here - Embassy of the Republic of Poland in New Delhi

Professor Waldemar L. Olszewski
Curriculum vitae and contributions to worldwide medicine
“Medicine without borders”
Born in Warsaw, Poland. Graduated from Medical Faculty, Warsaw School of Medicine in 1954, passed
Board in Surgery exams in 1962. Received his PhD degree in 1962 and his postdoctoral degree in 1968.
Since 1970 associate professor at the Dept. of Surgery, Medical Academy and Medical Research Center,
Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, since 1978 full professor at the same centers including chairman
and consultant of Clinical Department of Surgery, Ministry of the Interior/ Polish Academy of Science
Hospital, Warsaw.
Between 1962-63 prof. Olszewski received postgraduate training and carried out research at
Hammersmith Hospital, London, then between 1968 and 1970 at Harvard Medical School in Boston,
USA.
His other professional positions include visiting professor at Radiumhospitalet, Oslo (1976- 2005), St.
Bartholomew's Medical School, London (1994-2000), Research Officer World Health Organization,
Madras-Pondicherry-Benares, India (since 1992) and later coordinator of cooperation of Indian National
Science Academy-Polish Academy of Sciences.
He served as President of European Society for Surgical Research in 1977-78, President of International
Society of Lymphology in 1989-91, President of Polish Society for Immunology in 1995-98.
Also served as a member of editorial boards of many international medical journals i.a. Lymphology
(USA), International Angiology (GB), Central European Journal of Immunology (Poland), Phlebolinfologia
(Spain), Cell Transplantation (USA), Lymphatic Research and Biology (USA), US-Chinese Journal of
Lymphology and Oncology (China), Indian Medical Research J (India).
Doctor Honoris Causa Universita di Genova, Italy (2005). Awards of the International Society of
Lymphology (USA) (1975), National Lymphedema Network USA (2006), Lymphatic Research Foundation
NIH (USA) 2006, American Society of Lymphology USA (2007), Polish Academy of Sciences (2006).
Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Angiologie, (2011).
His clinical and research interests comprise vascular surgery, transplantation, physiology and surgery of
the lymphatic system and immunology. Published around 600 publications, 7 scientific books i.a.
Peripheral Lymph - formation and immune function (CRC Press, USA, 1985), In Vivo Immune Cell
Migration (CRC Press, USA, 1987), Handbook of Microsurgery (CRC Press, USA 1987) and Lymph Stasis pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment (CRC Press, USA, 1991), Concise compendium of lymphology
(Springer USA, 2011).
Main scientific contributions to Indian and world medicine:
1.
designing and introducing into clinical practice the operation of surgical lympho-venous shunts
(1966) for treatment of lymphedema; until recently over 100 000 of these operations were
performed around the world and in India this procedure has become a routine,
2. discovery of spontaneous rhythmic lymphatic contractility in humans (1980), original observation
showing how fluid from between the cells flows to the lymph vessels and further to the blood
circulation; without this mechanism we would get swollen and could not survive (submitted for
evaluation to the Nobel Committee, Stockholm),
3. Evidence that bacteria are the main factor responsible for development of human limb lymphedema
(1994); this revolutionized the understanding of the cause of lymphedema, especially in India,
4. Introducing low-dose, long-term penicillin administration for prevention of dermatitis and
lymphangitis and subsequently development of lymphedema (1996). Today millions of people
around the world, among them in India, are treated with this method.
Prof. Olszewski’s cooperation with Indian doctors was initiated in 1985 by the invitation of late Professor
S Jamal from Thanjavur. Very friendly personal and professional relations were established with
colleagues from Chennai (Madras), New Delhi, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Jaipur, Patna, Chidambaram,
Puducherry (Pondicherry), Kolkata (Calcutta) and Goa. From the very beginning cooperation was based
on partnership. Diagnostic and therapeutic methods have been worked out. A large number of joint
publications has been published in international journals. Twenty five medical scientists from India have
already visited Poland and the members of prof. Olszewski’s team have been coming to India frequently.
A number of joint conferences has been organized in both countries.
The cooperation has been the unprecedented phenomenon in the Indo-Polish bilateral relations in the
field of science. Mutual sincerity, understanding, dedication and hospitality are visible examples of the
strong bonds between Polish and Indian medical scientists.