Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Gabor B. Racz (1937–2025)
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Gabor B. Racz, a visionary physician, educator, and innovator whose work transformed the field of interventional pain medicine and whose legacy continues to guide the mission of Epimed and Racz EDU.
A Life of Resilience and Purpose
Born in Hungary in 1937, Dr. Racz fled his home country during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution after risking his safety to help care for the wounded. He found refuge in England, where he resumed his medical education at the University of Liverpool, graduating in 1962. His journey—marked by perseverance, scholarship, and compassion—led him to the United States, where he became a board-certified anesthesiologist and a lifelong advocate for patient-centered care.
An Innovator in Interventional Pain Medicine
Dr. Racz’s clinical contributions were both pioneering and enduring. In the 1980s, he designed the Racz® Catheter and introduced the epidural lysis of adhesions procedure (later known as the Racz Procedure)—a minimally invasive technique for treating chronic spinal pain due to post-surgical fibrosis or spinal stenosis. These innovations provided new hope for patients whose pain had previously been considered untreatable.
Throughout his career, Dr. Racz also contributed to the advancement of procedures such as spinal cord stimulation and radiofrequency techniques, and helped establish safer, more effective approaches to managing complex pain conditions.
A Professor, Mentor, and Global Educator
In 1977, Dr. Racz became the founding Chair of Anesthesiology at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) in Lubbock, Texas. There, he built a department committed not only to clinical care, but also to education and research. He later co-directed the Pain Services unit, leaving a lasting institutional legacy.
He was also a co-founder of the World Institute of Pain, furthering his commitment to the global advancement of interventional pain education. His belief in hands-on learning inspired the creation of Racz EDU, a platform that today continues to train physicians from around the world in the procedures he championed.
A Lasting Impact
Dr. Racz’s life was guided by conviction, compassion, and a deep responsibility to both patients and the physicians who serve them. His legacy lives on:
– In every procedure performed using the techniques he developed
– In every physician he mentored or inspired
– In every patient who found relief thanks to his vision
At Epimed, we remain committed to the values he stood for—innovation, safety, and education—with the same determination he carried throughout his life.
Share a Message in His Memory
We invite members of the medical community, colleagues, and partners to share a message or memory in honor of Dr. Racz. These reflections will be collected as part of an ongoing tribute to his enduring influence.
Testimonial Page
Epimed has published an official announcement regarding the passing of Dr. Gabor Racz, a figure of international significance in interventional pain medicine.
🔗 Read the official statement