The first headquarters of the Rheumatology Institute, Warsaw,
Nowogrodzka 59, 3rd pavilion (1950s)

Prof. Eleonora Reicher, MD, PH.D.

Prof. Eleonora Reicher, MD, PH.D. together with her team
(1950s)

The construction of the Rheumatology Institute at Spartańska street

The construction of the Rheumatology Institute at Spartańska street
from the left: Danuta Dubrowska, PhD, Prof. Eleonora Reicher,
Hanna Dworakowska, PhD and dog PIRek

The new building of the Rheumatology Institute at Spartańska street
(1960s)

Scientific library at the new headquarters of the Rheumatology Institute (1960s)

The Directors of the Rheumatology Institute listed by their terms of office:

1. Prof. Eleonora Reicher, MD, PH.D. – 1.1.1948 – May 1961
2. Prof. Włodzimierz Brühl, MD, PH.D. – May 1961 – 31.7.1973
3. Prof. Eugeniusz Małdyk, MD, PH.D. – 1.8.1973 – 28.2.1980
4. Associate Prof. Sylwester Jakubowski, MD, PH.D. – 1.3.1980 – 31.12.1982
5. Prof. Maria Sadowska-Wróblewska, MD, PH.D. – 16.3.1983 – 11.11.1988
6. Prof. Jan Ryżewski, MD, PH.D. – 16.12.1988 – 31.12.1996
7. Prof. Sławomir Maśliński, MD, PH.D. – 16.1.1997 – 1.8.2010
8. Andrzej Włodarczyk, MD, PH.D. – 20.12.2010 – 29.11.2012

Chairmen of the Scientific Council listed by their terms of office:

1. Prof. Jan Bogdanowicz (pediatrician; Medical University of Warsaw)
2. Prof. Mieczysław Kędra (internist-cardiologist; Medical University of Lublin)
3. Prof. Kazimierz Stojałowski (pathologist; Pomeranian Medical University) 1966-1972
4. Prof. Stefan Mackiewicz (internist-rheumatologist; J. Strusia Hospital) 1972-1985
5. Prof. Adam Nowosławski (immunopathologist; National Institute of Public Health in Warsaw) 1986-1999
6. Prof. Anna Romicka (pediatrician-rheumatologist; Rheumatology Institute) 1999-2003
7. Prof. Andrzej Członkowski (clinical pharmacologist; Medical University of Warsaw) 2003-2007
8. Prof. Marcin Kamiński (histologist-toxicologist; Medical University of Silesia) 2007 – 2014

Date and place of birth, education, other important data from the biography

Prof. Eleonora Reicher was born in Warsaw on 29th September 1884. She passed her secondary school final examinations (Diplome de Baccalaureat ès lettres) in 1906 in Freiburg, Switzerland. She started her higher medical education in 1906-1907 at the University of Paris (Sorbonne) and continued at the University of Bern in 1907-1909 and 1912-1914. In 1909-1912 she studied biology at the University of Bern and graduated (1912) with the degree doctor of philosophy in the field of natural sciences. She completed her medical studies in 1914, but because of the outbreak of World War I she didn’t pass the final exams. She obtained her medical degree in 1917 at the University of Bern, where she obtained her doctor’s degree in 1920 with her dissertation entitled „Ueber das Blutbild bei Influenza”. She got her postdoctoral degree at the University of Warsaw in 1932 with her dissertation entitled „About the effect of physical exercises on the health of healthy and sick people”. In 1947 she became professor. During World War II she took actively part in the resistance movement. She organized a Red Cross Hospital for children and orphans, victims of the war.

