Professor Stefano Ischia obituary

Professor Stefano Ischia, a pillar of the modern Pain Medicine, died on November 17, 2020, at the age of 85. His professional and scientific life had largely been dedicated to the study and the management of pain. His scientific relevance and inputs were mainly connected to the interventional pain management, part of the specialty where he had produced more. Everyone referring to the celiac plexus block is still discussing the "Ischia or transaortic approach". This was just one of the topics of his interest, but he was especially famous for the huge casuistry he had collected during his professional life of cancer patients treated with spinal chordotomy. That technique was seldom used around the world, because it needs a perfect knowledge of the spinal cord anatomy and an incredible manual skill. His experience has remained unmatched, till now.

Besides the professional and scientific aspects, Professor Ischia was renowned as a real gentleman, always ready to teach and to learn, and to host Colleagues from all around the world that went to visit him in his beloved University Hospital in Verona. His education and erudition had deep roots in the music, literature, painting and many other aspects of the art. The conversations with him were always a possibility to learn new things, explained by a genial personality. He lived on passions, like his incredible knowledge of oriental carpets, or his love for ornithology, etc. He also was a passionate chef. Stefano Ischia has represented a rare example of "Renaissance Man".

He always had a strong connection with the European Pain Federation (EFIC), since 1994, when he started the organization of the First EFIC Congress in Verona. On May 19, 1995, during the opening ceremony of that Congress, he gave his Masterful Lecture on "Spinal Chordotomy". Anyone of the presents, still remember of his smile and cheerfulness during the final part of the Opening Ceremony, while together with the big names of Pain Medicine of that moment (Ulf Lindblom, Jean-Marie Besson) and all the first, initial EFIC Council, they were freeing the doves of peace in flight, as a good wish for the EFIC's life (Fig. 1).

Pain Medicine has lost a big testimonial and a great man. I lost a great Mentor and Friend. We will never forget him, and the European Pain Federation (EFIC) has already his name in its history.

Giustino Varrassi

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