Victor Warren Fazio
Victor Fazio, Sydney University | |
---|---|
Known for | Pelvic floor reservoirs |
Awards | Cleveland Clinic Hall of Fame U.S. National Physician of the Year |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Colorectal surgery Intestinal surgery Digestive diseases |
Institutions | Cleveland Clinic, Ohio |
Victor Warren Fazio AO, (2 February 1940 – 6 July 2015[1]), an Australian, was a colorectal surgeon, a leader at the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio for over 35 years. He pioneered surgical techniques and improved the quality of life for cancer patients around the world. He wrote or co-authored 13 books, contributed scientific papers to standard texts, lectured and taught younger surgeons in the United States and Australia.
Early life and schooling
Born in Sydney, Fazio spent most of his childhood in
Career
Fazio graduated in 1964, by which time he had played junior rugby league in the Eastern Suburbs competition, rugby for the
Fazio went to the United States to hone his skills in all aspects of intestinal surgery, firstly at the
Specialising in colon and rectal surgery, Fazio's clinical interests were Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis; colorectal cancer; and pelvic floor reservoir procedures, created inside the body of patients who had intestines removed, to collect the body's waste. His innovative techniques allow patients to avoid the need for colostomies. He also made an international mark by developing techniques to conserve the small intestine in patients with extensive Crohn's disease.[2]
From Paris in 1981 where he was attending a conference, Fazio conducted a number of successful long distance consultations to doctors in Rome who were operating on
Accolades
The University of Sydney made Fazio an honorary Master of Surgery, and he was appointed an
Fazio is one of only three Australians to receive a Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons both by examination and by conferment of an Honorary degree. His Honorary Fellowships and Doctorates come from England, Edinburgh, Ireland and Poland, and he was inducted into the European Surgical Association in 2007.[2]
In 2000 Fazio was the first recipient of the Cleveland Clinic's Master Clinician Award, given to one of 1500 Cleveland Clinic physicians. In 2002 he was inducted into Cleveland's Medical Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2002 he was the first winner of the Al and Norma Lerner Humanitarian Award, the clinic's highest honour. It goes to a doctor who personifies "the highest values of the medical profession, a practitioner of peerless expertise, wise mentor and valued participant in the life of the institution". Fazio was judged to be a "physician whose selfless dedication, boundless compassion and tireless work has made the most profound and singular contribution to the good of humankind." He earned The Cleveland Clinic Alumni Association's 2005 Distinguished Alumnus Award and was the clinic's Teacher of the Year twice.[2]
The
In 2014 Fazio won the Lifetime Achievement honour in the US National Physician of the Year awards.[2]
At home in Australia, Fazio and his wife Carolyn were patrons of the historical society at Tinonee, New South Wales, near Taree; and supporters of the Great Lakes Historical Society at Tuncurry.[2]
He is responsible for training many of the most renowned modern colorectal surgeons, including Feza Remzi who now serves as the director of the IBD center at NYU Langone Health, and is the leading surgeon in the field of j-pouch redo procedures.[3]
Death
After failing health he died in Ohio. He was buried at Tinonee, New South Wales. His wife was Carolyn, his two sons Victor & David and daughter Jane.
His younger brother Joe Fazio who predeceased him, was a rowing silver medallist for Australia at the 1968 Mexico Olympics.
Plans are proceeding to establish the Victor Fazio Centre for Inflammatory Bowel Disease at Cleveland Clinic, and surgical suites in his name for digestive disease patients.[2]
See also
References
- ^ "In Memoriam, Victor W. Fazio, MD | ASCRS". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2015. In Memoriam, Victor W. Fazio, MD
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Fazio SMH obituary".
- ^ Piore, Adam. "Dr. Feza Remzi & His Team at the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center Are Redefining What's Possible". NYU Langone News. Retrieved 25 July 2022.