Professional career and positions occupied

After coming back to Poland in 1920 she first worked as a doctor in officers rang at the Volunteer Legion of Women in Warsaw, afterwards as Assistant at the 1. Clinic of Internal Medicine of the University of Warsaw, directed at the time by Prof. Antoni Gluziński (1921-1927). In 1928-1939, working under the guidance of Prof. Witold Orłowski, she has been Assistant Professor and in 1933 – Associate Professor at the 2. Clinic of Internal Medicine of the University of Warsaw. At the time she cooperated with the Institute for the Blind in Laski near Warsaw. 1928 she organized and was Head of the Clinic of Physical Education at the 2. Clinic of Internal Medicine of the University of Warsaw in cooperation with the Medical Department of the Central Institute of Physical Education/University of Physical Education in Warsaw. After the war (starting 1945) she continued working as Assistant Professor at the University of Warsaw, later as Associate Professor. In 1949-1956 she was Head of the Department of Rheumatology at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Warsaw (afterwards called Medical Academy, now being the Medical University of Warsaw). Since 1948 she worked on establishing and organizing the Rheumatology Institute in Warsaw, in 1948-1961 she has been its first Director. The Rheumatology Institute is named after her. After retiring she still worked as a consultant and started painting.

Professional interests

Prof. E. Reicher is considered the founder of the Polish rheumatology school and precursor of physical prophylaxis of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, the circulatory system, the autonomic nervous system and metabolic disorders, obesity and diabetes. In the beginning she was interested in sports medicine, later – in rheumatology. In the Rheumatology Institute directed by her, she developed lines of research focused on the etiopathogenesis of rheumatic diseases, their articular and extra-articular manifestation as well as a comprehensive treatment.

Scientific and didactic achievements

She has published many scientific and popular papers, e.g. extensive textbooks on rheumatic diseases (1960 and 1965). Her postdoctoral dissertation was the first attempt in world literature to synthesize the effect of physical exercises on the body of healthy and sick people. Being an outstanding educator and expert in medical aspects of physical education and sport, she conducted a significant part of the course Physiology and Pathology of Adolescence, organized by the 2. Clinic of Internal Medicine of the University of Warsaw. She was a permanent lecturer on courses at the Central Institute of Physical Education. She took actively part in many scientific conventions of internists and sports doctors.

Scientific organizations and societies

In 1927-1928 and 1937-1938 she was a member of the Scientific Council of Physical Education. She took part in the 1. and 2. Congress of Women’s Physical Culture. Already in the 1930s she supported the feminist movement, published a lot of papers on the topic and was a speaker at congresses of women’s movement. She has been honored with a number of the highest state awards for her contribution to the history and development of sports medicine and rheumatology.

Date of death and our memory

Prof. Eleonora Reicher died on 12th March 1973, leaving a rheumatology heritage, which was at that time new in Poland. This was possible thanks to her innovative approach of an internist towards sports medicine. This heritage – passed on from medical generation to medical generation – still applies.

Prof. Włodzimierz Brühl, MD, PH.D.

Date and place of birth, education, other important data from the biography

Prof. Włodzimierz Brühl was born on 24th December 1913 in St. Petersburg. He took his higher medical education at the Faculty of Medicine of the Stefan Batory University of Vilnius and graduated on 5th October 1937. In 1961 he obtained at the Medical University of Warsaw the 2. degree of specialization in internal medicine, rheumatology as well as his doctoral degree. In 1966 he obtained at the Medical University of Lublin his postdoctoral degree. The title of Associate Professor was granted to him in 1973. He took an active part in the September Campaign of 1939, where he got shot in the spine and therefore seriously injured. He felt the effects of this injury for the rest of his life.

Professional career and positions occupied

Already during his studies he worked under the guidance of Prof. Kazimierz Pelczar as a Doctor’s Assistant at a hospital for Incurable Cancer Patients. After getting his diploma, he started working at the Neurological and Psychiatric Clinic of the Stefan Batory University of Vilnius. During military occupation he worked as a doctor at a rural health center and at a labor camp for Soviet prisoners of war. After completing a rheumatology course, he established in 1946 a Rheumatology Clinic in Białystok and was Head of the Department of Rheumatology in Cieplice (since 1948 a branch of the Rheumatology Institute in Warsaw). He was related to the Rheumatology Institute since it was established (in 1951); he managed the Clinic of Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System, in 1961-1973 he was Acting Director of the Institute. He retired in 1983, working on as Editor in Chief of the journal Rheumatology and as consultant at a clinic of the W. Orłowski Hospital in Warsaw.

