Neuropediatrics 2017; 48(05): 325-326
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1606319
In Memoriam
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Prof. Andrea Poretti, MD (12.04.1977–22.03.2017)

Eugen Boltshauser
1   Department of Pediatric Neurology (Emeritus), University Children's Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland
,
Thierry A.G.M. Huisman
2   Division of Pediatric Radiology and Pediatric Neuroradiology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
24 August 2017 (online)

Zoom Image
Prof. Andrea Poretti, MD (12.04.1977–22.03.2017)

It is a sad responsibility for us, long-term mentors of Andrea Poretti, to recognize the exceptional professional career of our colleague and dear friend, Andrea Poretti, who met with an untimely and unexpected death.

Andrea was born and brought up in Ticino, the Italian speaking part of Switzerland. He studied medicine at the Medical Faculty of the University of Bern. After graduation, he moved to Zurich with the intention to work on his medical thesis. Under the supervision of Michael Grotzer and Eugen Boltshauser, he studied the complications, outcome, and quality of life of children with craniopharyngiomas. We believe that this often-cited publishing area stimulated Andrea's interest to pursue a subspecialization in pediatric neurology. After 1 year of pediatric residency in his home town, Lugano, he completed his training in pediatrics and pediatric neurology at the University Children's Hospital, Zürich. During this period, while Eugen Boltshauser was the head of the Division of Pediatric Neurology, Andrea's interest and fascination with the cerebellum sparked. Under the mentorship of Eugen Boltshauser, he became a well-recognized expert for pediatric cerebellar disorders.

Andrea was an outstanding physician and resident, extremely devoted to patient care, interested, curious, hardworking, and eager to publish and pursue an academic career. During this period, Thierry Huisman was heading the Department of Diagnostic Imaging at the Children's Hospital, Zurich. By this time, numerous publications had already been achieved in this area. In 2007, Thierry Huisman was recruited as the Director of the Division of Pediatric Radiology and Pediatric Neuroradiology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, United States. In 2010, after completion of his residency, Andrea joined Thierry at Johns Hopkins as a research fellow in Pediatric Neuroradiology. In the stimulating scientific environment of Johns Hopkins, Andrea quickly gained excellent expertise in multiple advanced and functional neuroimaging techniques, including diffusion tensor imaging, susceptibility-weighted imaging, and connectomics. The combination of his excellence in pediatric neurology and understanding of how advanced, functional imaging techniques allowed better understanding of complex pediatric neurological disorders resulted in numerous scientific projects and papers. During his stay at Hopkins, the hard work of Andrea, his dedication to academic medicine, and his commitment to multidisciplinary, multicenter studies resulted in the publication of more than 120 scientific articles. At the same time, he mentored many medical students, residents, and research fellows and provided many invited lectures around the globe.

In August 2015, he was promoted to the position of Assistant Professor of Radiology and Radiological Sciences and became the head of the Pediatric Neuroimaging Research mission at Johns Hopkins. His promotion to the position of Associate Professor was approved by the departmental promotion committee 1 year later in 2016. In the same year, he was granted an O visa, which is only provided to individuals who possess extraordinary abilities in science or education. Furthermore, he received the Maryland Medical license by conceded eminence based upon his remarkable achievements in academic medicine. This medical license allowed him to accept a position as a part time faculty member at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, a Johns Hopkins affiliate that provides dedicated medical care to children and adolescents with learning disabilities, as well as disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and musculoskeletal system. With the support of Michael Johnston, executive vice president and chief medical officer of the Kennedy Krieger Institute and Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics, Andrea was expected to build a dedicated clinic focusing on combining the clinical, imaging, and genetic aspects of cerebellar disorders. He would have continued to lead the pediatric neuroimaging research mission within the Division of Pediatric Radiology and Pediatric Neuroradiology in collaboration with Thierry Huisman.

In recognition of his expertise, Andrea was invited to join the editorial boards of Cerebellum & Ataxia, Journal of Neuroimaging, American Journal of Neuroradiology, and Neuropediatrics. He was often contacted for peer reviewing scientific manuscripts and book chapters. Andrea never declined–his reviews were always systematic, thoughtful, constructive, balanced, and timely.

What was Andrea's relationship to the Society of Child Neurology in the German speaking countries and to Neuropediatrics? He joined as a junior member in his earlier days in academics as a trainee in Pediatric Neurology. He attended the annual meetings regularly before leaving to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and contributed numerous free communications, scientific presentations, and posters. After his move to the United States, he continued to attend the meetings as often as possible. He remained in frequent electronic and personal contact with several colleagues in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. Andrea exhibited solidarity with Neuropediatrics by contributing a considerable number of review articles, original articles, short communications, editorial comments, and cases for “Videos and Images in Neuropediatrics.”

Andrea loved to teach and share his knowledge at teaching courses, seminars, and scientific meetings. He could easily build an extensive network of colleagues, experts, and scientific friends in many European and North and South American countries.

Another of his highlighted works was the identification and recognition of the “Poretti–Boltshauser Syndrome” as a new entity (OMIM #615960). In 2013, we reported the clinical and very particular neuroimaging findings observed in a cohort of Swiss and German children. Dan Doherty (Seattle) and colleagues added further patient data, subsequently leading to the discovery of the causative LAMA1 mutations, and kindly suggested the designation “Poretti–Boltshauser Syndrome.”

Despite his professional recognition and achievements, Andrea's character did not change: He remained a kind, reliable, honest, devoted, and very humble and modest colleague, always willing to share his knowledge, experience, and time with others. The outpouring of sympathy not only from his colleagues and friends but also from the children and families he took care of confirms how devoted he was to the classical tripartite academic mission of excellence in clinical care, teaching, and last but not least research and discovery. We can only agree with the feedback we have received from so many colleagues and patients: “It was a privilege to know and meet Andrea.” We have lost a special friend, colleague, mentor, physician, and scientist.