Luiz Ataide was born on August 20, 1923, in Maceio, Alagoas. He came to Recife, Pernambuco, by train, to complete his high school studies, and then attended a “pre-medical course” in order to gain access to the undergraduate course of the Medical School of Recife. He interrupted his studies to meet his military service obligations, when he was summoned to embark for Europe, during the events associated with the Second World War, at the time when Brazilian ships were being sunk along the coast. For this reason, he was assigned to guarding the southern coast of the state of Pernambuco. Sending his group abroad was suspended twice in a row and never materialized. He finally graduated as a doctor in 1948, and then did residency in Hospital Tamarineira, now renamed as Hospital Ulysses Pernambucano, where together with Dr Jarbas Pernambucano and Dr José Alberto Maia, he pioneered neurology in our state. He worked as a neurologist at Hospital Correia Picanço, of which was Medical Director, where he met the psychiatrist Marynidas Barbosa, whom he married in 1952. This union resulted in a family of four children, ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Sought to improve his training in Neurology through courses and specializations, including a Postgraduate Diploma in Neurology at the National Institute for Neurological Diseases, Queen Square, London, completed in 1956, when he had the opportunity to interact with distinguished neurologists in Europe at that time, and with Brazilian friends who also sought to supplement their medical training, such as Dr. Adonis de Carvalho, in the field of pathology, who was his roommate in London. He became Professor of Neurology at the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) and the University of Pernambuco (UPE), dedicated to education, health care and research at both institutions. He was Head of the Department of Neuropsychiatry at UFPE and Head of the Department of Clinical Medicine in the School of Medical Sciences at UPE, and also held the offices of Professor of Neurology (UFPE) and Regent Professor (UPE). Over a period of decades, he contributed towards the training of several generations of doctors and neurology residents in the state of Pernambuco and the northeastern region, especially the states of Alagoas, Paraíba and Rio Grande do Norte, where he gave courses on Medicine, Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy. He was the honored professor and class sponsor of graduating classes of doctors at UFPE and UPE, and Professor Emeritus of UPE and UFPE. He published scientific papers in books and journals both in Brazil and abroad, as well as presented scientific papers at congresses of neurology in Brazil and abroad, on various subjects, including peripheral neuropathy deficiencies at the Congress of the World Federation of Neurology in Kyoto, Japan. He was president of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology (ABN) for the biennium 1980-1982, when he chaired the Brazilian Congress of Neurology in Recife. He was a member of editorial boards of scientific journals in his area of expertise, including Arquivos de Neuropsiquiatria (São Paulo) and Neurobiologia (Recife). He was a titular member of the Pernambuco Academy of Medicine and was a board member in the Regional Medical Council of the State of Pernambuco (CREMEPE) for successive periods. He was also devoted to the medical care of neurological inpatients and outpatients in public and private hospitals (including Hospital Ulysses Pernambucano, Hospital Correia Picanço, Hospital Pedro II, Hospital da Restauração and Hospital Santa Joana) and private practice. For these reasons, he received recognition from people and institutions through personal testimonials, awards and honors such as the “Sao Lucas” and “Maciel Monteiro” medals of the Medical Association of Pernambuco, as well as the “Golden Owl” award of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology, for his outstanding service to neurology in our country. Since he had come from the state of Alagoas, he received the title of Citizen of Pernambuco from the Legislature of the State Government of Pernambuco. His work is recognized as a milestone in the history of Neurology in our state and our region, and he won the sympathy of colleagues, students and disciples through his simplicity and loyalty.
Luiz Ataide Jr
Publication Dates
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Publication in this collection
01 Dec 2013
