PLEXUS NEWSLETTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF ASSOCIATIONS OF ANATOMISTS JUNE 2005 NEWSLETTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF ASSOCIATIONS OF ANATOMISTS JULY 2005 Office Bearers of the IFAA: President: Professor David Brynmor Thomas Vice President: Professor Nobutaka Hirokawa Secretary General: Professor Bernard Moxham Treasurer: Dr Duane Haines Secretaries: Professor Jacques Patrick Barbet Professor Xu Qunyuan Standing Committees of the Federation: Anatomical Terminology (FICAT) Chairman: Professor Ian Whitmore Secretary: Professor Colin Wendell-Smith Anatomical Education (FICAE) Chairman: Professor John Morris Secretary: Professor Mitsohiro Kawata Medical Humanities and Ethics (FICMHE) Chairman: Professor Gareth Jones Secretary: to be announced International Congress 2009 (FIC) Chairman : Professor B. Kramer Secretary: Professor G. Louw FRONT COVER PHOTGRAPH: Lateral view of a naturally mummified human brain. This brain was found in the course of a forensic examination of a specimen in the open bushveld. It represents the first naturally mummified human brain found in Africa. The brain was retrieved from the cranial cavity, and upon closer examination revealed the normal appearance of a modern human brain. This specimen raises interesting questions regarding the process of natural mummifica- tion. A full article describing this specimen is currently in press. Authors: Nikki Eklektos, Manisha Dayal and Paul Manger Photograph courtesy of Dr Paul Manger, School of Anatomical Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa 2 NEWSLETTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF ASSOCIATIONS OF ANATOMISTS Editorial What is it about anatomy that brings out as never before have I heard so many the passion in those who practice the disci- anatomists taking up the cudgels and wish- pline? ing to fight for their discipline. We have heard this in many ways…at Congresses, in Is it the love of structure, the fascination documents being produced by various So- with the form and outlines produced against cieties and in Editorials in journals. So, per- bulges and bumps? Is it perhaps the sinu- haps I cannot answer the question about ous lines produced by vessels and nerves what makes an anatomist passionate about which track through the interstices? Per- the discipline, but one thing I have come to haps , it is the combination of art and art- realise, is that “we all talk the same lan- istry which have produced an amazing guage…..Anatomy”, and that is what structure which can only function superbly counts most!l when everything is intact or aligned. I sus- pect that in recent years it has also been I hope you enjoy this edition of Plexus, the attacks upon the discipline by “others” which brings wonderful contributions from in high places……those “educationalists” who Societies and individuals around the globe. wish to alter the curriculum, reduce the time and “wipe” anatomy off the face of the Beverley Kramer medical “planet”. Perhaps in retrospect, we Editor will see these “attacks” as a “good” thing, In this issue… In Memoriam—Liberato DiDio Page 4 Meeting of the General Assembly of the IFAA (draft docu- Page 6 ment) Minutes of the IFAA Executive Meeting Page 12 News from Member Societies Page 14 News from IFAA Committees Page 20 Reports on Congresses Page 21 Communications from far and wide Page 23 Forthcoming Congresses Page 25 3 NEWSLETTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF ASSOCIATIONS OF ANATOMISTS JULY 2005 In Memoriam Liberato John Alphonse DiDio On the 7th of May in the year 1920, in São Paulo, Fawcett, Department of Anatomy, Harvard a new and very special citizen was born - Lib- Medical School and George Palade (Nobel Laure- erato John Alphonse DiDio – the person who ate), Department of Cytology, Rockefeller Insti- became one of the most important and most tute for Medical Research in New York City. At representative anatomists all around the world. the same time, Professor DiDio also became a Visiting Professor at the University of Washing- After being born and educated in the same city, ton, joining Dr. Edward Boyden and Dr. Bassett Mr. DiDio entered the University of São Paulo in teaching gross anatomy. Medical School in 1945 from which he graduated and obtained his degrees After this important of D.Sc. and Ph.D with experience, together honour and distinction. with his natural abil- ity to teach and do In 1952, in the position of research, Professor General Secretary, Dr DiDio was hired as DiDio, together with the Professor of Anatomy President, his Professor, Dr at the Northwestern Renato Locchi, founded University Medical the Brazilian Society of School in Chicago. In Anatomy. Just three years 1966, after being in- after his graduation, Dr vited to participate DiDio was appointed to the in the foundation of position of Chairman of the the Medical College Anatomy Department of of Ohio, Toledo he the University of Minas became the Chair- Gerais School of Medicine, man of the Depart- in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. ment of Anatomy and six years later, was Despite such a meteoric elected Dean of the and brilliant career, Pro- Graduate