUOG. It is the crowning highlight of my research career, which is continuing in its fourth decade.”
He added, “I am well aware that my research in monitoring fetal cardiovascular circulation by Doppler ultrasound has only been made possible by, and is founded on, work previously conducted by other researchers and my teachers. Furthermore, nowadays innovations are always a result of teamwork and require the exchange of ideas and cooperation with other research groups, to whom I am extremely grateful.”
At this year’s ISUOG World Congress, Prof. Hecher will deliver the Ian Donald Gold Medal lecture on the first day of the society’s flagship annual event. In addition, the December issue of ISUOG’s journal, UOG, will feature an article on his career and life achievements that led him to be honored with the award.
Prof. Katia Bilardo, who will present Prof. Hecher with his award, said, “Prof. Hecher has made significant contributions to the advancement of science in the field of obstetrics. Through his numerous publications and lectures, he has played a vital role in improving women’s health. His pioneering work on the value of ductus venosus Doppler investigation in the management of early and severe fetal growth restriction has had a profound impact on clinical practice. His major contributions to the development of fetal surgery for TTTS, as well as its long-term outcomes, further emphasize his influence in the field. Prof. Hecher has been engaged with ISUOG ever since its inception, and he is known for his honesty and sincerity.”
Another Ian Donald Gold Medalist, Prof. Ulrich Gembruch, commented, “Kurt Hecher can look back on more than 30
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