Polish Genius: Dr Tadeusz Krwawicz

Tadeusz Jan Krwawicz (born January 15, 1910 in Lviv, died August 17, 1988 in Lublin) - Polish physician, ophthalmologist, professor of medicine, one of the world's greatest authorities in the field of ophthalmology of the 20th century.He was the son of an Austrian army gunsmith. He studied for a year at the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków. He continued his medical studies at the Faculty of Medicine of the Jan Kazimierz University in Lviv. In 1938 he obtained a medical diploma and a year later a doctor of medicine degree.

He worked as an assistant at the Ophthalmological Department and Clinic of the University of Lviv, then as the head of the Ophthalmology Department of the District Hospital in Lublin. In 1951 he became an associate professor, and in 1957 a full professor. For 34 years (until 1980) he was the head of the Ophthalmological Clinic of the Medical University of Lublin (Kazimierz Gerkowicz took over the management of the clinic after him).He initiated cryosurgery methods in cataract surgery. He was a member of numerous scientific societies, including: since 1967 PAS. In the years 1971–1983 he was the president of the Polish Ophthalmological Society[1], and from 1966 to 1987 he was the president of the Lublin Scientific Society. In 1966, he was elected the first president of the International Association of Cryophthalmology. He has published over 190 scientific and research papers. In Lublin, he created a world-famous ophthalmological center. Editor-in-chief of the journal "Postepy Okulistyki". He published his works, among others: at the Eye Clinic.He was awarded the Gold Cross of Merit (1954, for merits in scientific and teaching work in the field of medicine)[2], and in the following years the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (1966), the Order of the Banner of Labor, 1st class and the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (1968). In 1964 he received the 1st degree Award of the Minister of Health and Social Welfare. In 1966 he received the 1st degree state award[3]. From 1967 he was a corresponding member of the Polish Academy of Sciences, and from 1980 a full member. He was also awarded the Foundation Award. Jurzykowski in New York (1967), the Special Award of the International Society of Cryosurgery (1968), the Award of Th. Axenfeld (1972) and the Nessim Habif World Prize of the University of Geneva (1974). He also received numerous medals for medical and teaching merits. He received the honorary doctorate twice: in 1975 at the Medical University of Lublin and in 1976 at the Medical University of Lublin. Semmelweis in Budapest[4].

He died on August 17, 1988. He was buried in Kazimierz Dolny.