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In Memoriam: Professor Franciszek Kokot

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MEMORIAL ARTICLE In memoriam: Professor Franciszek Kokot Professor Franciszek Kokot: a true pioneer in of Nephrology, Endocrinology and Metabolic Dis- nephrology By Andrzej Więcek and Janusz Ostrowski orders, and finally in 2015, was renamed as the Professor Franciszek Kokot (FIGURE 1) was born on Department of Nephrology, Transplantation and November 24, 1929, in Olesno Śląskie, Poland. He Internal Medicine, Medical University of Silesia started his medical education in 1948 in the first in Katowice. Prof. Kokot retired in 2000; howev- class of a newly created Medical Academy in Rok- er, he continued his scientific and clinical activity itnica Bytomska (currently known as Medical Uni- in his home department until 2016. It is also im- versity of Silesia in Katowice, Poland) and com- portant to mention that in the 1960’s, Prof. Ko- pleted his medical education with distinction in kot created in Katowice one of the first dialysis 1953. Already at that time, Prof. Kokot was em- units in Poland, and moreover, in 1993, the first ployed by his home Medical Academy as a lab- dialysis unit for patients with end-stage chron- oratory technician at the Department of Gen- ic kidney disease treated in the Beskid spa hos- eral Chemistry and later at the Department of pital in Wysowa. Pharmacology, where he was also appointed af- Prof. Kokot’s outstanding scientific and clinical ter completion of his medical education. At that achievements are also related to his role as an edu- time, according to the existing rules, Prof. Kokot cator. He had amazing results as a teacher and su- was forced to start his residency in the field of in- pervised the specialty program in internal medi- ternal medicine as a volunteer at the 3rd Depart- cine or nephrology of around 100 physicians. He ment of Internal Medicine of the Silesian Acad- also supervised 79 PhD theses and 24 habilitations emy of Medicine, headed by the famous Polish (additional 6 were conducted abroad in Halle, Ros- internist Prof. Kornel Gibiński. This was the real tock, Jena, and Berlin), from which 14 achieved beginning of Prof. Kokot’s future great scientif- the title of full professor in medicine. These im- ic and clinical career. Already in 1958, he was ap- pressive numbers may clearly indicate that Prof. pointed assistant professor at that department (in Kokot created his own school of nephrology and 1957, he defended his PhD thesis entitled “Kidney his pupils became leaders and heads of several di- function during the artificial hibernation”) and visions or departments of nephrology not only in in 1963, associate professor (after habilitation in Poland but also abroad. This was his contribution 1962, based on his scientific achievements and the to the fundaments of nephrology which separat- dissertation entitled “Studies on the mechanism ed from internal medicine in the 1960’s. There- of action of mercury diuretics.” In 1968, Prof. Ko- fore, it is not surprising that Prof. Kokot was one kot received the title of an associate professor, and in 1982, full professor of medicine awarded by the State Council of Poland. Besides his successful scientific career, Prof. Kokot was also recognized as an exceptional cli- nician, who was a specialist in internal medicine, nephrology, hypertensiology, endocrinology, and clinical pathophysiology. With his good theoret- ical background in biochemistry, pharmacology, and pathophysiology, under the supervision of Prof. Kornel Gibiński, Prof. Kokot’s interest in water-electrolyte and acid-base disorders as well as in metabolic abnormalities in patients with acute or chronic kidney insufficiency developed. In 1965, Prof. Kokot became head of the Division of Nephrology at the Department of Internal Medi- cine, Silesian Medical Academy (currently Medi- cal University of Silesia in Katowice), and in 1975, head of the Department of Nephrology, which he created almost from the scratch. In 1997, this de- FIGURE 1 Professor Franciszek Kokot in 2016 (author’s partment changed its name into the Department collection) MEMORIAL ARTICLE In memoriam: Professor Franciszek Kokot 213 of the founders of the Polish Society of Nephrol- president of the Polish Society of Nephrology. ogy in 1983, and during the 49th Congress of the During his presidency, Polish nephrology was in- European Renal Association-European Dialysis troduced into the international community. Prof. and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA) in 2012 Kokot was also elected 3 times as a council mem- in Paris, he was named a Pioneer in Nephrology ber of the ERA-EDTA in the years: 1978 to 1981, among other most eminent nephrologists from 1987 to 1990, and 1993 to 1996. As an ERA-EDTA Europe. Prof. Kokot was the author or coauthor council member, Prof. Kokot organized a mem- of more than 720 papers listed in PubMed, which orable meeting in the Vatican with Pope John in a large proportion were published in the high- Paul II, which was concluded with a very impor- impact international medical journals. The entire tant statement