In Memoriam

Theodore C. (Ted) Eickhoff, MD, FIDSA, past president of IDSA and professor emeritus in the division of infectious diseases at the University of Colorado School of Medicine died March 24 at age 86. Eickhoff was considered a visionary leader in the field and one who helped establish infectious diseases as a specialty of internal medicine. One of the earliest hospital epidemiologists, he was a lifelong champion of immunizations and was equally committed to the treatment and prevention of infections. 

Eickhoff began his career at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and was active in the campaign to eradicate smallpox. Eickhoff was appointed head of the division of infectious diseases at the University of Colorado Denver just 6 months after joining the department of medicine in 1967. He also served as chief of medicine at Denver General Hospital — now Denver Health Medical Center — director of internal medicine at Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center, and medical director of infection prevention and control at the University of Colorado Hospital. Eickhoff served as president of IDSA from 1984-1985.

He served as Chief Medical Editor of Infectious Disease News for over 22 years, guiding the publication's coverage of HIV/AIDS, pandemic influenza, emerging infections and antibiotic resistance and began serving as Editor Emeritus of the publication prior to his death.  

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Margaret; his two sisters Elizabeth and Miriam; sons Stephen, Mark and Philip; and grandchildren Clara, Leah, Emily, Gregory, Miriam, Ayden, Karl and Jerrit.