Jacques Brotchi
Encyclopedia
Jacques Brotchi is a Belgian
professor of neurosurgery and a politician from the MR
. He was elected as a member of the Belgian Senate
in 2007.
and met each other in 1930 at the University of Liège
, where they were studying dentistry. They were married in 1936. As a Jewish family, they escaped deportation to the concentration camps by being hidden by a Belgian family in Comblain-au-Pont
. After the war, Jacques grew up in Esneux
where his parents were dentists. He studied at the Atheneum in Liège. In 1964, he met his future wife Rachel on a holiday in Switzerland.
He graduated as a Doctor of Medicine
from the University of Liège
in 1967. His chief interest was neurosurgery, which lead him to work (already as a student) at the Laboratory for Neuroanatomy and at the Neurosurgical Clinic of the university. He received his PhD
for his study of the histochemistry of focal epilepsies.
In 1982 he became a professor at the Université Libre de Bruxelles
and created the Department of Neurosurgery of the Erasme Hospital. In 1998, this department was nominated as the "First worldwide WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Neurosurgery" by the WHO
.
From 1989 to 1992, he was the head of the Belgian Society for Neurosurgery. Between 1991 and 1994, he presided over the French Language Society for Neurosurgery. Between 1997 and 2001, he became chairman of the Education Committee of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies. Since 2003, he is a member of the board of the Francqui Foundation
.
Jacques Brotchi became a senator in 2004. In 2005, he joined the scientific committee of the Baillet Latour Prize
and became chairman of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies.
He has been an Officer in the Order of Leopold since 8 April 1996, and a Grand Officer in the Order of the Crown
since 15 November 2007. Foreign orders he has received include Knight in the French Légion d'honneur
in 1992, and Knight in the Danish Order of the Dannebrog
in 1996. He is a member of the Belgian Royal Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Neurological Surgery and of the French Academy of Surgery.
In 2000, he was awarded the Joseph Maisin Prize. In 2008, he was one of the two Mensch
of the Year of the Centre Communautaire Laïc Juif de Belgique. In November 2008, he was made a baron
by King Albert II of Belgium
. That same month, he received the Scopus Award from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
professor of neurosurgery and a politician from the MR
Reformist Movement
The Reformist Movement is a French-speaking liberal political party in Belgium. The party was in coalition as part of the Leterme II Government, and was also part of the governing coalition in the Walloon Region and Brussels-Capital Region until the 2004 regional elections...
. He was elected as a member of the Belgian Senate
Belgian Senate
The Belgian Senate is one of the two chambers of the bicameral Federal Parliament of Belgium, the other being the Chamber of Representatives. It is considered to be the "upper house" of the Federal Parliament.-History and future:...
in 2007.
Biography
Jacques Brotchi was born in Liège. His parents Isac and Haia came from BessarabiaBessarabia
Bessarabia is a historical term for the geographic region in Eastern Europe bounded by the Dniester River on the east and the Prut River on the west....
and met each other in 1930 at the University of Liège
University of Liège
The University of Liège , in Liège, Wallonia, Belgium, is a major public university in the French Community of Belgium. Its official language is French.-History:...
, where they were studying dentistry. They were married in 1936. As a Jewish family, they escaped deportation to the concentration camps by being hidden by a Belgian family in Comblain-au-Pont
Comblain-au-Pont
Comblain-au-Pont is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Liège. On January 1, 2006 Comblain-au-Pont had a total population of 5,372. The total area is 22.68 km² which gives a population density of 237 inhabitants per km². It is situated at the confluence of the rivers...
. After the war, Jacques grew up in Esneux
Esneux
Esneux is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Liège. On January 1, 2006 Esneux had a total population of 13,072. The total area is which gives a population density of 384 inhabitants per km²....
where his parents were dentists. He studied at the Atheneum in Liège. In 1964, he met his future wife Rachel on a holiday in Switzerland.
He graduated as a Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
from the University of Liège
University of Liège
The University of Liège , in Liège, Wallonia, Belgium, is a major public university in the French Community of Belgium. Its official language is French.-History:...
in 1967. His chief interest was neurosurgery, which lead him to work (already as a student) at the Laboratory for Neuroanatomy and at the Neurosurgical Clinic of the university. He received his PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
for his study of the histochemistry of focal epilepsies.
In 1982 he became a professor at the Université Libre de Bruxelles
Université Libre de Bruxelles
The Université libre de Bruxelles is a French-speaking university in Brussels, Belgium. It has 21,000 students, 29% of whom come from abroad, and an equally cosmopolitan staff.-Name:...
and created the Department of Neurosurgery of the Erasme Hospital. In 1998, this department was nominated as the "First worldwide WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Neurosurgery" by the WHO
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
.
From 1989 to 1992, he was the head of the Belgian Society for Neurosurgery. Between 1991 and 1994, he presided over the French Language Society for Neurosurgery. Between 1997 and 2001, he became chairman of the Education Committee of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies. Since 2003, he is a member of the board of the Francqui Foundation
Francqui Foundation
The Francqui Foundation was founded in 1932 by Emile Francqui and Herbert Hoover with the goal "to further the development of higher education and scientific research in Belgium". The foundation is a private foundation under the legal from of a Belgian "Institution of Public Utility"...
.
Jacques Brotchi became a senator in 2004. In 2005, he joined the scientific committee of the Baillet Latour Prize
Artois-Baillet Latour Foundation
The Artois-Baillet Latour Foundation is a non-profit organization which was founded on 1 March 1974 at the initiative of Count Alfred de Baillet Latour, who was the Director of the Artois Breweries in Leuven, Belgium...
and became chairman of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies.
He has been an Officer in the Order of Leopold since 8 April 1996, and a Grand Officer in the Order of the Crown
Order of the Crown (Belgium)
The Order of the Crown is an Order of Belgium which was created on 15 October 1897 by King Leopold II in his capacity as ruler of the Congo Free State. The order was first intended to recognize heroic deeds and distinguished service achieved from service in the Congo Free State - many of which acts...
since 15 November 2007. Foreign orders he has received include Knight in the French Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
in 1992, and Knight in the Danish Order of the Dannebrog
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
in 1996. He is a member of the Belgian Royal Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Neurological Surgery and of the French Academy of Surgery.
In 2000, he was awarded the Joseph Maisin Prize. In 2008, he was one of the two Mensch
Mensch
Mensch means "a person of integrity and honor". The opposite of a "mensch" is an "unmensch" . According to Leo Rosten, the Yiddish maven and author of The Joys of Yiddish, "mensch" is "someone to admire and emulate, someone of noble character...
of the Year of the Centre Communautaire Laïc Juif de Belgique. In November 2008, he was made a baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
by King Albert II of Belgium
Albert II of Belgium
Albert II is the current reigning King of the Belgians, a constitutional monarch. He is a member of the royal house "of Belgium"; formerly this house was named Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
. That same month, he received the Scopus Award from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
.