25Memoriam


 

 

 

 

 
176 | In memoriam: Prof. Alexandru Constantinovici MD., PhD. (1929-2018) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In memoriam: Prof. Alexandru Constantinovici MD., 

PhD. (1929-2018) 

Titular member of the Academy of Medical Sciences 

 

 
Yet another distinguished personality of 

Romanian neurosurgery has passed away and 

left friends and pupils grieving.  

Professor Alexandru Constantinovici, one 

of the most proeminent neurosurgeons in 

postcommunist Romania has always been a 

beacon of fairness and dedication towards the 

training of neurosurgeons and constant 

development and evolution of the 

Neurosurgical School in Romania. His whole 

activity lies on the shrine of this extraordinary 

discipline of neurosurgery as he practically 

had no time for any other activity or his family.   

Dedication, strength and tenacity are the 

three keywords of Prof. Alexandru 

Constantinovici’s life. A symbol of constant 

dedication and painstaking routine, he always 

sought to push Romanian neurosurgery to the 

highest level, thus recovering as much lost 

time as possible since Romania cut ties with 

the West in 1947.  

After graduating medical school in 

Bucharest in 1952 he began his activity as a 

surgeon with a prodigal early career at the 

“Colentina” Hospital of Bucharest. He later 

embraced the field of neurosurgery becoming 

a consultant in 1970 and joining the ranks of 

university lecturers in Bucharest. He passed 

through every academic rank and was 

appointed Professor of Neurosurgery in 1991, 

the same year he was appointed Chief of the 

largest neurosurgical hospital – a challenge 

passed forward by Professor Constantin 

Arseni.  

The scientific and professional activity of 

Professor Constantinovici encompassed every 

possible subspecialty (both in cranial and 

spinal neurosurgery). He was concerned with 

introducing novel paraclinical investigations 

such as the use of radioactive isotopes in fie 

diagnosis of cerebral and spinal lesions. In this 

respect he was a vocal promoter of the new 

field of nuclear medicine and he is credited 

with the first use of nuclear medicine in 

neurosurgery in Romania. He was the first 

promoter of trans-sphenoidal surgery for 

pituitary tumors in Romania.  

The same year he was appointed professor 

and chief of neurosurgery in Bucharest, he was 

voted president of the Romanian Society of 

Neurosurgery. After 2 mandates as president 

he became honorary president and developed 

a very wide field of scientific activity in country 

and abroad, thus crucially contributing at the 



 

 

 

 

 
Romanian Neurosurgery (2018) XXXII 1: 176 - 178 | 177 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

construction and development of the 

Romanian journal of Neurosurgery – 

„Romanian Neurosurgery”. Since 1991 

Professor Constantinovici was the first one to 

adopt English as a mandatory language in the 

entire Romanian neurosurgical meme, thus 

delicately forcing Romanian neurosurgeons to 

rally to western standards.  

Professor Constantinovici participated on 

behalf of Romania at countless conferences, 

symposiums and international congresses, 

especially those organized by the European 

Association of Neurosurgical Societies and the 

World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies. 

As one of his closest collaborators I have 

served under him in 1993 at the WFNS 

Congress in Acapulco, a vital moment for 

Romanian neurosurgery as worldwide 

recognition was attained.  

An essential element in Prof. 

Constantinovici’s activity was represented by 

the international acceptance of the Romanian 

school of neurosurgery through its capability 

of training neurosurgeons capable of covering 

the most demanding positions. 
 

 
 

The scientific activity of prof. Alexandru 

Constantinovici MD was prodigious, realizing 

over 200 scientific papers, presented and 

published in specialized journals. We also 

mention the 16 monographs/treaties, in which 

his contribution was major, as the main author 

or in collective. Last but not least, we reveal the 

opening of the so thorny firelds of pituitary 

tumors pathology through transfenoidal 

approach and radioisotopic methods in the 

diagnosis of nervous system disorders. 

Prof. Constantinovici attained numerous 

distinctions in his activity and developed 

professional relationships with numerous 

colleagues throughout the world. His 16 

published monographs are present even today 

in the national neurosurgical heritage. In 1982 

he became a corresponding member of the 

„American Academy of Neurological 

Surgeons” – the most prestigious 

neurosurgical society at the time. He was 

admitted in 1993 in the French speaking 

neurosurgical society. In 1995 he became a full 

member of the „Romanian Academy of 

Medical Sciences”.  

Under his leadership Romanian 

neurosurgery gained a new aura, a modern 

drive and a never stopping lust for knowledge 

in all possible fields: pituitary diseases, 

vascular neurosurgery, surgical treatment of 

epilepsy, neuroendoscopy and last but not 

least, neurosurgical applications of nuclear 

medicine.  

Unfortunately, his activity came to a 

sudden halt in 1999 when, for personal 

reasons, he decided to pass the torch along – 

while at full health and professional maturity – 

choosing to deal with the scientific 



 

 

 

 

 
178 | In memoriam: Prof. Alexandru Constantinovici MD., PhD. (1929-2018) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

constructive issues of neurosurgery and 

covering less the surgical aspects of 

neurosurgery. For all those who knew him 

Prof. Constantinovici was a symbol of 

friendship, attachment and dedication in all 

possible situations ranging from difficult times 

in the operating room up to issues concerning 

family life.  

The authors wish to express their empathy 

for the mourning relatives. We will never 

forget his warm smile and his wise words.  

Has passed into eternity a neurosurgical 

personality, an accomplished colleague, a 

surgeon who was a trainer and a creator in the 

neurosurgical field. 

 

D. Mohan MD., PhD., Bihor County Emergency 

Hospital, Oradea, Romania 

A.V.Ciurea MD., PhD., MSc., Dr. h.c. Mult., 

Sanador Medical Center, Bucharest, Romania