A Vida e Obra do Professor Doutor Casimiro Águeda de Azevedo

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Professor Casimiro Águeda de Azevedo was a distinguished Portuguese surgeon and a notable teacher at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP). This study aims to honor and pay tribute to his legacy, preserving the memory of his work and recalling the traits of his personality. Materials and Methods: To accomplish this study, research was conducted at the FMUP Library Archive, National Library, and the University of Porto Archive. The collaboration of Aníbal Justiniano, MD, Fernando Lopes, MD, and Inês Azevedo, MD-PhD, was also sought through in-person interviews. Results: Born on June 17, 1926, Casimiro Águeda de Azevedo lived his entire life in Porto, where he worked and lived until the end of his days. He graduated from FMUP in 1949 with an average grade of 18, becoming a specialist in General Surgery in 1965. He served in the military at Regional Hospital No. 1 in Porto from 1949 to 1950 and later provided contracted services at the same location for four years. He taught at FMUP and the Nursing Schools Dª Ana José Guedes da Costa and Hospital Escolar de São João. He supervised numerous theses at FMUP. He later became the regent of the disciplines of Introduction to Clinical Practice (1974), Surgical Propaedeutics (1975) and Operative Medicine (1979). After public exams, he became "Professor Extraordinário" of the 7.th Group of the Faculty of Medicine in 1971 and Full Professor in 1982. At the hospital, he introduced pioneering techniques in the country, dedicating his time to hepatobiliary, oncological, and portal system pathologies, being the first to perform a percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography in Portugal (1961). In administrative terms, he was Head of Team D at the Emergency Department (1964), Director of the Emergency Department of the Hospital Escolar de São João (1971 to 1974), Director of Surgery-1 (1974 to 1976), and Director of Surgery-4 (1979 to 1991). Despite his busy professional schedule, he never abandoned his family and friends, being a present father and husband, as well as an available friend. Discussion: Professor Casimiro de Azevedo was part of the history of the early days of the Hospital Escolar de São João, contributing to its development, not only bringing prestige to the institution through his work, but also contributing to its primary mission: to train new and excellent doctors. Conclusion: As a surgeon characterized by highly refined clinical knowledge and a generous and always available personality, Professor Casimiro de Azevedo stood out for his exemplary professionalism, talent and character.