Cassio Raposo do Amaral
Encyclopedia
Professor Cassio Menezes Raposo do Amaral, Ph.D. (September 9, 1943, São Paulo
, Brazil
– September 1, 2005, Campinas
, Brazil) was an internationally recognized physician
and plastic and reconstructive surgeon
.
at the then recently-established State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), graduating in 1966. While a student, he was active in the Medical Student Union, and was one of the organizers of a preparatory course for entrance to the medical school. He also began as a student his life-long careers as a medical researcher and teacher.
Following his graduation, he had three years of medical residence training in general surgery
, being one at UNICAMP and two at the Medical School of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. He finished a specialization in plastic surgery at the University of São Paulo
(USP), becoming an instructor at the Medical School of the State University of Campinas in the same year. He obtained his Ph.D. at USP and won a full professorship at UNICAMP in 1994. Dr. Cassio Raposo do Amaral post-doctoral studies in advanced plastic surgery were done abroad, at the Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery of the New York University
Medical Center, under Prof. John Marquis Converse, where he was invited to stay for one year as a plastic surgery fellow and as an assistant professor from 1972 to 1973. In the following year he traveled to France
to study with noted surgeon and professor, Dr. Paul Tessier
, the creator of craniofacial surgery
.
He also founded and organized the plastic surgery department at Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas
(PUCCAMP) in 1980, the plastic surgery service at the Hospital Infantil Álvaro Ribeiro, the center for treatment of burns of Paulinia
's Municipal Hospital, the scientific departments of plastic surgery of the Sociedade de Medicina e Cirurgia de Campinas and the Associação Paulista de Medicina, among others. He was one of the founders and director of the São Paulo Chapter of Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery (1986-1987) as well as of its Chapter of Craniofacial Plastic Surgery. In addition, he had a busy private practice with his wife and collaborator, Dr. Vera Adami Raposo do Amaral, a noted psychologist and university professor specializing in psychological aspects of craniofacial disorders in children.
Dr. Raposo do Amaral was highly regarded as an extraordinarily skilled surgeon and was one of the few in Latin America
who dared to operate on the most difficult cases of severe and rare craniofacial fissures, sometimes requiring the entire disassembling and reconstruction of the human face
, in surgical interventions which required 8 hrs or more. He and his collaborators developed many new surgical approaches to the treatment of craniosynostosis
using gradual bone distraction, to facial rejuvenation
, to synthetic bone prostheses
, as well as research on the application of computer-based 3D surgical planning, the experimental investigation of release of silicone
from breast implants, etc. At SOBRAPAR, one of the few hospital
s dedicated to craniofacial plastic and reconstructive surgery in the world, he was a pioneer in creating a multi- and interdisciplinary approach to the integrated management of craniofacial disorders, putting together an excellent team composed of neurologist
s, neurosurgeons, orthopedists, plastic surgeons, laryngologists, ophthalmologists, dentist
s, psychologist
s, speech therapists, physical therapists, biologist
s, nurses, social assistants, and so on.
He was also the founder, with Dr. Renato M.E. Sabbatini and Dr. Valdenize Tiziani, and the scientific editor of The Online Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the first on-line journal of this area, and a member of the editorial board of the Brazilian Journal of Plastic Surgery and of the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery.
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
– September 1, 2005, Campinas
Campinas
Campinas is a city and municipality located in the coastal interior of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. is the administrative center of the meso-region of the same name, with 3,783,597 inhabitants as of the 2010 Census, consisting of 49 cities....
, Brazil) was an internationally recognized physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and plastic and reconstructive surgeon
Plastic surgery
Plastic surgery is a medical specialty concerned with the correction or restoration of form and function. Though cosmetic or aesthetic surgery is the best-known kind of plastic surgery, most plastic surgery is not cosmetic: plastic surgery includes many types of reconstructive surgery, hand...
.
Early life and education
He was born in São Paulo, and went on to study MedicineMedicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
at the then recently-established State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), graduating in 1966. While a student, he was active in the Medical Student Union, and was one of the organizers of a preparatory course for entrance to the medical school. He also began as a student his life-long careers as a medical researcher and teacher.
Following his graduation, he had three years of medical residence training in general surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
, being one at UNICAMP and two at the Medical School of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. He finished a specialization in plastic surgery at the University of São Paulo
University of São Paulo
Universidade de São Paulo is a public university in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. It is the largest Brazilian university and one of the country's most prestigious...
(USP), becoming an instructor at the Medical School of the State University of Campinas in the same year. He obtained his Ph.D. at USP and won a full professorship at UNICAMP in 1994. Dr. Cassio Raposo do Amaral post-doctoral studies in advanced plastic surgery were done abroad, at the Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery of the New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
Medical Center, under Prof. John Marquis Converse, where he was invited to stay for one year as a plastic surgery fellow and as an assistant professor from 1972 to 1973. In the following year he traveled to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to study with noted surgeon and professor, Dr. Paul Tessier
Paul Tessier
Paul Tessier was a French surgeon. He was considered the father of modern craniofacial surgery.-Biography:...
