Tadeusz Orłowski: founder of nephrology and kidney transplantation in Poland

Modern nephrology in Poland and in the world owes much to the scientific, clinical and organizational activities of Prof. Tadeusz Orłowski. He was a pioneer in many fields of kidney disease. His pathophysiological work included studies on renal dysfunction in heart and liver diseases, function of the transplanted kidney and various aspects of the uremic syndrome. He was engaged in the development of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis in Warsaw. Together with surgeon Jan Nielubowicz, he initiated the transplant program in Poland and on January 26, 1966, successfully transplanted a kidney in a patient on chronic dialysis. This success was followed by establishment of the Transplantation Institute of the Warsaw Medical Academy in 1975, which facilitated the scientific and clinical growth of nephrology and transplantation in Poland. He also introduced and established scientific evidence for the use of immunosuppressive therapy for glomerular diseases. The heritage of Tadeusz Orłowski is broader than nephrology. His legacy will continue through the work of the many who learned from his example.