In memory of Claudio Carosino
On 24 October 2010, Claudio Carosino consigned his life serving one of his patients in Roncole Verdi, Busseto, Italy. Claudio was President of SIMG (Società Italiana di Medicina Generale) of the province of Parma (Emilia Romagna Region), and active member of Euripa, EGPRN, Euract and Wonca. We will never forget when we first met him, back in 2001 at an EGPRN Meeting: the image of the optimistic rural doctor. At first sight, he appeared to us a bit old fashioned, but then we discovered he represented what someone has described as ‘the best of the old, classic rural GP values combined with an open and brilliant mind and a huge interest in research.’ Claudio was energetic, optimistic, the kind of person always ready to give you a hand and who never said no. He used to touch us all with his wisdom, his ability to communicate, his spirit, but more than anything his enthusiasm. Hard working, curious and an extremely friendly man, Claudio was a real rural physician and researcher, an excellent example of what good doctors can do even in rural and remote settings. He was also involved in social work as president of Aid Children in the Third World, an organization that deals with adoptions, and actively participated in programmes of health information for young people. His premature death has been a big loss to the whole community, EGPRN, Euripa, Euract, Wonca and of course to his family, particularly his wife Maurizia.
In current days, the health care system authorities push doctors often towards a cynic efficiency. Claudio always tried to make use of his immense wisdom and compassion. Unfortunately, as a cruel joke of the fate, he passed away, victim of his huge empathy, as he had always lived: in the front-line, helping his patients on a Sunday afternoon when he was expected to be on holiday. When we last met him in Malaga at the Wonca Conference in September 2010, two weeks before his death, he was helping his beloved wife Maurizia to try to find their way around in the complicated Conference Venue. He would have a meeting with his colleagues of the Euripa and did not want to be late: he was friendly and charming even when he had to hurry up!
Roncole Verdi, this little rural village can count now in another distinguished person in its history, after Giuseppe Verdi the famous Italian opera composer: Claudio Carosino a great family doctor, a great researcher and, above all, a great man. As said by one of his Euripa friends: ‘His supreme sacrifices will stay ineffaceable written in the European General Practice History.’ May all of us continue doing something good and important for our patients and our communities with respect of Claudio's legacy.
In memory of Anders Håkansson
Anders Håkansson, Professor of Family Medicine in Malmö/Lund, Sweden was a practical man and a smart person. As son of a farmer, he was very much down-to-earth. Anders was helpful, dedicated and always got many things done. He developed research-training courses in Sweden, Denmark and the Baltic countries that have catalyzed many PhDs since the 1990s, and I am one of them. Overall, he mentored 15 PhD students, who received their dissertations, and nine PhD students who had to change supervisor after his death, since his academic career started in the 1980s. His dissertation from 1989 was about maternal care and child health care in Family Medicine, but he gained competence in many areas of research.
Anders was the Swedish representative of EGPRW/EGPRN from the 1990s until a few years before his death. He was also the Swedish editor of the Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care for many years as well as editor of the Swedish Medical Journal. The contribution Anders has made to Swedish, Nordic and European general practice and family medicine research is something we will remember with gratitude.
Apart from the loss Anders’ death means to academia, he left his wife Karin, their three children, and several grandchildren in great mourning. We are many more that miss him a lot.