Revista ABCd (São Paulo). 07 Mar, 2025

OSVALDO MALAFAIA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE BRAZILIAN COLLEGE OF DIGESTIVE SURGERY

CZECZKO, Nicolau Gregori
RIBAS FILHO, Jurandir Marcondes
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-6720202400037e1831

an exclusive mandatory health center for TB patients at the time, and an hour-and-a-half bus ride from the medical school classes. That commute enabled him to revise the daily knowledge content. At that sanatorium, he would attend procedures at the surgical center, following them up, and occasionally performing pulmonary decortications and phrenicotripsies, complications of pulmonary infection ensuing from Koch’s bacillus. During one of his classes at the university anatomy amphitheatre, Osvaldo was meticulously undertaking a cadaver dissection of a forearm, specifically at the division of the radial nerve below the brachioradialis muscle and its superficial and deep branches. Suddenly, chatting is hushed, and not even any whispering is ventured, and sounds swiftly begin to hide themselves behind the silence. Professor Brasílio Vicente de Castro (1913–1978), Anatomy Chair, magister dixit, in his teaching and academic supervision walks in. One of the major anatomists in Brazil, a disciple of the classical school of Jean Léon Testut (1849–1925). His two assistants follow the Professor, respectfully standing behind him. He scans the register and walks between the benches. He stops at bench seven, with a gaze laden with some curiosity. He observes the diligent and elegant dissection, which had been presented in detail in his theoretical lesson, and asks, - Quo vadis, Osvaldo? Intelligent, organized, methodical, generous, altruistic, responsible, hard-working, companion, friend, explorer, and builder; in Osvaldo’s brain, complex cognitive processes are triggered as sparks in neuronal connections of the prefrontal and temporal cortex, as he devised his answer. With his agile and efficient thought, his plans, wishes, aspirations, and aims of a good man take shape. Aristotelian musings regarding self-knowledge and self-improvement in character building, reasoning, human function, excellence in life, happiness, and flourishing through virtue shine through. With the neurotransmitter release, the answers in the mind become clear:


. . .
Share this article
Advanced Search
Indexed in:
Follow us!
ABCD – BRAZILIAN ARCHIVES OF DIGESTIVE SURGERY is a periodic with a single annual volume in continuous publication, official organ of the Brazilian College of Digestive Surgery - CBCD. Technical manager: Dr. Francisco Tustumi | CRM: 157311 | RQE: 77151 - Cirurgia do Aparelho Digestivo

Developed by Surya MKT

Todos os direitos reservados © 2026