The arterial switch operation, a surgical method to correct transposition of the great vessels in newborns, stands as the primary technical contribution of Adib Jatene. A Brazilian scientist, university teacher, and cardiac surgeon, he utilized his position at the University of São Paulo to fundamentally alter how physicians treat congenital heart conditions throughout the late twentieth century.
Background and Training
Born in 1929 in the city of Xapuri, Jatene relocated to São Paulo by 1947. He completed his secondary education at Colégio Bandeirantes de São Paulo before graduating from the University of São Paulo Faculty of Medicine. His early clinical development occurred at the São Paulo University Hospital, where he performed cardiac surgery training under Euryclides de Jesus Zerbini until 1955.
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Jatene maintained a long-term affiliation with the University of São Paulo, where he served as a professor and helped establish the Heart Institute. His research output was extensive, resulting in the publication of more than 270 scientific academic studies. He held membership in the Brazilian National Academy of Medicine, reflecting his standing within the national medical research community.
Governmental Service
Beyond his clinical practice, Jatene engaged in public administration and politics. He served as the Secretary of Health for the city of São Paulo. On a national level, he occupied the role of Minister of Health of Brazil twice, first in 1992 and subsequently from 1995 to 1996. During these periods, he advocated for the implementation of the CPMF tax to secure funding for the federal health system.
Honours and Death
The scientific community recognized his work through the receipt of the Anísio Teixeira Award in 1991 and the Grand Cross of the National Order of Scientific Merit. Jatene died in São Paulo on November 14, 2014, at the age of 85, following a heart attack.
Fast facts
- Born: 1929, Xapuri, Brazil
- Died: 2014, São Paulo, Brazil
- Profession: Surgeon, Scientist, Politician
- Education: University of São Paulo
- Minister of Health Terms: 1992 and 1995-1996
- Key Invention: Arterial switch operation
- Scientific Publications: Over 270
- Distinction: Grand Cross of the National Order of Scientific Merit
Questions readers ask
What is the Jatene operation?
It is a surgical procedure, also known as the arterial switch, designed to correct the transposition of the great vessels in newborns.
Did Adib Jatene hold public office?
Yes, he served as the Secretary of Health for São Paulo and held the position of Minister of Health of Brazil on two occasions.
Achievements
- Grand Cross of the National Order of Scientific Merit
- Held posts at University of São Paulo
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