Professional interests

In the beginning he focused on the effects of treating schizophrenia with insulin, afterwards – on the level of cholesterol in different disease states; he described cases of primary aldosteronism as one of the first in world literature. His fascination with rheumatology started already before the war. He was mostly interested in the pathogenesis and treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Scientific and didactic achievements

Prof. W. Brühl published about 100 scientific papers and was the author of many chapters of textbooks. He was also Deputy Editor in Chief of the Polish Medicine Weekly, the Editor of the General Practitioner’s Vade Mecum and the Therapy Vade Mecum, the Editor of 5 tomes of Polish Rheumatology. He was the founder of the quarterly newspaper Rheumatology (nowadays a bimonthly) and in 1963-1989 it’s Editor in Chief. He translated the textbook Internal Medicine edited by Cecil and Loeb and Physiological Basics of Medical Procedure edited by Best and Taylor.

Scientific organizations and societies

For his activities in the field of rheumatology Prof. W. Brühl was awarded many state awards, inter alia the Knight’s Cross and the Order of Polonia Restituta. He has also been chosen an honorary member of several rheumatology societies: in Poland, Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia.

Date of death and our memory

Prof. Włodzimierz Brühl died in December 2004 in Warsaw. For us he will remain a man of a great personality, gifted with the talent of words; a man of rare erudition, who left the history of Polish medicine as one of its master creators.

Prof. Eugeniusz Małdyk, MD, PH.D.

Date and place of birth, education

Prof. Eugeniusz Małdyk was born on 2nd October 1919 in Łódź. During his medical studies he started working in 1949 as Junior Assistant at the Department of Pathological Anatomy of the Medical University of Łódź, where in 1953 he obtained under the guidance of Prof. A. Pruszczyński the first and two years later – the second degree of specialization in pathomorphology. 1959 he received his PhD, in 1962 he finished his habilitation thesis. 1970 he became Associate Professor and in 1977 – Professor.

Professional career and positions occupied

In 1949-1963 he was researcher and teacher at the Department of Pathological Anatomy of the Medical University of Łódź (Assistant, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor). In July 1963 he became Head of the Department of Pathological Anatomy at the Rheumatology Institute in Warsaw. 1974-1980 he was Director of the Rheumatology Institute. After his retirement in 1989, he still worked at the Department of Pathological Anatomy of the Rheumatology Institute as consultant.

Professional interests

Prof. E. Małdyk introduced the tissue culture method in his department, as well as immunohistochemistry and ultrastructural examination of the pathomorphology of rheumatic diseases. He focused on extra-articular complications of rheumatic diseases, especially on amyloidosis and vasculitis. He introduced and popularized new methods of detecting amyloid and halisteresis. As a member of the EULAR Pathology Committee, he was the inventor of the idea of developing morphological criteria of cutaneous small-vessel vasculitis.

Scientific achievements

He published 140 scientific papers, was the author of two textbooks and the co-author of ten of them. He wrote 75 reviews of doctoral dissertations and 30 reviews of habilitation dissertations. He was the author of 20 book reviews, 22 evaluations of professorial applications, thesis supervisor of 4 doctoral dissertations and advisor for one habilitation dissertation; for several years he was also a member of the Central Committee for Degrees and Titles.

Scientific organizations and societies

He has been a member of the EULAR Pathology Committee. In 1980-1988 he organized as the Chairman of the Polish Rheumatology Society (Polish abbreviation: PTR) bilateral symposia together with scientific rheumatology societies from Germany, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Hungary. He initiated the creation of new PTR-branches and the organization of many scientific conferences, symposia and scientific meetings.

Date of death and our memory

Prof. Eugeniusz Małdyk died on 13th May 1991 in Warsaw. His death meant the loss of one of the most active and internationally known members of the rheumatology community. He will remain a person of extraordinary kindness, a great optimist, always willing to give advice.

Associate Prof. Sylwester Jakubowski, MD, PH.D.

Date and place of birth, education

Associate Prof. Sylwester Jakubowski was born on 31st December 1916 in Łomża. 1934 he started his medical studies at the Faculty of Medicine of the Jagiellonian University and completed them in 1940 at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lviv, he obtained his medical diploma in 1945 at the Maria Skłodowska-Curie University in Lublin. He finished his doctoral thesis in 1948 at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Warsaw. In 1953 he obtained a specialization in the field of orthopedics and traumatology. In 1967 he finished his habilitation thesis. He took part in several trainings abroad, inter alia in 1961 in the Finnish town Heinola, which was back then the center of the world’s rheuma-orthopedics, and in 1967-1968 in the USA, later also in Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland.

