Book Review: Decani şi Rectori ai Universitǎţii de Medicinǎ şi Farmacie “Grigore T. Popa” din Iaşi (1879–2016) [Deans and Rectors of the “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Jassy (1879–2016)] - by Dana Baran

The book entitled “Deans and Rectors of the «Grigore T. Popa» University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Jassy (1879-2016)” represents a new remarkable achievement in the series of books elaborated by the well-known medical historian Prof. Dr. Dana Baran and dedicated to the study of the history of the medical and pharmaceutical learning from Jassy. The volume starts with a very necessary introductory study with the title “Milestones in the History of «Grigore T. Popa» Medicine and Pharmacy University of Jassy”. At its onset is a significant statement: “To remember the past is to honor the present”. The study contains six synthetic subchapters: “The «Grigore T. Popa» University – medical universe in Jassy”, “The Faculty of Medicine and its avatars”, “The Faculty of Pharmacy and the attempts of a successful destiny”, “The Faculty of Dental Medicine, a model of professionalism and performance”, “The Faculty of Bioengineering and the success of motivated perseverance”, “The «Gr. T. Popa» University of Medicine and Pharmacy today”. The book continues with 13 tables including, separately, the names and the mandate of deans and rectors, grouped on wide ranges of activity: for the ”Mihăileană” University from 1879 until 1948 (two tables deans and rectors which were physicians); for the ”Dumitru Bagdasar” Institute of Medicine and Pharmacy between 1948 and 1990 – the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Pharmacy, the Faculty of Dentistry and, respectively, between 1948 and 1955, the Hygiene Faculty and the Pediatrics Faculty (six tables – deans and rectors); for the “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy between 1990 and 2016 – (five tables – deans and rectors). After these tables are included brief professional presentations of the activities of those professors who fulfilled one or more mandates of dean or rector. The exposure follows the order in which each one fulfilled his leadership function. In a special part of this book are shown different aspects regarding the academic life of medicine and pharmacy in Jassy during the interwar period. The presentations are authored by the personalities who held the position of rector in that time: Nicolae Leon (1859-1931), Alexandru Slătineanu (1873-1939) and Ion Tănăsescu (1875-1954). Another part of this volume contains lectures given by the following deans: Gabriel Socor (1849-1928), Ştefan Graçosky (1873-1960) and Grigore T. Popa (1892-1948). Because the current name of Jassy University of Medicine and Pharmacy is “Gr. T. Popa”, the book includes one of his remarkable communication entitled “The Spirit Reform. Education and Training Principles”. The volume continues with various overviews written by the following deans: Ion Haulică (1924-2010), Gheorghe Timoşca (1922-2011) and Victor Năstase (b. 1927) for the centenary of the higher medical and pharmaceutical learning in Jassy, which took place in 1979. The end of this book contains numerous images – some of them being from the XIXth and XXth century – and others from the present medical and pharmaceutical academic life in Jassy. The volume is very well written, having many medico-historical documents and many very significant images. It is necessary to mention the elegant conditions in which this book was published. We recommend this volume to all those interested in the history of Romanian medicine.