Biography

Sadly, Karel den Dulk passed away on November 5, 1999. He was born September 22, l950 and studied medicine at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. In 1976 he moved to the Netherlands and began cardiology training in Maastricht in 1977. He soon became interested in cardiac pacing and published on antitachycardia pacing and pacemaker related tachycardias. This work resulted in new antitachycardia pacing algorithms such as the universal antitachycardia pacemaker and improved pacing and programming specifications resulting in the reduction and prevention of "pacemaker circus movement tachycardia." Because of these publications he received a Ph.D. degree in Maastricht in 1984. Karel was an innovative scholar, a good organizer, and an excellent teacher. These qualities established an international reputation and resulted in positions such as chair of the Dutch Working Group on Cardiac Pacing, Secretary of the European Working Group on Cardiac Pacing, and member of the Advisory Board of the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology (NASPE). His knowledge of pacing and ability to recognize the cause and resolution of abnormalities of device function made him a very popular consultant worldwide when pacing problems arose. Karel was an excellent clinical doctor, very much beloved by his patients. Unfortunately, several years ago severe depression impaired his professional function. In spite of our hopes for cure, the disease ultimately led to his death. He will be remembered as a warm-hearted doctor, a great teacher, and an innovative scientist who contributed importantly to the development and clinical application of cardiac pacing.