Vintila Ciocâlteu
Encyclopedia
Vintila Ciocâlteu, MD
, PhD
(April 12, 1890 – February 1947) was an eminent Romania
n physician
, researcher, professor and author.
district of Romania
. He distinguished himself throughout medical school and was active in the leadership of the student association. Due to his brilliant academic results, he was selected as the recipient of a Rockefeller grant
to further his studies at Harvard Medical School
in the United States
. There, in collaboration with Otto Folin
he co-developed the chemical reactive known as the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent (FCR).
He returned to Romania as a professor at the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy
in Bucharest
where he laid the foundation of the biochemistry lab. He also set up his own additional private research lab in the vacant formal Royal Stables. His credentials combined with the professorial and research activity led to the prestigious nomination as Dean of the medical school.
As an author, he published two poetry volumes and is mentioned in George Călinescu
’s Istoria literaturii romane de la origini pina in prezent ("History of Romanian Literature From Its Origins to Nowadays").
In 1945, at the end of World War II
and the subsequent advent of the communist era, Ciocâlteu fell out of favor with the new political regime. Progressive intellectuals were not to be trusted, especially those who maintained an independent attitude and were “molded” abroad, and therefore “tainted” by western influence. Many paid with their lives and/or suffered savage years of internment as political detainees for such mistrust.
Ciocâlteu was possibly headed for a similar fate when, in 1947 in the purest Stalinist style, he was summarily and without warning “purged” from chairing the biochemistry department – his very creation and gift to generations – in front of the professorial council.
The shock and humiliation caused him to have a massive heart attack that killed him on the spot, in front of his dumbstruck and tacitly sympathetic peers. The events generated a wave of impotent revolt and frustration among the dean’s real constituency – his students – that continued to hold him forever in their highest esteem.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
, PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
(April 12, 1890 – February 1947) was an eminent Romania
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...
n 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...
, researcher, professor and author.
Biography
Dr. Ciocâlteu was born in Plenita, in the DoljDolj County
Dolj -Jiu, "lower Jiu", toward Gorj ) is a county of Romania, in Oltenia, with the capital city at Craiova .- Demographics :In 2002, it had a population of 734,231 and a population density of 99/km²....
district of Romania
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...
. He distinguished himself throughout medical school and was active in the leadership of the student association. Due to his brilliant academic results, he was selected as the recipient of a Rockefeller grant
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
to further his studies at Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. There, in collaboration with Otto Folin
Otto Folin
Otto Knut Olof Folin was a Swedish-born American chemist who is best known for his groundbreaking work at Harvard University on practical micromethods for the determination of the constituents of protein-free blood filtrates and the discovery of creatine phosphate in muscles.-Background:Folin was...
he co-developed the chemical reactive known as the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent (FCR).
He returned to Romania as a professor at the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy
Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy
Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy is a state-run health sciences University in Bucharest, Romania. It is the largest institution of its kind in Romania with over 2.865 employees, 1.654 teachers and over 4.800 students...
in Bucharest
Bucharest
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....
where he laid the foundation of the biochemistry lab. He also set up his own additional private research lab in the vacant formal Royal Stables. His credentials combined with the professorial and research activity led to the prestigious nomination as Dean of the medical school.
As an author, he published two poetry volumes and is mentioned in George Călinescu
George Calinescu
George Călinescu was a Romanian literary critic, historian, novelist, academician and journalist, and a writer of classicist and humanist tendencies...
’s Istoria literaturii romane de la origini pina in prezent ("History of Romanian Literature From Its Origins to Nowadays").
In 1945, at the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the subsequent advent of the communist era, Ciocâlteu fell out of favor with the new political regime. Progressive intellectuals were not to be trusted, especially those who maintained an independent attitude and were “molded” abroad, and therefore “tainted” by western influence. Many paid with their lives and/or suffered savage years of internment as political detainees for such mistrust.
Ciocâlteu was possibly headed for a similar fate when, in 1947 in the purest Stalinist style, he was summarily and without warning “purged” from chairing the biochemistry department – his very creation and gift to generations – in front of the professorial council.
The shock and humiliation caused him to have a massive heart attack that killed him on the spot, in front of his dumbstruck and tacitly sympathetic peers. The events generated a wave of impotent revolt and frustration among the dean’s real constituency – his students – that continued to hold him forever in their highest esteem.