Page 50 Willem Eisma

In Memorial

Willem Hildebrand Eisma (10-1-1938 – 20-8-2023)

Professor Emeritus of Rehabilitation Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands. International Society for Prosthetics & Orthotics, Executive Board (1989-1992) and President (1992-1995). Prominent member of the EDGA Board and Medical Committee (2000-2015)

On August 20, Wim Eisma died at the age of 85

Professor Eisma joined the EDGA Board and Medical Committee just after the founding of EDGA in March 2000. The EDGA Medical Committee was, and still is, considered to be a cornerstone of the association. His involvement in the critical phase of bringing together the views of private member organisations in Europe, that had been mainly based on a specific disability, was fundamental to the development of the “Definitions of Impairment”, and resulted in a proper and fair evaluation for participation in “Golf for the Disabled” tournaments.

These EDGA Definitions were not always received by the EDGA member organisations and players beyond dispute. Professor Eisma’s outstanding international experience of rehabilitation medicine, his conclusive arguments and his straightforward explanations became the decisive factor to get the EDGA Definitions of Impairments fully accepted by the EDGA member organisations and players.

Under his inspiring leadership, the Definitions were evaluated and built upon by the Medical Committee in 2011 and 2015 according to new knowledge and practical experience. In 2012 Prof. Eisma became a member of a Task Force to start the development of a Classification System based on the rules of the International Paralympic Committee with the aim to bring golf to the Paralympic Games. After his retirement, the Medical Committee developed into the Eligibility Team that now has members from all the continents.

We will remember Wim Eisma as a charming, amiable and very dedicated team player for the benefit of EDGA.

EDGA President Tony Bennett said of Professor Eisma: “Although I only knew Wim for a few years it was clear that he had been a valued and trusted member of the EDGA board at a critical time. I found him to have a steely determination and incredible knowledge, which no doubt he would have had to use in those early days of EDGA. The right man at the right time is a phrase that comes to mind when I think of Wim.”

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