Professional career and positions occupied

During war Associate Prof. S. Jakubowski was working in a field hospital near Łomża. After getting his diploma, he started working as Assistant at the District Hospital in Łomża and transferred to Warsaw. In 1948-1949 as part of military service he worked at the Military District Hospital in Warsaw, afterwards at the Capital Hospital on Kopernika street. In 1957 he started working at the Traumatology Clinic of the Medical Improvement Department of the Medical University of Warsaw, 1961 he became Head of the Trauma and Orthopedics Department of the Municipal Traumatology Hospital in Warsaw. In 1964 he became Head of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the Rheumatology Institute in Warsaw (later transformed into the Clinic of Orthopedic Surgery, now called Rheuma-orthopedics Clinic), which he managed till his retirement at the end of 1986. In 1980-1982 he was the Director of the Rheumatology Institute. He resigned at his own request.

Professional interests

Ever since the war, Associate Prof. S. Jakubowski was interested in surgery, afterwards in orthopedics, since 1961 also in rheumatology and rheuma-orthopedics. He significantly contributed to international cooperation, taking part in trainings abroad and inviting specialists from all over the world to Poland. In 1967 in his clinic of the Rheumatology Institute, the first procedure of implanting a tibial bearing insert in Poland has been performed. During his work, which aimed at increasing the effectiveness of surgical treatment and the rehabilitation of patients, he was able to effectively use the experience of surgery, orthopedics and rheumatology.

Scientific and didactic achievements

He was the author of 157 scientific papers, including 13 books in Polish and 4 in foreign languages, the co-author of 5 scientific and didactic films. He was also the author of a significant modification of the Polish endoprosthesis of the finger joints and other innovative practical solutions.

Scientific organizations and societies

Associate Prof. S. Jakubowski was an honorary member of the ERASS (European Rheumatoid Arthritis Surgical Society), the Finnish Rheumatology Society and the Polish Orthopedics and Traumatology Society; the Chairman of the Committee of Rheuma-orthopedics at EULAR; the co-founder of the Rheuma-orthopedics Division at the Polish Orthopedics and Traumatology Society (together with Associate Prof. M. Śmiłowicz); a member of the Editorial Committee of Polish Surgery of the Musculoskeletal System and Orthopedics. He was awarded inter alia the Knight’s Cross and the Order of Polonia Restituta, the Golden Cross of Merit, a Batch for Exemplary Work in Health Care. He was awarded a Special Award of the Minister of Health and Social Care for outstanding achievements in working for health protection and social assistance.

Date of death and our memory

Associate Prof. Sylwester Jakubowski died on 10th June 2011. He was an undisputed pioneer in the field of orthopedic treatment of rheumatic patients. Thanks to his indefatigable work and remarkable ability to establish professional contacts, the Orthopedic Surgery Clinic of the Rheumatology Institute in Warsaw became a recognized rheuma-orthopedics centre, training national and international specialists. Extremely demanding of himself, demanding a lot of his team, he became the teacher and tutor of many generations of doctors.

Prof. Maria Sadowska-Wróblewska, MD, PH.D.

Education, other important data from the biography

Prof. Maria Sadowska-Wróblewska started her medical studies at secret branches of the University of Poznan and continued at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Warsaw. She completed them in 1946 and got her medical diploma in 1947. In 1953 she became 2. degree specialist in the field of internal medicine and in 1958 rheumatology specialist. In 1961-1962 she completed an annual International Rehabilitation Course in Denmark and England as a scholarship holder of the World Health Organization. After completing the course and passing her exams, she obtained a diploma in the field of rehabilitation at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Copenhagen. In 1982 she became Associate Professor. During World War II she was a soldier of the Home Army and took part in the Warsaw Uprising.

