Sergio d’Avila Aguinága

The son of Armando Aguinága, a physician and one of the founders of the Ana Neri school, and Alice d’Avila Aguinága, Sergio d’Avila Aguinága was born on June 19, 1922, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

He graduated from the National College of Medicine of the University of Brazil (later renamed as the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro – UFRJ) in 1947, shortly thereafter completing his residency in urology at the Mass General Hospital in Boston, USA.

Some of the first positions Dr. Aguinága held during his stellar career include Associate Professor in Urological Clinic (1958) and Full Professor of Urology (1967) at the University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) School of Medical Sciences. 

He later worked as a Professor of Urology at the Raquel Haddock Lobo and Ana Nery Nursing Schools (1963), in addition to securing the roles of Professor at the Graduate Program in Nephrology of UERJ’s Department of Internal Medicine (1984) and Full Professor of Urology at Carlos Chagas Institute’s Graduate Program in Medical Studies (1985).

He introduced the Master’s Program in Urology at the UERJ School of Medical Sciences in 1989, where he additionally served as the program’s first coordinator. 

Dr. Aguinága held a myriad of positions during his time there. He served as Associate Dean of the Hospital das Clínicas, Head of the Department of Surgical Specialties, and as a full member of both its Higher Council for Teaching and Research and its Board of Collegiate Authority at the College of Medical Sciences. Furthermore, he was Head of the Department of Urology at the Pedro Ernesto University Hospital for 25 years, where he additionally chaired the Department of Renal Transplantations.

The physician led the Department of Urology at the General Polyclinic of Copacabana as well as a Ministry of Agriculture-established hospital fully dedicated to the treatment of fishermen. Furthermore, Dr. Aguinága took on the role of Chief Surgeon at the Hospital Central do Serviço de Assistência a Menores (Central Hospital’s Department of Social Welfare for Minors).

A certified physician by the Portuguese Order of Physicians (MHSE), he garnered other important positions, including Clinical Fellow at the Massachusetts General Hospital in the USA and Honorary Clinical Consultant at the University of Cambridge in England. Another important contribution of his legacy was his pivotal role as a founding member of the Associação de Amigos (Friends’ Association) of the Pedro Ernesto University Hospital (AMHOP), where he served as President from 1988 to 1991. 

When it comes to medical societies, he was an active participant of a wide host of them. These include Spain’s Royal Academy of Medicine, the Brazilian Society of Urology (where he served as Treasurer for four consecutive years and as President from 1977 to 1979), the Brazilian College of Surgeons, and the Brazilian Academy of Military Medicine. He also oversaw efforts as the Editor-in-Chief of the Brazilian Journal of Urology (1997-1999) and as Vice-President of the Banco do Brasil’s Centro de Estudos Médicos (Center for Medical Studies) in 1965.

Throughout his career, the celebrated physician published hundreds of scientific papers and dissertations on all urology-related matters, in addition to penning six books. He lectured and participated in numerous conferences and roundtable discussions both in Brazil and abroad, was a member of several examination boards, and devised hundreds of programs, meetings, and workshops.

He was also awarded numerous honorary titles, including the Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira National Medal from the Brazilian Society of Urology; the “Clementino Fraga” Medal from UERJ (State University of Rio de Janeiro); the “Santos Dumont” Medal; the Ministry of Aeronautics-granted Grand Officer Order of Aeronautical Merit; the “Amigo da Marinha” (Friend of the Navy) Medal; the “Tamandaré” Medal, the “Mérito Naval” (Naval Merit) Medal from the Ministry of Defence, in addition to Merit Medals given by the Naval Hospital Marcílio Dias and the “Avante Bombeiro” Medal.

Dr. Aguinága’s excellence was acknowledged with the Álvaro Cumplido de Sant’Anna Prize Medal awarded by the Confederation of American Urology (CAU), and the Alfred Jurzykowski Prize issued by the Academia Nacional de Medicina (National Academy of Medicine – ANM). Moreover, he was granted titles in the likes of Grand Officer Order of Medical Merit and Knight of the Military Order of Christ. Finally, he was bestowed a certificate by the Brazilian Escola Superior de Guerra (Political, Strategic and Defense Studies Centre – ESG) in 1976.

While running for a Full Member position at the Academia Nacional de Medicina (National Academy of Medicine – ANM), Dr. Aguinága submitted an essay addressing the subject of “The Pelvic Ureter – Surgical Treatment of Injuries.” Once sworn in, he took on the roles of Speaker, Vice-President (1991-1993), and President (1993-1995). Furthermore, he spearheaded efforts to establish the National Academy of Medicine Archive, duly named after him, and which he led from 2007 to 2009. He was granted the status of Emeritus Member in 2007.

Sergio d’Avila Aguinága passed away on June 20, 2014, in Rio de Janeiro.

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