Rise of the Theranostics Empire: A Commentary on Dr. Baum’s Achievements

Bad Berka is a small spa town in Germany, in the state of Thuringia, near the historical cultural city of Weimar with a population of roughly 8000. Natural beauty and spa attracted some prominent personalities of Germany including Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Any town associated with Goethe has a special place in history. Bad Berka also happened to be the place in Germany where Prof. Dr. Richard Paul Baum created the “First Theranostics Empire” on the World Map through the living principle of his life “Rerum cognoscere causas and Carpe diem!”. This chapter tries to elucidate and elaborate how Dr. Baum, through his “philomathy” and firm, to some extent unparalleled, contagious belief in “Aegroti Salus Suprema Lex” successfully conceptualized and pioneered some of the major pathbreaking discoveries in the field of Theranostics. As his “first” research fellow in “Theranostics”, I have had the luxury and honor of closely following Dr. Baum’s efforts in breaking the resistance of acceptance of radiopharmaceuticals for treatment and management of cancer patients. This chapter, written as a commentary, is a tribute to his commitment, motivation, and passion to the field of “Theranostics”.