Professional career and positions occupied

One year after getting her diploma, Prof. M. Sadowska-Wróblewska began working as a doctor at the Municipal Hygiene Institute in Warsaw and at the Institute of Tuberculosis. On 01.09.1951 she started working at the Rheumatology Institute in Warsaw, in the beginning as Senior Assistant, afterwards as Assistant Professor. Periodically she has been the Head of the outpatient clinic and the Head of the Methodical and Organizational Department. In 1962-1967 she was Head of the Rehabilitation Department, in 1967-1977 – the Rheumatoid Disease Department of the Clinic of Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System. In 1977-1988 she was the Head of the Adult Rheumatology Clinic. For many years she was Head of the Scientific and Research Center of the Rheumatology Institute in Ciechocinek. In 1967-1982 she was Deputy Scientific and Research Director at the Rheumatology Institute and from 1983 till 1988 –Director of the Rheumatology Institute.

Professional interests
In the beginning of Prof. M. Sadowska-Wróblewska’s work at the Rheumatology Institute, her professional interests were focused on clinical and epidemiological issues of rheumatic and pararheumatic diseases. After returning from her annual WHO-scholarship in Denmark and England, she mainly focused on the rehabilitation of rheumatic diseases. After 1960 she focused on researching muscle changes in chronic rheumatic diseases. As one of the first researchers she focused on the topic of electromyography in connective tissue diseases. After finishing her habilitation thesis, she focused on the early diagnosis of ankylosed spondylitis. She developed a set of clinical symptoms useful for the diagnosis. She was interested in the role of antigens of histocompatibility in the diagnosis and pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases. Later she focused on vascular lesions in the course of rheumatoid arthritis.

Scientific and didactic achievements

She published 144 scientific papers, including 2 monographs, 87 scientific articles and messages, 2 textbooks, 15 chapters of textbooks, 1 study on the evaluation of the condition of rheumatological healthcare, 25 informative papers on research progress and directions, 6 reports on scientific conventions and conferences, 6 popular papers. She was rheumatology teacher at the Medical University of Warsaw and at postgraduate education activities for doctors organized by the Medical Center of Postgraduate Education in Warsaw. She was thesis supervisor of 3 doctoral dissertations, reviewer of 7 doctoral dissertations and 3 habilitation dissertations. She was also managing the specialization of several doctors in rheumatology and 3 doctors in internal medicine.

Scientific organizations and societies

In 1952-1967 she was Secretary of the Main Board of the Polish Rheumatology Society, afterwards Chairwoman of the Warsaw Branch of the Polish Rheumatology Society, since 1976 Vice-President of the Main Board of the Polish Rheumatology Society. In May 1987 she has been elected for President of EULAR. She cooperated with international rheumatologists from Moscow, Piestany, Leipzig, Heinola, London, Havana. In recognition of her professional activities she was awarded state awards and diplomas of honorary membership of the Czechoslovakian, Bulgarian and Hungarian rheumatology society.

Date of death and our memory

Prof. Maria Sadowska-Wróblewska died on 11th November 1988 in Warsaw. Her death meant the loss of an outstanding doctor and scientist, educator and teacher of many rheumatologists, a noble and dear person.

Prof. Jan Ryżewski, MD, PH.D.

Date and place of birth, education, other important data from the biography

Prof. Jan Ryżewski was born on 29th March 1926 in Tryby – a town in the Vilnius Region. He studied in 1945-1950 at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Warsaw (afterwards called Medical Academy, now being the Medical University of Warsaw). In 1955 he finished his doctoral dissertation and in 1960 his habilitation thesis. In 1967 he became Associate Professor and in 1977 Professor. He took part in the conspiracy in the Vilnius Region and was a soldier of the Home Army during the liberation of Vilnius.

Professional career and positions occupied

While studying Prof. J. Ryżewski began working at the Department of General and Experimental Pathology of the Medical University of Warsaw. In 1961 he established the Department for Pathology and Immunology at the Rheumatology Institute in Warsaw, which he managed since 1996. In 1983-1988 he was Deputy Scientific Director at the Rheumatology Institute and till 1996 – Director of the Rheumatology Institute. During his eight years of managing the Rheumatology Institute, a political transformation took place in Poland.