School. fessor DiDio did not stay in Professor DiDio, pictured at the ISMS Congress at Sun this new position, but tried City, South Africa in 2001. The photograph was taken by With his increasing to improve his knowledge Professor W. Hamlett prestige not only in and expand his horizons. the medical envi- So in the early sixties he traveled abroad and ronment but also in the scientific field, together became a Rockefeller Fellow, starting his train- with his admirable humanistic culture, Professor ing in Electron Microscopy and Molecular Biology DiDio was asked to be a consultant of the Pan under the orientation of three great professors, American Health Organization and Encyclopedia Professor Stanley Bennett, Department of Anat- Britannica, Barsa. omy, University of Washington, Professor Don 4 NEWSLETTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF ASSOCIATIONS OF ANATOMISTS His leadership abilities and his capacity of orga- Chile, of the New University of Lisbon, of the nizing and previewing activities years in ad- University of Brasilia, of the University of Rio de vance, lead him to become not only President Janeiro, of the National University of Trujillo, and Emeritus Chairman of the American Associa- and of the University of Timisoara. He had also tion of Anatomists but also President of the In- received titles of Honorary Member from the ternational Federation of Associations of Anato- Associations of Anatomists from many countries mists. around the world such as Chile, Ecuador, United States, Israel, Peru, Czechoslovakia, Italy, Ger- In 1990 he became Emeritus Professor of the many, Venezuela and Brazil. Medical College of Ohio and two years later was awarded the title of Dean Emeritus. Moreover, Professor DiDio has been honored by many cities and countries with the award of the Due to his continuous interest in the anatomical title of Honorary Citizenship of the cities of science, his privileged mind and his great profi- Belo Horizonte, New Orleans, São Paulo. The ciency in five languages, Professor DiDio was following medals were also awarded to him: invited to be a member of the International No- Great Official of the Order of Merit in Medicine menclature Committee, of the International of the Republic of Brazil, Medal for Cultural Anatomical Veterinary Nomenclature Commit- Merit of the Republic of Italy, Great Medal of tee, and a member and General Secretary of “Inconfidencia” from the Government of Minas the Federative Committee on Anatomical Ter- Gerais, Medal from New Bedford, Massachu- minology. setts, Marble Plaque from the Instituto Nacional de Neurologia of Mexico City, Golden Key Award In the scientific field, he became well known from the International Institute of Toledo, Ohio, for his huge intellectual production of publica- Andreas Vesalius Award from the Mexican Soci- tions and books. He published three hundred ety of Anatomists, Gold Medal from Cordoba, and seventy nine scientific papers, eleven Argentina, "Arnaldo Vieira de Carvalho " Medal translated books (some translated into Portu- from the University of São Paulo Medical School, guese, Italian and Spanish), fifteen book re- the "Ipiranga Order", Great Official, awarded by views and participated in the Editorial Board of the Government of the State of São Paulo and twenty nine Scientific Journals in Brazil, USA, the “Anchieta Medal”, from the city of São Chile, Switzerland, France, Germany, Italy, Paulo. Netherlands, Spain, Mexico and Portugal. He presented one hundred and fifty abstracts to The Brazilian Society of Anatomy is very proud congresses and symposia, gave two hundred and indeed for having such a special Honorary Mem- fifteen seminars in numerous universities world- ber who has dignified Science, Medicine and wide and had strongly contributed for the for- Anatomy. mation of new anatomists by being academic advisor of ninety two graduate students in Bra- zil, forty two in the USA and 1 in Portugal. Nadir Eunice Valverde Barbato de Prates, During his life, Professor DiDio received numer- M.D., Ph.D. ous honours and awards from Universities and Richard Halti Cabral, M.D., Ph.D. Scientific Associations. He became Professor José Carlos Prates, M.D., Ph.D Honoris Causa of the Catholic University of 5 NEWSLETTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF ASSOCIATIONS OF ANATOMISTS JULY 2005 International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA) XVI Congress of IFAA in Kyoto, September 25 - 27, 2004 Meeting of the General Assembly of the IFAA August 25, 2004 - 02.30 p.m. Ist Draft Agenda 1. Opening remarks by the President of the IFAA, David Brynmor Thomas 2. Receipt of credentials of delegates from Constituent Associations and Societies (Secretary General Moxham/Treasurer Haines) 3. Distribution, discussion and vote on the minutes of the last meeting held in Rome (Kühnel/ Moxham) 4. Report of the Secretary-General and changes to the IFAA Constitution (Moxham). 5. Report of the Treasurer (Haines) 6. Report of the Chairman of the Federative International Committee on Anatomical Education – FI- CAE - (Drukker) and of the Federative International Committee on Anatomical Terminology - FI- CAT- (Whitmore) 7.