Sofia Ionescu
Encyclopedia
Sofia Ionescu-Ogrezeanu was a Romanian
neurosurgeon and is considered one of the first female neurosurgeons in the world.
, Suceava
, daughter of Constantin Ogrezeanu and Maria Ogrezeanu. She only weighed 2.2 lb at birth, and had unusually long fingers that helped her through her career. Her father wanted her to be young lady and housewife
.
Ionescu's interest in medicine began after she met one of her best friends Aurelia Dumitru, and her father Dr. Dumitru. The death of one of her school friends, who died in Paris
due to an infection
after brain surgery, impelled Ionescu to apply to medical school.
in 1939. In her first internship year, she studied ophthalmology
. Another year, she spent in Suceava at a poorly-equipped clinic during a typhus
epidemic
. In one of the school breaks she volunteered to take care of Russian
prisoners at Stamate Hospital in Falticeni
, her home-town. She entered the surgical service of the hospital, doing her first surgical operations, mostly amputations
.
On 15 October 1943, when she became an intern at Hospital Nr. 9 in Bucharest. In the neurological clinic established by Dr. Bagdasar, she would meet Ionel Ionescu, who later became her husband.
In 1970, the favorite wife of the Sheikh
of Abu Dhabi
had become ill. As a man could not enter the harem, they needed to find a female doctor. Ionescu stayed one week at the woman’s side and cured her. As a reward the sheik gave her 20,000 dollars and an expensive piece of jewellery. The money she had to give to the state and the jewellery was lost by her daughter.
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
neurosurgeon and is considered one of the first female neurosurgeons in the world.
Early life
Ionescu was born in FalticeniFalticeni
Fălticeni is a city in Suceava County, Romania, capital of the former Baia County . As of 2003 the population is 28,899, and the city covers an area of 28,76 km², of which 25% are orchards and lakes. The city is 25 km away from Suceava, the capital of the county...
, Suceava
Suceava
Suceava is the Suceava County seat in Bukovina, Moldavia region, in north-eastern Romania. The city was the capital of the Principality of Moldavia from 1388 to 1565.-History:...
, daughter of Constantin Ogrezeanu and Maria Ogrezeanu. She only weighed 2.2 lb at birth, and had unusually long fingers that helped her through her career. Her father wanted her to be young lady and housewife
Housewife
Housewife is a term used to describe a married woman with household responsibilities who is not employed outside the home. Merriam Webster describes a housewife as a married woman who is in charge of her household...
.
Ionescu's interest in medicine began after she met one of her best friends Aurelia Dumitru, and her father Dr. Dumitru. The death of one of her school friends, who died in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
due to an infection
Infection
An infection is the colonization of a host organism by parasite species. Infecting parasites seek to use the host's resources to reproduce, often resulting in disease...
after brain surgery, impelled Ionescu to apply to medical school.
Education
Supported by her mother, she applied to medical school in BucharestBucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
in 1939. In her first internship year, she studied ophthalmology
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...
. Another year, she spent in Suceava at a poorly-equipped clinic during a typhus
Typhus
Epidemic typhus is a form of typhus so named because the disease often causes epidemics following wars and natural disasters...
epidemic
Epidemic
In epidemiology, an epidemic , occurs when new cases of a certain disease, in a given human population, and during a given period, substantially exceed what is expected based on recent experience...
. In one of the school breaks she volunteered to take care of Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
prisoners at Stamate Hospital in Falticeni
Falticeni
Fălticeni is a city in Suceava County, Romania, capital of the former Baia County . As of 2003 the population is 28,899, and the city covers an area of 28,76 km², of which 25% are orchards and lakes. The city is 25 km away from Suceava, the capital of the county...
, her home-town. She entered the surgical service of the hospital, doing her first surgical operations, mostly amputations
Amputation
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for...
.
On 15 October 1943, when she became an intern at Hospital Nr. 9 in Bucharest. In the neurological clinic established by Dr. Bagdasar, she would meet Ionel Ionescu, who later became her husband.
Career
She was a neurosurgeon for 47 years at Hospital Nr. 9, forming an extraordinary team with Ionel Ionescu, and Constantin Arseni, under the guidance of Dimitrie Bagdasar. They formed the first neurological team of Romania, later called “The golden team”, which helped develop neurosurgery in Romania.In 1970, the favorite wife of the Sheikh
Sheikh
Not to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...
of Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
had become ill. As a man could not enter the harem, they needed to find a female doctor. Ionescu stayed one week at the woman’s side and cured her. As a reward the sheik gave her 20,000 dollars and an expensive piece of jewellery. The money she had to give to the state and the jewellery was lost by her daughter.