A giant in clinical pharmacology
Remembering Dr. Hartmut Derendorf
Hartmut Derendorf, Ph.D., an icon in the University of Florida College of Pharmacy and a world-renowned expert in pharmacokinetics and pharmacometrics, passed away unexpectedly Nov. 23, at the age of 67.
Hartmut was among an elite group of faculty at UF to be awarded the title of distinguished professor. He joined the College of Pharmacy as a faculty member in 1983 and spent over three decades serving the college, including more than 25 years as chair of the department of pharmaceutics.
During his career, Hartmut mentored over 70 graduate students and 40 postdoctoral fellows, published over 500 publications and earned multiple national and international awards. His research interests included the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of corticosteroids, analgesics and antibiotics as well as drug interactions. He is considered one of the “fathers” of modern pharmacokinetics and pharmacometrics. In 2010, he was awarded the Volwiler Research Achievement Award from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy as well as the American College of Clinical Pharmacology, or ACCP, Distinguished Investigator Award — the highest research awards presented by both organizations.
Hartmut cherished his role as teacher and mentor. Many of his former students have enjoyed successful professional careers, including two former postdoctoral fellows who have become university presidents. In 2015, he earned the ACCP Mentorship Award and the American Society of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics Mentorship Award in 2018. Hartmut is one of only two professors at UF to twice receive the UF Doctoral Dissertation Advisor/Mentor Award (2008-09 and 2017-18).
A native of Germany, Hartmut received his B.S. and Ph.D. in pharmacy from the University of Münster and then joined UF as a postdoctoral fellow in 1981. He expected to stay in Gainesville two years, but he fell in love with UF and met the love of his life, his wife, Kerry Estes, ’82. She was pursuing her Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences. They raised two sons, Kevin, BSME ’08, (Ph.D. from Washington University in St. Louis), and Karsten, MACC ’13, who also went on to graduate from the University of Florida. Hartmut would proudly refer to them as “a Gator family.”
Hartmut loved to travel and gave more than 900 national and international presentations during his career. He was instrumental in establishing the Global Gators Symposium in 1997, which continues today. The biennial meeting takes place in Europe and showcases the international Gator spirit in clinical pharmacy and pharmacology by bringing together faculty, alumni and friends of the UF College of Pharmacy.
In the end, it was Hartmut’s connections to and support of people, particularly his trainees and colleagues, that made him truly special. He is deeply missed by all whose lives he touched.
“Dr. Derendorf and I met by chance in Uruguay more than 25 years ago. I was his translator for a day, and he changed the course of my life. He was a dear mentor, colleague, friend and an important part of our extended family. AS One of the most brilliant minds in the scientific world, he managed to stay grounded, down to earth and friendly to everyone. We should all strive to continue his legacy by perpetuating his spirit of joy, openness, generosity and wonder.”
— Amparo de la Peña, Ph.D.
Former trainee and Senior Research Advisor and Asset Manager,
Eli Lilly and Company
“Over the last two decades, it became clear to me what a giant Hartmut was within clinical pharmacology, particularly PK/PD and pharmacometrics. What was particularly special about him was his network. I don’t know anyone who knew more people or had a bigger network in the pharmaceutical sciences than Hartmut. This is largely due to his generous spirit and true desire to not only advance his discipline, but, more importantly, to advance PEOPLE in his discipline.”
— Julie Johnson, Pharm.D.
Dean and Distinguished Professor,
UF College of Pharmacy
“I feel very fortunate to have known Hartmut for over 20 years. First, as a respected, visionary colleague and mentor, and second, as a generous and loyal friend. I thought about his excellent international reputation in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, his many awards and honors, and the number of students whose lives he touched. There is no risk that his name will ever be forgotten by the scientific community, as attested to by the hundreds of tributes written in his honor.”
— Larry Lesko, Ph.D.
Emeritus Professor and Founding Director of the Center for Pharmacometrics and Systems Pharmacology,
UF College of Pharmacy
“Hartmut measured his own success by the successes of those around him — those he mentored and collaborated with. I have not come across anyone in my professional life with such humility, made more remarkable by what a giant in the field he was. A consummate scientist, a bon vivant, Hartmut was such a joy to be around professionally and personally. I work with hundreds of scientists every year and many of them have been trained by Hartmut, influenced by his work or touched by his intellectual generosity.”
— Issam Zineh, Pharm.D., M.P.H.
Former colleague and Director of the Office of Clinical Pharmacology at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
“With Hartmut, we lost a brilliant scientist, teacher and mentor, but first and foremost, a wonderful human being.
His humble and kind nature, his unassuming demeanor, great enthusiasm and cheerfulness for improving the profession earned him many friends and great respect around the globe.”
— Stephan Schmidt, Ph.D.
Former trainee and Associate Professor, UF College of Pharmacy
