Prof Constantin Caloghera PhD Doctor of Science
F. LazărHistory of medicine, no. 2, 2015
Prof Constantin Caloghera, PhD., was a prominent personalityof Timisoara's medical life, follower and artisan of the surgicalschool of Banat.He was born in Tulcea, and after high school he became astudent at the Sibiu School of Cavalry Officers (1943-1944).He then attended the classes of the newly founded (1945)Faculty of Medicine of Timisoara, which he subsequentlygraduated in 1951.He started his training at the 2nd Surgical Clinic, BegaHospital, in 1952 under the supervision of Prof I. Muresan,PhD. of Science. He was eventually trained as physician,surgeon and future teacher. He assisted Prof I. Muresan in hisclinical practice, inheriting his interest in thyroid surgery,gastrointestinal tract surgery, and emergency surgery. In hisspare time, he also accompanied Prof I. Muresan on two longhiking trips in Fagaras Mountains, in 1955 and 1956.He became the head of the 2nd Surgical Clinic in 1967when Prof I. Muresan retired until 1992, when he retired too.Prof C Caloghera, PhD, Doctor of Science, was anexcellent organizer, a fantastic team player as well as leader. Heknew how to set up his teams priorities, and to plan theprofessional and academic development. He had high expectationsand was setting high standards for himself firstly, but forhis collaborators too, providing them with a strong education.This led to the formation of a united team of well-trainedprofessionals. He put a special emphasis on both "teamwork",and on individual professional development, stimulatingcompetition. Professional behaviour and outfit, a strict clinicalprogram with regular handover meetings, in the morning andin the afternoon, were key features of the way he was trainingnew generations.Thus, under his leadership, the 2nd Surgical Clinicbecame a ground for surgical academic personalities. Hiscollaborators became professors and heads of surgical clinics:Prof N. Bucsa, Prof G. Crisan and Prof N. Traila at theSurgical Oncological Service, Prof M. Teodorescu at the 1stSurgical Clinic, Prof C. Nica and Prof D. Valceanu at theEmergency Surgical Clinic, Prof D. Bordos and Prof F. Lazar atthe 2nd Surgical Clinic. The list of academic personalities andheads of departments from the Western part of Romania, andwho trained in the surgical clinic led by Prof C. Calogera PhDis impressive.He was a calm and level headed surgeon, and he operatedby approved classical methods, precisely and efficiently,without compromising any surgical principles, showing animpressive care for patient’s safety. The weekly assessments ofhis team’s activity represented both professional and lifelessons, in view of strengthening the surgical responsibility.The students had a great admiration for him, however kind ofa fear too due to his proverbial exigency at the examinations,and an immense correctness.The continuous personal development was his dominantfeature. He was constantly interested in studying and acquiringnew surgical techniques. The weekly Journal Club in thedepartment was mandatory.In 1968 he introduced the retrosternal colo-esophagoplastyusing the transverse colon for the esophageal stenosis. He also improved the technique for thyroid surgery, continuing thework of his mentor Prof Ion Muresan, PhD. He supported thedevelopment of the vascular reconstruction surgery and organtransplantation, and in view of these he facilitated that Dr D.Bordos went on a training program in the USA (1973).He was an active presence at the medical scientificmeetings both in Romania and abroad, as well as those of theRomanian Societies of Surgery, Gastroenterology, andEndocrinology. In 1984 he organized the National Conferenceof the RSS with the topic “Obstructive Jaundiceâ€Â.After 1990 he actively supported the introduction oflaparoscopy at the 2nd Surgical Clinic, facilitating the trainingof Dr F. Lazar in Sweden and Germany (1992).As a PhD coordinator he demonstrated maximum exigencyregarding the written information; he would proofread hispersonal papers as well as those of his collaborators 2-3 timesprior to accepting the final draft.He was informed and interested not only in his specialty,but also in other areas outside the medical field, such as bothRomanian and Universal history, the history of religions,connoisseur of classic literature.He coordinated the production of 8 didactic medicalmovies together with a team of surgeons from his Clinic, aswell as the elaboration of 11 textbooks and specialized monographs.The followings are considered benchmarks: Surgery ofthe Thyroid and Parathyroids (1976); 2nd edition (1996);Emergency surgery (1980); 2nd edition (2003); AbdominalTrauma (1983); Abdominal Wall Surgery (1987); TherapeuticProtocols in Digestive Disorders (1994). In 1971 he publishedthe surgical pathology course book for students, reissued in1977 and 1984.He had quite an impact on several generations of surgeonswhom he trained, and I am most proud to be one of them. Hewas a remarkable personality who remained in our memoriesdespite his retirement and his death. It is an element ofhonour and pride to have been a student of Professor Caloghera.
