Hans Rath, M.D., a UNMC College of Medicine alum who served as an anatomy instructor at UNMC for 13 years, died on June 11 at the age of 89.
Dr. Rath graduated from the UNMC College of Medicine in 1952. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving as a first lieutenant. He had his own surgical practice in Omaha for many years, and he joined the UNMC faculty as a volunteer instructor after retiring.
He approached Robert Binhammer, M.D., emeritus professor, genetics, cell biology and anatomy, and told him that he’d always wanted to teach.
“I said, ‘Sure,'” Dr. Binhammer remembered.
Dr. Rath dove right in.
“He asked me about the book we were using, so I got him a copy. More than 1,000 pages. He read every word in preparation,” Dr. Binhammer said.
Dr. Binhammer called Dr. Rath unbelievably conscientious.
“He was able to tell stories about every part of the body to students, and they liked that. Whenever I saw him and Betty at concerts and the like, she would throw her arms around my neck and say ‘Thank you for getting Hans out of my house!'”
Dr. Rath’s brother, Otto Rath, M.D., said his brother enjoyed teaching and basically worked fulltime as a volunteer faculty member for his alma mater.
“He was happy that he was able to become a physician through the state university system, and he wanted to give back to the state for allowing him to have a career in medicine,” Dr. Otto Rath said. “Our father was a professor of languages at Peru State College, so education was in our genes. My brother enjoyed teaching, and he tried to incorporate his clinical experience with the anatomical teaching he was doing in the department.”
Thank you for the story and acknowledgement of Hans Rath M.D. to the medical school. He enjoyed the academic atmosphere at the university and was proud to be allowed to be part of it. He was a volunteer faculty member during his practice years but a full time volunteer after he retired,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Otto Rath M.D.
What a role model for our faculty felllows and students! Thanks for all you have done, Dr. Rath!
Dr Rath was my anatomy instructor . He was a wonderful and caring teacher . He will be missed.
Tiffany Tanner MD
Dr. Rath was a wonderful person and a great friend of the McGoogan Library. We will miss him!
Dr. Rath was an exemplary UNMC College of Medicine alum. He will be remembered fondly by so many fellow alums and his former students. It was a pleasure to have met him.