Professor Ignazio Benedetto Olivieri, age 64, died at his home in Trivigno, Potenza, Italy, on July 28 after having co- lon cancer for a year. He had received his medical degree in 1979 and his rheumatol- ogy specialty training at the University of Pisa in Italy. He worked as researcher in the Division of Rheumatology at Pisa Uni- versity, then from 1993 to 1998 he worked in the Division of Rheumatology of Poli- clinico S. Orsola-Malpighi in Bologna. In 1998 he became Chief of the Rheumatolo- gy Department of Lucania, San Carlo Hos- pital of Potenza and Madonna delle Grazie Hospital of Matera, Italy.
He was an outstanding academic physi- cian, teacher and clinical investigator who published more than 400 scientific papers in the most important rheumatological journals. He headed a Behçet disease and spondyloarthritis (SpA) care and research team investigating the pathogenesis, epi- demiology, treatment, and outcomes of these diseases. His research contributions were recognized both nationally and inter- nationally. He identified the predominant inflammatory lesions in dactylitis, defined the clinical spectrum of late-onset SpA, studied the epidemiology of Behçet dis-
ease in Southern Italy, helped in defining the characteristic differentiating features of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis from ankylosing spondylitis, and contrib- uted much to the debate over whether Be- hçet disease belongs to the broad spectrum of SpA diseases.
Olivieri was a member of the European League Against Rheumatism’s (EULAR) expert task force on recommendations for the management of Behçet disease, psori- atic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.
He was also a member of many interna- tional research organizations, including the Assessment in Ankylosing Spondylitis (ASAS) International Society, the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA), and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). He served on the editorial boards of The Journal of Rheumatology, Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology, Iranian Journal of Rheumatology, and American Latin Journal of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Ar- thritis. He was also codirector of Reuma- tismo, the official journal of Italian Society of Rheumatology (SIR).
In September 2016, he convened the 17th
Ignazio Olivieri
Reumatismo, 2017; 69 (3): 140-141
IN MEMORIAM
Corresponding author Carlo Salvarani Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, e Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, V.le Risorgimento 80 42100 Reggio Emilia, Italy
Phone: 39/0522/296616 Fax: 39/0522/295836 E-mail: salvarani.carlo@ausl.re.it 140 Reumatismo 3/2017
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rofessor Ignazio Benedetto Olivieri,
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rofessor Ignazio Benedetto Olivieri, age 64, died at his home in Trivigno,
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age 64, died at his home in Trivigno, Potenza, Italy, on July 28 after having co
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Potenza, Italy, on July 28 after having co lon cancer for a year. He had received his
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lon cancer for a year. He had received his medical degree in 1979 and his rheumatol
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medical degree in 1979 and his rheumatol ogy specialty training at the University of
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ogy specialty training at the University of Pisa in Italy. He worked as researcher in
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Pisa in Italy. He worked as researcher in the Division of Rheumatology at Pisa Uni
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the Division of Rheumatology at Pisa Uni
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versity, then from 1993 to 1998 he worked
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versity, then from 1993 to 1998 he worked in the Division of Rheumatology of Poli
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in the Division of Rheumatology of Poli clinico S. Orsola-Malpighi in Bologna. In
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clinico S. Orsola-Malpighi in Bologna. In 1998 he became Chief of the Rheumatolo
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1998 he became Chief of the Rheumatolo gy Department of Lucania, San Carlo Hos
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gy Department of Lucania, San Carlo Hos
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Reumatismo 3/2017 141
IN MEMORIAM
International Congress of Behçet Disease in Matera, Italy, his hometown. He was ill with cancer, but he made it a very success- ful scientific meeting and received a stand- ing ovation at the end. In his final days, Ol- ivieri continued to work on one of his most important achievements, the establishment of the Rheumatological Scientific Institute of Research and Care (Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico) in his be- loved region (Basilicata). He considered it an acknowledgment for his scientific and clinical activity, but above all an opportu- nity for his collaborators.
Olivieri was a kind and soft-spoken gentle- man with an unwavering commitment to patient care, social justice, and intellec- tual rigor. What impressed me since I met him and started working with him was his strong spirit of service to the public, car- ried out with personal honesty, balance and discretion, coupled with a contagious enthusiasm for scientific research, always performed with rigorous methodology.
In other words, Ignatius has always had a strong “ethics of responsibility”, a total commitment to service for others who has led his entire human, medical, and SIR president’s adventure. His modesty and tal- ents impressed his colleagues and patients.
He was also an outstanding clinician and teacher. Olivieri devoted his energy to pa- tient care, and was always able to talk with his patients and establish close profession- al relationships.
He was the immediate past president of the Italian Society of Rheumatology. He had a special talent for recognizing professional needs and then fulfilling them, and thus dur- ing his tenure as president, he greatly ad- vanced the cause of the subspecialty always trying to bring harmony between its various parts. One of Olivieri’s greatest legacies has been to support and encourage the partici- pation of young people providing resources, education, and support for younger rheuma- tologists. His success in this is shown by a touching letter to him and to the board of the Italian Society of Rheumatology, sent at the end of his presidency by a young rheumatologist:“You were not just the Pres- ident of the Italian Society of Rheumatol- ogy, but the president of All, the president of professors, young people, men and women, who, thanks to you, felt represented and protected. … Thank you for your example of strength, tenacity, and extreme dignity.
An example for all of us; rather than a pro- fessor …a master.” This was our dear friend Ignazio Olivieri. The bestway to honor him is to follow his example.
Olivieri’s death leaves a tremendous void for his many lifelong colleagues and friends, and his patients. He was extraor- dinarily proud of his family. He is survived by his wife, Dr. Angela Padula, also a rheu- matologist and his precious partner of life and work; and a daughter, Francesca.
Carlo Salvarani
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commitment to service for others who has
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commitment to service for others who has led his entire human, medical, and SIR
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led his entire human, medical, and SIR president’s adventure. His modesty and tal
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president’s adventure. His modesty and tal-
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- ents impressed his colleagues and patients.
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ents impressed his colleagues and patients.
He was also an outstanding clinician and
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He was also an outstanding clinician and teacher. Olivieri devoted his energy to pa
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teacher. Olivieri devoted his energy to pa tient care, and was always able to talk with
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tient care, and was always able to talk with
his patients and establish close profession
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his patients and establish close profession
protected. … Thank you for your example
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protected. … Thank you for your example of strength, tenacity, and extreme dignity.
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of strength, tenacity, and extreme dignity.
An example for all of us; rather than a pro
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An example for all of us; rather than a pro fessor …a master.”
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fessor …a master.”
Ignazio Olivieri. The bestway to honor him
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Ignazio Olivieri. The bestway to honor him is to follow his example.
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is to follow his example.
Olivieri’s death leaves a tremendous void
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Olivieri’s death leaves a tremendous void for his many lifelong colleagues and
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for his many lifelong colleagues and friends, and his patients. He was extraor
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friends, and his patients. He was extraor
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