, the creator of craniofacial surgery
Craniofacial surgery
Craniofacial surgery is a surgical subspecialty of maxillofacial surgery, plastic surgery, and ENT that deals with congenital and acquired deformities of the skull, face, and jaws. Although craniofacial treatment often involves manipulation of bone, craniofacial surgery is not tissue-specific,...
.
Surgical career
Dr. Raposo do Amaral returned to Campinas, Brazil, where he structured the plastic surgery department at UNICAMP and founded SOBRAPAR (Brazilian Society for Research and Care for Craniofacial Rehabilitation) in 1979. SOBRAPAR is better known nowadays for its Institute of Craniofacial Plastic Surgery, pioneering philanthropic institution in the scientific research and treatment of major craniofacial deformities in South America.He also founded and organized the plastic surgery department at Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas
Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas
The Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas is a private and non-profit Catholic university, located in Campinas, the second largest city of the State of São Paulo. It is one of the largest and most prestigious Brazilian universities...
(PUCCAMP) in 1980, the plastic surgery service at the Hospital Infantil Álvaro Ribeiro, the center for treatment of burns of Paulinia
Paulínia
Paulínia is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. As of 2009, its population was 84.577 inhabitants in an area of 145.27 km². The elevation is 590 m...
's Municipal Hospital, the scientific departments of plastic surgery of the Sociedade de Medicina e Cirurgia de Campinas and the Associação Paulista de Medicina, among others. He was one of the founders and director of the São Paulo Chapter of Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery (1986-1987) as well as of its Chapter of Craniofacial Plastic Surgery. In addition, he had a busy private practice with his wife and collaborator, Dr. Vera Adami Raposo do Amaral, a noted psychologist and university professor specializing in psychological aspects of craniofacial disorders in children.
Dr. Raposo do Amaral was highly regarded as an extraordinarily skilled surgeon and was one of the few in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
who dared to operate on the most difficult cases of severe and rare craniofacial fissures, sometimes requiring the entire disassembling and reconstruction of the human face
Face
The face is a central sense organ complex, for those animals that have one, normally on the ventral surface of the head, and can, depending on the definition in the human case, include the hair, forehead, eyebrow, eyelashes, eyes, nose, ears, cheeks, mouth, lips, philtrum, temple, teeth, skin, and...
, in surgical interventions which required 8 hrs or more. He and his collaborators developed many new surgical approaches to the treatment of craniosynostosis
Craniosynostosis
Craniosynostosis is a condition in which one or more of the fibrous sutures in an infant skull prematurely fuses by ossification, thereby changing the growth pattern of the skull...
using gradual bone distraction, to facial rejuvenation
Facial rejuvenation
Facial rejuvenation is any cosmetic or medical procedure used to increase or restore the appearance of a younger age to human face. The specific term, however, refers to a set of surgical procedures which try to restore facial geometry and skin appearance which are typical of youth, by using a...
, to synthetic bone prostheses
Prosthesis
In medicine, a prosthesis, prosthetic, or prosthetic limb is an artificial device extension that replaces a missing body part. It is part of the field of biomechatronics, the science of using mechanical devices with human muscle, skeleton, and nervous systems to assist or enhance motor control...
, as well as research on the application of computer-based 3D surgical planning, the experimental investigation of release of silicone
Silicone
Silicones are inert, synthetic compounds with a variety of forms and uses. Typically heat-resistant and rubber-like, they are used in sealants, adhesives, lubricants, medical applications , cookware, and insulation....
from breast implants, etc. At SOBRAPAR, one of the few hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
s dedicated to craniofacial plastic and reconstructive surgery in the world, he was a pioneer in creating a multi- and interdisciplinary approach to the integrated management of craniofacial disorders, putting together an excellent team composed of neurologist
Neurologist
A neurologist is a physician who specializes in neurology, and is trained to investigate, or diagnose and treat neurological disorders.Neurology is the medical specialty related to the human nervous system. The nervous system encompasses the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. A specialist...
s, neurosurgeons, orthopedists, plastic surgeons, laryngologists, ophthalmologists, dentist
Dentist
A dentist, also known as a 'dental surgeon', is a doctor that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity. The dentist's supporting team aides in providing oral health services...
s, psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
s, speech therapists, physical therapists, biologist
Biologist
A biologist is a scientist devoted to and producing results in biology through the study of life. Typically biologists study organisms and their relationship to their environment. Biologists involved in basic research attempt to discover underlying mechanisms that govern how organisms work...
s, nurses, social assistants, and so on.
He was also the founder, with Dr. Renato M.E. Sabbatini and Dr. Valdenize Tiziani, and the scientific editor of The Online Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the first on-line journal of this area, and a member of the editorial board of the Brazilian Journal of Plastic Surgery and of the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery.