Academician Leon Dănăilă, internationally recognized, decorated with the Military Order of Romania for his entire career

An event dedicated to the life and career of the academician Leon Dănăilă, emblematic personality of neurosurgery and medical research in Romania, brought together numerous personalities from the scientific, cultural, academic and religious fields, representatives of the Church, as well as members of the press, in the “Studio” Hall of the Bucharest National Theater on Thursday evening. Leon Dănăilă was decorated with the Military Order of Romania for an exceptional career, a distinction conferred by colonel Dr. Adrian Constantin, honorary member of the Romanian Academy of Scientists, notes Agerpres.

Leon Dănăilă, emblematic personality of neurosurgery and medical research in Romania

The event was organized by the “Story of my life” Association, dedicated to promoting the authentic values ​​of Romanian culture and science, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, the IL Caragiale National Theater and other collaborators. The cultural-scientific evening included documentary screenings, testimonies and artistic moments, highlighting the academician's impressive career.

“Emotion becomes the bond between us all. I would define this evening with one word: emotion. The emotion of meeting a man who changed destinies, saved lives and wrote history through science, but also through character. We will discover a destiny built from hardships, sacrifices, will and faith, but above all from a deep closeness to people. (…) It is about the one who says so often: I did not want to make a fortune from the suffering of the sick”, said Vivien Cazan, president of the Foundation “Story of My Life”at the opening of the event:

Cazan emphasized the professional impact of Leon Dănăilă:
“Leon Dănăilă performed over 40,000 brain operations, and by introducing the operating microscope and laser technology in neurosurgery, he managed to reduce the mortality rate from 50-60% to 3-4%. These are impressive numbers, of course, but beyond them, there are lives saved, families whole and destinies rewritten.”

In the applause of the hall, acad. Prof. Dr. Leon Dănăilă was decorated with the Military Order of Romania.

We are here among people connected by the same thing – the love for Professor Leon Dănăilă. (…) The Military Order of Romania is enriched by bringing Professor Leon Dănăilă to the ranks of the commanders. You are participants, not spectators.” said Colonel Adrian Constantin.

Academician Prof. Dr. Leon Dănăilă thanked those present and emphasized the importance of faith and dedication in his career.

“With faith and science we can win everyone's hearts and achieve quite great deeds. Faith is very important for man and when you start with faith, you will surely succeed in life. Faith and soul are treated in the Bible. Hospitals treat the human body and these two entities are not mutually exclusive, they help each other so that in the end something good comes out of humanity and our behavior that we follow step by step. You I hug everyone and thank you for this gesture. (…) I did not come here for applause or glory, I came to share with you a few words about my life, about the way I helped people”. he declared.

During the event, Leon Dănăilă narrated his professional and personal journey, from the fellowships in the United States, where he assisted in operations performed with the operating microscope, until the founding, in 1981, of the VII Department of Vascular Neurosurgery and Microneurosurgery, the only one of its kind in Romania.

“Longevity is not only about prolonging life, but also about ensuring a higher quality of it, with the reduction of suffering and dependence. Medicine is not a profession, medicine is a mission that must be carried out to the end, with vocation, empathy, grace and devotion, but also with the desire to do good to others. My books will also tell their own destiny, even in my absence. All my life I have fought for justice, truth, happiness and health. As to get here, with my endless poverty and lack, I had to face many storms and waves of life and find strength to overcome periods full of hypocrisies, mistrust, fears, suspicions. (…) I considered neuroscience as one of the most important sides of my activity, the noblest, without a doubt, the most useful and valuable, the only one that I will not regret even when I become a memory”. said Dănăilă, referring to his mentor, Professor Constantin Arseni.

Acad. Prof. Dr. Leon Dănăilă, born on July 1, 1933, in Darabani, Botoşani county, was included by the international scientific community among the 500 geniuses of the 20th century. Known as the “Brain Sculptor”, he performed thousands of complex brain operations, introduced the operating microscope and modern neurosurgery techniques, reducing mortality in intracerebral aneurysms and acoustic neurinomas. He discovered a new brain cell, “cordocyte”and published 64 books, numerous scientific articles, contributing to more than 18 patents and 10 innovations.

Leon Dănăilă remains a landmark of modesty, perseverance and patriotism, an ambassador of Romanian excellence in the medical and scientific field, and the event at the National Theater paid tribute to both his professional and human dimension.