Professional interests

The main professional interests of Prof. J. Ryżewski were pathophysiology and neuroimmunomodulation. The papers he published focused on the regulation of basic systemic activities through the autonomic nervous system, demonstrating the existence of cholinergic muscarine and nicotine receptors on lymphocytes and the immunosuppresive effect of cysteine.

Scientific and didactic achievements

Prof. J. Ryżewski is the author of 200 papers, the scientific co-editor of the first textbook on pathophysiology in Poland called Pathophysiology, he has been the thesis supervisor of 22 doctoral dissertations, an inspiring educator and is still being widely quoted as an authority on national and international level.

Scientific organizations and societies

Since 1949 he has been a member of the Polish Physiology Society, since 1958 – a member of the Societe Belge de Physiologie et de Pharmacologie, since 1969 – a member of the Committee of Physiological Sciences of the Polish Academy of Sciences, a real member of the Polish Academy of Sciences and of many scientific councils in different R&D units. He was awarded inter alia an award of the Ministry of Health, the Secretary of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the State Council for the Peaceful Use of Atomic Energy and the Faculty of Medicine of the Polish Academy of Sciences. For his contribution for the country he was awarded inter alia the Order of Polonia Restituta.

Date of death and our memory

Prof. Jan Ryżewski died in July 2008 in Warsaw. A man, who meant a lot for Polish medicine, rheumatology and the Rheumatology Institute left. He remains a true man of science, not only with an extremely insightful mind, but also with a great organizational talent and a great sense of humor.

Prof. Sławomir Maśliński, MD, PH.D.

Date and place of birth, education

Prof. Sławomir Maśliński was born in 1941 in Białystok. He obtained his medical diploma in 1964 at the Medical University of Warsaw. He finished his doctoral dissertation in 1969 as well as his habilitation thesis in 1979 – both at the same university. In 1988 he became Associate Professor and in 1994 – Professor. He completed his education as a scholarship holder of the Mayo Clinic Foundation (Rochester, USA; in 1969-1970), Alexander Humboldt (Tübingen, Germany; in 1974-1975), the Institute of Basic Sciences (New York, USA; in 1988-1989), British Council (Manchester, England; in 1992).

Professional career and positions occupied

After completing his studies, he worked in 1964-1966 as Assistant, later on as Senior Assistant at the Department of General Pathology of the Medical University of Łódź. In 1967 he returned to Warsaw and started working (as Senior Assistant, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor) at the Department of General and Experimental Pathology of the Medical Academy (nowadays the Medical University of Warsaw), managing the Department till his retirement. In 1981-2011 he has also been Head of the Department of Biochemistry of the Rheumatology Institute in Warsaw. In 1997-2010 he was Director of the Rheumatology Institute in Warsaw. He retired in 2012. Professor Maśliński still cooperates with the Department of General and Experimental Pathology of the Medical University of Warsaw and takes part in research activities at the Department of Biochemistry of the Rheumatology Institute.

Professional interests

Prof. S. Maślińskis research focuses mainly on experimental gastroenterology, patobiochemistry of inflammation, the demonstration of the role of endogenic methylic derivatives of histamine in physiological and pathological state as well as the participation of biogenic amines and proteolytic enzymes in the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases. His papers are widely quoted in world’s literature.

Scientific and didactic achievements

Prof. S. Maśliński began publishing papers already as a student – he wrote for the Institute of Experimental and Clinical Medicine of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw. By now he is the author of about three hundred scientific papers and has been awarded inter alia by the Minister of Health, the Scientific Secretary of the Polish Academy of Sciences, the Rector of the Medical University and the prestigious Polish award Salix Aurea („the Polish Oscar in rheumatology”). He is a well known and respected academic teacher, an experienced lecturer, the author of scripts for students and the scientific editor and co-author of the first Polish collective pathophysiology textbook. For this textbook, currently issued for the fourth time, the authors got an award from the Minister of Health. Prof. S. Maśliński is thesis supervisor of 9 doctoral dissertations, adviser for two habilitation dissertations and one professor’s dissertation, reviewer of several doctoral, habilitation and professor’s dissertations.

