SICOT e-Newsletter
Issue No. 8 - May 2009
In memory of Prof Dr Živojan BumbaÅ¡ireviÄ
The end of 2008 brought the loss of one of the pioneers of modern orthopaedic surgery in Serbia. Professor BumbaÅ¡ireviÄ was born into one of most intellectually respected families in Serbia. He finished medical school in 1948 at the University of Belgrade. In 1952 he was appointed as assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at the University of Belgrade where he remained throughout his career. He advanced to associate professor in 1969 and full professor of orthopaedic surgery in 1976.
During his career, he was director of the largest orthopaedic residency programme at the University of Belgrade in the former Yugoslavia. He was the founder of modern traumatology, where he advocated the emergent treatment of patients with femoral neck fractures and implemented a 24-hour orthopaedic emergency service. He developed specific interest and expertise in the treatment of patients with orthopaedic complications of haemophilia, tuberculosis, and malignant tumours of bone.
In addition to his role of teaching and managing the busiest orthopaedic department in the country, Dr BumbaÅ¡ireviÄ maintained a high level of academic productivity. He published over 350 articles and book chapters both nationally and internationally. He was the invited guest speaker in over 20 countries. He was on the editorial staff of several national and international journals over many years, including Acta Orthopaedica Yugoslavica, Serbian Medical Archive, and the Revue de Chirurgie Orthopédique et Réparatrice de l'Appareil Moteur. He was elected as a member in numerous international orthopaedic societies including the French, Austrian, Italian, Hungarian, and Czechoslovakian orthopaedic societies. He participated not only as a member, but as a presenter and moderator. He was involved in leadership roles, serving as president of national societies and as the National Delegate of Yugoslavia in SICOT from 1975 to 1985. In 1988 he organised the first East-West combined meeting. This was an historic meeting, when for the first time more than 50 orthopaedic surgeons from the former Soviet Union were able to participate in an orthopaedic meeting with surgeons from all over the world.
He was elected as a full member of the Serbian Academy of Science in 1994. This is the highest academic honour that any Serbian scientist can be awarded. He was also elected as a member of the Academia Medica di Roma in 1988. He was elected as a distinguished member of SICOT, which is a recognition given to very few members for outstanding lifetime contributions to the study, practice, and teaching of orthopaedics.
For his contributions to the field of orthopaedic surgery, he received numerous awards. He received the highest French honour, the "Ordre National de la Légion d'Honneur" in 1977 and more than ten Yugoslavian and Serbian medals and awards.
On a more personal note, Dr BumbaÅ¡ireviÄ was a teacher who always had time for his residents and colleagues and family. By his example, his two sons were inspired to follow in his footsteps and pursue academic careers in medicine. He encouraged his students to seek opportunities to study abroad and bring new techniques and ideas back home. There was no problem that was too trivial for his attention, and his students and colleagues truly felt like part of his family. He maintained positive relationships with all those around him and treated everyone with respect. He did not think that there was any role that was beneath his time or interest, especially as it related to the care of patients and in particular to the organization and perfection of trauma care. He maintained a sense of humour about his work and life, exemplified by the sign in his office: "Whenever you help someone, prepare yourself for the consequences." Despite this, he always tried to help everyone he came in contact with. He was an exemplary teacher and role model. He will be greatly missed.
Prof Dr Milan StevanoviÄ
Professor of Orthopaedics and Surgery, University of Southern California Â
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