supporting the idea of organ do- number of published medical articles by Prof. Ko- nation for transplantation. This initiative is con- kot exceeds 1400, among them, more than 820 sidered to be a fundamental stage in the devel- published as full-text articles. opment of organ donation and transplantation. Most famous scientific topics which brought Prof. Kokot was also a council member of the In- him international recognition are related to en- ternational Society of Internal Medicine, Polish docrine abnormalities in patients with acute or Society of Internal Medicine, and Polish Society chronic kidney insufficiency, in patients with of Hypertension. He was involved in the develop- primary or secondary hypertension, after kid- ment of science and higher education in Poland, ney transplantation and also in patients with namely, he was elected vice-rector (since 1980) kidney stones. The second most important area and then rector (1982–1984) of Silesian Medical of scientific interest expressed by Prof. Kokot Academy, was a member of the State Commit- was to demonstrate that kidneys play an im- tee for Scientific Research (Komitet Badań Nau- portant role as an endocrine organ, which can kowych) and also a member of the Central Com- be used both for diagnostic procedures as well mission for Degrees and Titles (chairman of the as in the pathophysiological considerations in Medical Section in 1978–1990 and 1993–2006). patients with hypertension or kidney diseases. Prof. Kokot was a full member of the Polish Acad- Prof. Kokot in his unique way was able to uti- emy of Sciences (Polska Akademia Nauk) and an lize his knowledge which he acquired during his active member of the Polish Academy of Arts and long-term (Geneva, 1959–1960) or short-term Sciences (Polska Akademia Umiejętności). He was (London, 1970) scholarships and to build his also awarded the honorary degree (doctor hono- own scientific laboratory, where based on his ris causa) of 10 Medical Universities in Poland own radioimmunological methods, he was able and abroad (including Jagiellonian University in to assay several hormones. At that time, mea- Kraków). Additionally, he was a honorary mem- surements on such a large scale (not only in Po- ber of several scientific associations in Poland and land but also in all other communist countries) abroad. It is important to mention that Prof. Ko- were performed only using these own methods kot was the recipient of a very unique and pres- which Prof. Kokot elaborated in his laboratory. tigious honorary membership of the ERA-EDTA It is also important to mention that most valu- in 2010. For his outstanding achievements in the able and innovative results published by Prof. field of education and science, he was awarded Kokot were related to the role of the renin–an- with the highest distinctions in Poland, namely, giotensin–aldosterone system in the pathogen- the Knight’s Cross and Commander’s Cross of the esis of arterial hypertension and in kidney dis- Order of Polonia Restituta. Posthumously, Prof. eases. He published more than 200 papers in Kokot received the Order of the White Eagle. this particular field in several prestigious med- Prof. Kokot passed away on January 24, 2021. ical journals both in Poland and abroad. It is very difficult to present in such a short way Besides these original, scientific works, Prof. all his achievements and merits. It is even more Kokot has been also an editor of several impor- difficult to present him as a charismatic speaker, tant textbooks for students and physicians. The visionary in many scientific areas, organizer of most important book, which had several editions the nephrological care in Poland, and extraordi- and was recognized as a most valuable academ- nary physician, who in spite of so many different ic textbook, was entitled Internal Diseases. Addi- activities, was involved also in patient care on a tionally, Prof. Kokot was an editor of several oth- daily basis. However, to present Prof. Kokot as er books, which were also important and unique our teacher and mentor is most difficult for us with regards to both their content and the form because this influence was so vast that it cov- of presentation, such as, Water-electrolyte and ac- ered our entire professional and scientific lives. id-base metabolism in physiological and pathological conditions and also Differential diagnosis of disease SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL symptoms. Finally, it is important to stress that Supplementary material is available with the article at www.mp.pl/paim. Prof. Kokot also translated many books from Ger- man or English into Polish, among them a most ARTICLE INFORMATION famous textbook, Harper’s Biochemistry. AUTHOR NAMES AND AFFILIATIONS Andrzej Więcek, Janusz Os- Prof. Kokot played an important role in many trowski (AW: Department of Nephrology, Transplantation and Internal Med- icine, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Katowice, Poland; JO: De- national and international scientific societ- partment of History of Medicine, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Educa- ies.
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