Scientific organizations and societies

Prof. S. Maśliński is highly appreciated in the academic and scientific community; therefore he has been chosen Deputy Dean, a member of the Senate, Senate committees of the Medical University of Warsaw and a few committees of the Polish Academy of Sciences. He is also member of many national and international scientific societies, including the unique European Histamine Research Society. The scientific, didactic and organizational activities of Prof. S. Maśliński were very positively evaluated by the authorities, he was awarded the Knight’s Cross of Polonia Restituta, the Golden Cross of Merit, the highest national didactic award – the Medal of the National Education Commission and other medals, including one for his contribution to the Health System and his contribution to the Medical University of Warsaw.

Other information

Prof. Sławomir Maśliński is constantly using his scientific and organizational potential at work. Always kind and permanently helpful for those, who value science, for his colleagues he remains an example of a broad-minded person, a real scientist, faithfully guarding the principles applicable in this sui generis group, an outstanding professor.

Andrzej Witold Włodarczyk, PhD

Date and place of birth, education

Andrzej Włodarczyk, PhD, was born on 13th November 1952 in Warsaw. In 1979 he graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at the Medical University of Warsaw. Working at the General Surgery Department of the Downtown Hospital in Warsaw he obtained in 1982 the 1. degree of specialization in general surgery. He obtained his 2. specialization degree in general surgery in 1988 at the 1. Department and Clinic of General and Vascular Surgery of the 2. Faculty of Medicine of the Medical University of Warsaw. The same year, after defending the thesis Comparison of ad hoc and early findings after the canalization and alloarthroplasty at the aortoliac part, he obtained his PhD-title at the 2. Faculty of Medicine of the Medical University of Warsaw. In 1995 he took a training in laparoscopic and alimentary-canal-surgery in Davos in Switzerland and one year later – a training in surgery of the large bowel and the rectum in Fort Lauderdale in Florida, USA. In 2002 he graduated the Faculty of Economic Sciences at the University of Warsaw – Postgraduate Studies in Health Economics.

Professional career and positions occupied

He started his professional path in 1976 working at the Ambulance of the Capital City of Warsaw. Later he worked at the General Surgery Department of the Downtown Hospital in Warsaw and at following clinics of general surgery in Warsaw: the 1. General and Vascular Surgery Department and Clinic of the 2. Faculty of Medicine of the Medical University of the Hospital of the Bródno-District and the General and Gastroenterological Surgery Clinic of the Center of Medical Postgraduate Education of the Prof. W. Orłowski Independent Public Hospital Number 1 (working as researching and teaching Assistant Professor). From 1st January 1995 till 1st March 2010 he was additionally hired as a surgery consultant at the Gynecology and Obstetrics Hospital “Inflancka” in Warsaw. From 1st March 2002 till 30th August 2006 he has been Vice President and later President of the commercial company Medbroker Sp. z o.o. (a brokerage company dealing with insurance brokerage and consulting, 100% of her shares were owned by the Regional Medical Chamber in Warsaw). From 11th December 2007 till 8th May 2008 he has been Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Health, from 24th February 2010 till 15th April 2010 – Deputy Director for therapeutics at the Provincial Hospital of the Bródno-District in Warsaw, from May 2010 till January 2011 – Advisor of the Minister of Health. From 2nd August 2010 till 19th November 2010 he was Head of the Rheumatology Institute and from 20th December 2010 till 30th June 2013 – Director of the Institute (from January 2011 till May 2012 he was on unpaid leave). From 26th January 2011 till 20th March 2012 he has been Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Health. From July 2012 till February 2013 – Expert at the National Chamber of Commerce. From 24th January 2009 till 30th November 2012 he was a contractor for duty at the Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Interior and Administration (later the Ministry of Interior) in Warsaw at the General and Vascular Surgery Clinic as Senior Assistant. Presently he manages commercial companies in the non-public health sector. His professional interests are: surgery of the alimentary canal and public health issues, particularly elderly care. He is also interested in management in health care on macro scale.

Scientific achievements

He is the author of about 60 scientific papers published in Polish and international medical journals and of several presentations created for national and international scientific conventions and congresses.

