In memoriam of Professor Hubert Wanyura

PROFESSOR HUBERT WANYURA

Professor Hubert Wanyura, acknowledged Polish maxillofacial surgeon and researcher, passed away on January 14th, 2022 at the age of 80. One of his many achievements was the position of the Editor-in-Chief of the “Journal of Stomatology” (1995-2010), at that time published under the Polish title “Czasopismo Stomatologiczne”, which is the oldest Polish dental journal published since 1948, and the official organ of the Polish Dental Association.
Professor Hubert Wanyura was born on March 16th, 1942, in Warsaw, Poland. He graduated from dentistry at the Medical Academy of Warsaw in 1965, and immediately started working as assistant in the Clinic of Maxillofacial Surgery of the National Clinical Hospital No. 1 in Warsaw. At the same time, he started medical studies and successfully graduated in 1969. Following the studies, Prof. Wanyura continued with specialty training, first in general surgery, then in maxillofacial surgery, and obtained dedicated specialist titles in 1973 and 1974, respectively.
Professional life of Prof. Wanyura was strictly associated with the Institute of Stomatology of the Medical Academy of Warsaw, where he was first a university teacher, then deputy head physician, head physician, vice-head of the First Chair of Maxillofacial Surgery, and finally, he became the Head of the Chair in 1999. In the years 1999-2005, he served as the vice-dean of the Division of Dentistry of the First Medical Faculty of the Medical Academy of Warsaw.
In 1979 Prof. Wanyura was granted the PhD title, following presentation of dissertation entitled “Evaluation of bacteremia occurring after teeth extraction under general anesthesia”. In 1990, he obtained the post-doctoral degree (habilitation), and in 2001 he become a full Professor. He was author and co-author of 145 research papers, two monographies, and 7 chapters in textbooks as well as around 140 conference contributions. His research concerned diagnosis, classification, and treatment of maxillofacial fractures, tumors and congenital malformations. He was supervisor of PhD theses, specialty residents, authors of reviews of PhD dissertations, habilitation thesis, and assisted in professor title procedure.
He gained professional experience not only in Poland, but also in France in the Ward of Craniosurgery, Plastic Surgery, and Burns of the Foch Medico-Surgical Center under the guidance of Prof. Paul Tessier, the forefather of contemporary cranio-maxillary surgery (1978-1979, 1980, 1982-1983). Professor Wanyura also received fellowship of the Government of Belgium and owing to that in 1992, attended a long-term training period in the Clinic of Head and Neck Surgery of the Catholic University in Leuven (KUL). He attended many international courses on maxilla-facial surgery (France, Germany, Italy, Morocco, Switzerland, UK). Professor Wanyura actively worked in several scientific associations, including the International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (board member since 2008), European Association for Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery (board member since 2000), French Association of Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgeons, Polish Dental Association (board member since 1996), Polish Association of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Polish Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (founding member and president since 2006), Polish Association of Dysfunctions of the Stomatognathic System (founding member and vice-president since 2006), and Polish Association of Cranial Base Surgery (board member since 2008).
He was awarded with numerous medals and titles, among many others, the Order of Polonia Restituta, Silver Cross of Merit as well as Bene Meritus title obtained from the Polish Dental Association.
As the Editor-in-Chief of the “Journal of Stomatology”, Prof. Wanyura dedicated his energy and skills to increase scientific level of publications and adapt the Journal to ever-changing market. He was also board member of the “Protetyka Stomatologiczna” (“Prosthodontics”) journal published by the Polish Dental Association as well as Editorial Board member of the “Journal of Cranio- Maxillofacial Surgery”.

Hail to his memory!