Obituary for Professor Mario Altini
- L.Rautenbach
Leading Oral Pathologist, Professor Mario Altini passed away on Friday 10th of February 2017
Professor Mario Altini, Visiting Professor in the Department of Anatomical Pathology and well known Oral Pathologist in the School of Oral Health Sciences died on Friday the 10th of February.
Prof. Altini was uniquely dedicated to the study of Oral Pathology. After graduating BDS at Wits in 1973, he entered the Department as a Registrar, qualifying MDent in 1977. Under the tutelage of the late Professor Mervyn Shear, he rose to become Acting Head and Honorary Professor of the Department of Oral Pathology in 1984, and full-time Head in 1990. He held the post through to his official retirement in 2011 and was recognised internationally by the International Association of Oral Pathology with the distinction of an Honorary Life Membership.
Prof. Altini taught his undergraduate and postgraduate students with empathy and encouragement, revealing for them the intricacies of Oral Pathology, which at that time was a fledgeling speciality in South Africa. His innate and infectious enthusiasm for the subject entranced many young budding dentists, and several elected to follow him into the discipline.
His influence on the field was immense with specialists trained in his Department moving on to hold senior positions in this and other institutions of higher learning. He was a Councillor of the International Association of Oral Pathologists, President of the South African Society of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Executive member of the South Africa Society of Forensic Dentistry.
His scientific contribution to the deeper understanding of oral lesions and tumours was significant and led to the University awarding him the distinction of the top degree. a DSc, in 2013. His publication list of more than 90 papers reflects the dedication to his work, which extended in 1981 with his appointment as an Honorary Consultant in Forensic Dentistry with the Department of Health.
During his tenure in Oral Pathology, Prof. Altini had a long and close relationship with the Department of Anatomical Pathology. This relationship continued to develop with all Oral Pathology registrars spending dedicated time in Anatomical Pathology as part of their post-graduate training requirements. Mario was also a major contributor to the academic programme in Anatomical Pathology, readily imparting his wealth of knowledge and depth of experience that he had acquired over the years.
Following his early retirement from the Department of Oral Pathology, he elected to return to the academic environment and in May 2013 he was appointed as Honorary Professor and then Visiting Professor in the Department of Anatomical Pathology.
He was instrumental in helping to develop the research programme in the Department, including establishing the Departmental research forum. Mario’s mentoring skills came to the fore and he took technologists, medical scientists, registrars, consultants of all ages and temperament under his wing. A measure of his success and the legacy that he leaves is that many of these “students” are now supervising and mentoring in their own right.
His students and his colleagues will remember Mario as a gentle man… and a gentleman, sincere and always approachable, kind and thoughtful. He will be sadly missed by the Schools, the Hospital, the Faculty and the University.
Our deepest sympathies are extended to his wife Gail, and family.
A memorial service will be held for Prof. Altini on Saturday, 18th February 2017 at 10h00 at the Wits Club.