Scientific organizations and societies

A. Włodarczyk, PhD is a member of the Society of Polish Surgeons, the Polish Society of Gastroenterology, the Polish Society of Doctors, the Warsaw Medical Society, the Association of the Warsaw Medical and Pharmacy Alumni as well as the International Society of University Colon & Rectal Surgeons. Since October 2011 he is Vice President of the Polish Society of Doctors. During the 3.-7. term of the medical self-government – Delegate for the Regional and National Congress of Doctors. During the 3., 4. and 5. term of the medical self-government he was Head of the Regional Medical Council in Warsaw, during the 5. term he has been Vice President of the Supreme Medical Council. During the 6. term of the self-government he was a member of the Presidium of the Regional Medical Council in Warsaw. In June 2013 he has been re-elected for Delegate for the Regional Congress of Doctors. In the 7. term of the self-government (2013-2017) – he is a member of the Regional Medical Council in Warsaw and the Supreme Medical Council as well as Head of the Drug Policy and Pharmacotherapy Team of the Supreme Medical Council.

Awards

A. Włodarczyk, PhD has always been involved in social and organizational activities. He has been awarded the Order of Polonia Restituta for opposition activities during maritial law by Lech Kaczyński – the President of the Republic of Poland as well as: the Medal for Merit for Health Protection awarded by the Ministry of Health, the A.F. Wolf Medal awarded by the Warsaw Society of Doctors, the Medal Bene Meritus, awarded by the Polish Society of Doctors, the Medal “For Merit for the Medical University of Warsaw”, the Batch „Laudabilis” awarded by the Regional Medical Council in Warsaw and the Medal Pro Masovia awarded by the Marshal of the Masovian voivodship.

The employees of the Rheumatology Institute are getting prestigious awards for their scientific achievements since 1955 and many of them are honorary members of Polish and foreign medical societies. Following people are honorary members of the Polish Rheumatology Society: Prof. Eleonora Reicher, Prof. Jadwiga Wawrzyńska-Pągowska, Prof. Juliusz Zabokrzycki, Prof. Włodzimierz Brühl, Prof. Stanisław Luft, Prof. Edward Wilkoszewski, Associate Prof. Elżbieta Kawenoki-Minc, Krystyna Tempska-Cyrankiewicz, PhD, Prof. Henryka Małdyk, Prof. Anna Filipowicz-Sosnowska, Prof. Jacek Pazdur; the Polish Internist Society – Prof. Henryka Małdyk; the Polish Immunologic Society – Prof. Alicja Ryżewska; the Polish Orthopedics and Traumatology Society – Prof. Romuald Kreczko. The employees of the Rheumatology Institute have also been honored on international level becoming honorary members of foreign medical societies. Following people were awarded in following countries: Prof. Eleonora Reicher (Netherlands, Italy, USA), Prof. Edward Wilkoszewski (USRR), Prof. Włodzimierz Brühl (Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria), Prof. Sylwester Jakubowski (Finland), Associate Prof. Elżbieta Kawenoki-Minc (Germany, France, Czechoslovakia), Krystyna Tempska-Cyrankiewicz, PhD (Germany, Czechoslovakia), Prof. Maria Sadowska-Wróblewska (Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Hungary), Prof. Eugeniusz Małdyk (Germany, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria), Prof. Anna Filipowicz-Sosnowska (Russia), Prof. Anna Jędryka-Góral (Slovakia). Furthermore Prof. A. Filipowicz-Sosnowska and Prof. Włodzimierz Maśliński became double Honoris Causa members of the J.E. Purkini Society of Doctors in Bohemia and the Rheumatology Society in Bohemia (Czech Republic) and Prof. A. Ryżewska was awarded a member of the New York Academy of Sciences (USA).
We present you below a few diplomas of honorary membership:

Polish Rheumatology Society

• Prof. Anna Filipowicz-Sosnowska (open)
• Prof. Stanisław Luft (open)
• Prof. Jacek Pazdur (open)

Polish Internist Society

• Prof. Henryka Małdykowa (open)

Polish Immunologic Society

• Prof. Alicja Ryżewska (open)

Rheumatology Society in Bohemia

• Prof. Anna Filipowicz- Sosnowska (open)
• Prof. Włodzimierz Maśliński (open)

Slovak Rheumatology Society

• Prof. Anna Jędryka-Góral (open)

New York Academy of Sciences

• Prof. Alicja Ryżewska (open)