Internationally renowned endocrinologist Aldo Pinchera passed away on 10 October due to a cardiac arrest, at his home. Born in Naples in 1934, he founded Pisa's important School of Endocrinology, where today patients come from all over Italy and other countries as well. Emeritus Professor of Clinical Endocrinology and a person of great humanity and charisma, Pinchera was famous for his lectures, which enthralled his Medicine students triggering their interest and enthusiasm with his ability to explain his very complex subject in clear and precise language. With his quick wit, sense of humor, knowledge of numerous languages, Aldo Pinchera was a great communicator, a man of broad culture in all fields, much appreciated in various international fora, enjoying the esteem and friendship of the most famous scientists in the field of endocrinology. Visiting Professor abroad, a frequent guest of television broadcasts and talk shows, organizer of international events, his name for decades has given special luster to medical teaching and research in Pisa
Director of the first School of Specialization in Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases at the University (a position he held from 1996 to 2008), Pinchera was recognized as one of the world's leading experts in the study of treatment for diseases of the thyroid. Responsible for numerous research programs funded by national and international bodies, after the Chernobyl disaster he coordinated clinical studies on childhood thyroid cancer for the European Union.
His career as a university professor began in 1980 with his appointment as professor of "Constitutional Medicine and Endocrinology". In the 1980s and 1990s he was director of the Institute of Endocrinology, Clinical Methodology and Occupational Medicine; he then held the post of director of the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Orthopedics, Traumatology and Occupational Medicine from 1998 to 2004. From 2007 to 2010 he was director of the Graduate School of Endocrine, Metabolic and Psychiatric Sciences. Awarded the University of Pisa's Order of Cherubino in 2005, Pinchera received the title of Professor Emeritus in 2010. As evidence of his many interests, from 2003 to 2010 he served with great enthusiasm and expertise as President of the Edizioni PLUS, the University of Pisa's publishing house. During his presidency PLUS organized and sponsored numerous cultural events as well as notably expanding its catalogue of publications.
Before his retirement in 2009, Aldo Pinchera was director at the AOUP (the University Hospital) Operating Unit of Endocrinology 1 and previously of the department of that name. To him we owe the foundation of IEPTO, the European Institute for the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity.
His sudden death leaves a huge void in the colleagues, friends, co-workers of the University and University Hospital of Pisa, with whom he shared many years of work. The funeral was held on 12 October in the Church of San Francesco (via San Francesco, Pisa).