Otto Saddler Hirschfeld was born in Brisbane on 24 May 1898, the son of Dr Eugen Hirschfeld, a well known Brisbane medical practitioner and a member of the first senate of the University of Queensland. He received his secondary education at the Brisbane Boys’ Grammar School and won an open scholarship to the University of Queensland. He enrolled in the faculty of science at the University of Queensland and in 1919 graduated as BSc with honours in biology. He was associated with Professor T Harvey Johnstone, MA DSc CMZS, professor of biology at the Queensland University. A paper entitled The Lingulidae of the Queensland Coast on the result of their investigation was read for the Royal Society of Queensland on 30 June 1919.

He then undertook medical studies at the University of Melbourne medical school where he graduated MB BS with honours in 1923. During his first two years in Melbourne, Otto prepared a thesis for his MSc which was awarded in 1921. After graduation in medicine, Hirschfeld was appointed resident medical officer at Melbourne Hospital, where he became interested in internal medicine. This early interest determined his future specialisation. He returned to Brisbane in 1924, commenced general practice, and was appointed to the Brisbane General Hospital as an honorary outpatient physician. In 1936 he was appointed to the honorary inpatient staff. When the reorganisation of the specialist staff of the Brisbane Hospital took place in 1938, Hirschfeld was appointed as a part-time senior physician, deciding at this time to specialise in internal medicine. He held this appointment until his death on 29 May 1957. He was in charge of the diabetic clinic at Brisbane Hospital from February 1937 to May 1957. His colleagues at the hospital elected him as their chairman for the years 1943-45 and again 1953-57.

The general medical superintendent (Dr ADD Pye) said of him ‘He served the hospital faithfully for thirty-two years without any other thought than to do so. I do not know of any visiting medical officer who gave more exemplary service or one more pleasant with whom to deal than was dear old Otto Hirschfeld’.

Following the establishment of the faculty of medicine at the University of Queensland, he was appointed as lecturer in clinical medicine. He also held appointments in the faculties of dentistry and medicine in materia medica and pharmacology. As an examiner he endeavoured to find out what the student knew rather than what he did not know. He was admitted as a Member of The Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 1951 and was elected a Fellow in 1956.

Hirschfeld was elected a member of the senate of the University of Queensland in 1950; Deputy Chancellor in 1952 and Chancellor in 1953 - a position which he filled with honour to himself and the University until his death. He considered his election to the chancellorship of the University as the highest honour which could be conferred upon him. In 1955 he was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws at the centenary of the University of Melbourne.

Dr Hirschfeld joined the Johnsonian Club in 1927 and his popularity is shown by the fact he was elected twice as president as well as holding various other positions in the Club. His greatest relaxation was his weekly game of poker with his friends, and the enjoyment of good fellowship, banter, and good conversation. He was very competent in all these fields. He was an expert card-player (his main relaxation), in fact an interstate and international bridge player, having won a world as well as many interstate championships. He was also an avid stamp collector, for which he won a world gold medal.

He was a member of the therapeutic advisory committee of The Royal Australasian College of Physicians; a member of the poisons schedules sub-committee of the public health advisory committee of the National Health and Medical Research Council; a member of the state advisory committee on drugs and chairman of the committee which prepared the Brisbane Hospital Pharmacopoeia.

Otto Hirschfeld’s death removed not only a specially gifted medical practitioner, but an able administrator. He is remembered by the large number of students who passed through the medical school during his association with it, but above all the larger number of friends, colleagues and patients who have many happy memories of his kindness and generosity. He was survived by his wife Joan, two daughters and two sons, both doctors who presently practise in Brisbane.