Prof. Orłowski’s contribution to the achievement of high professional and ethical standards in the medical sciences in Poland

When thinking about T. Orłowski we usually refer to his remarkable contributions to internal medicine, nephrology, and transplantation. However, his nobility of character is especially evident when considering his conduct as a physician for whom the principle "salus aegroti suprema lex" meant more than the usual words cited at academic ceremonies. He contributed greatly towards high ethical standards in Polish medicine, his conduct serving as the best example to follow for young graduates, in accord with the known Latin statement: verba docent, exempla trahunt. He created a system referred to as "the Orłowski style" (in Polish: orłowszczyzna), encompassing such virtues as discipline, timeliness, integrity, accuracy and, above all, patients' interests and wellbeing as the supreme value, placed well above his own needs and interests. Keeping one's interests in check - a paramount part of academic integrity - was typical of his professional and personal conduct in life. A great physician, teacher, and leader of scientific life in Poland, incredibly resistant to all life's hardships, fully and unconditionally dedicated to his work and passion until the very end - one who deserves those famous words of Horace: non omnis moriar.

Keywords: Nephrology, Transplantation