Prof. Diltor Vladimir Araújo Opromolla *13/04/1934 - †15/12/2004

Abstract

Opromolla passed away on 12/15/2004 at the age 70. He was born in São Paulo on April 13th, 1934, and dedicated most of his life to the Instituto Lauro de Souza Lima in Bauru, former Asilo Colônia Aymorés which was inaugurated exactly a year before his birth, on April 13th, 1933. This institution was created by the government of the State of São Paulo as part of the policy of compulsory hospitalization of leprosy patients. This resulted in the creation of other asylums such as the Santo Ângelo (Mogi das Cruzes), Padre Bento (Guarulhos), Pirapitingui (Sorocaba) and Cocais (Casa Branca). There are rare examples of men who were indissolubly bound to an institution such as Dr. Diltor was. He graduated from the School of Medicine of Sorocaba (PUC-SP) in 1957 and in the following year he was already working at the Sanatório Aymorés, in Bauru. His professional and scientific trajectory was determined by some personality trait. Intelligent, knowledgable and dedicated, recently graduated he already showed his excellent specialized training in Dermatology and medicine in general. While interacting with people, he was extremely kind, charming and spontaneous, without any presumption; he exhibited personal interest, respect and affection towards his patients. His medical training and interest for the patients allowed well-documented and accurate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. His attitudes, associated with keen, varied and permanent scientific curiosity, led him to professional success and extensive scientific production. In the first years of his medical activities, he collaborated with Dr. Lauro de Souza Lima in studies concerning the treatment of leprosy, and from there he started the pioneering work on the