­­Eugene Joseph KUCHARZ

Professor of Medicine and Chairman, Department of Internal

Medicine and Rheumatology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.

President of the Polish Society of Internal Medicine

Educational background:
Medical University of Silesia, Katowice (1968-1974), MD 1974, Ph.D. 1976,
habilitation (thesis for the title of associate professor): 1984, Professor of Medicine 1992.

Specialization (board certification): laboratory diagnostics 1977, internal medicine 1978 (I degree) 1985 (II degree), rheumatology 2001, angiology 2003.

Professional experience:

Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Silesia, assistant, senior assistant, lecturer 1974-1982, chairman 1982-1987;

Medical College of Wisconsin, Arthritis Center, Milwaukee, WI, senior research associate and visiting professor 1986-1988;

Department of Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, Medical University of Silesia, (formally: Fourth Department of Internal Medicine) associate professor 1989-1992, professor 1992 -, chairman 1996-;

Municipal Hospital in Sosnowiec, Internal Medicine Ward, assistant (part time) 1974-1985; 

Chairman of the Silesian Board for Specialization in Internal Medicine 1995-1999; chairman of the Silesian Board for Specialization in Rheumatology 2002-
Regional specialist in angiology: 1999-2001, regional specialist in rheumatology

2002-Member of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Rheumatology in Warsaw

2004 - Membership of Professional Organizations: - Polish Society of Internal Medicine mem. 1978-, Secretary General 1992-1995, mem. of the Executive Board 1995-1998, chairman of the Historical

Committee of the Polish Society of Internal Medicine 1995-, chairman of the
Central Controlling Board 1998-2001, president-elect 2001-, president 2004-
- International Society of Internal Medicine mem. 1986-, mem. of the Executive

Board 1984-2000; honorary mem. 2000
- European Federation of Internal Medicine, honorary fellow 2005
- American College of Physician fellow 2000-
- American Society of Internal Medicine fellow 2000-
- Allgemeine Nederlandse Pharmaceutische Studentenverenig – honorary mem.
1981 - Societe Francaise de Medecine Interne - mem 1994-
- New York Academy of Sciences mem 1995-
- Slovak Society of Internal Medicine, honorary mem 2000-
- Czech Society of Internal Medicine, honorary mem 2001-
- Polish Medical Association mem 1974-
- Polish Society of History of Medicine and Pharmacy, mem 1979-, vice-president of
the Silesian Division 1978-1985
- Polish Endocrinological Society, mem. 1995-, vice-president of the Silesian
Division 1996-1999
- Polish Rheumatological Society, mem. 1998-; mem. vice-president of the Silesian
Division 2000-; member of the Executive Board 2004-
- Polish Society of Hypertension, vice-president of the Silesian Division, 2000-2004
- Interdisciplinary Forum of Osteoporosis, mem. of the Executive Board of the
Silesian Division 2000-
Public Service:
Vice-Dean of Medical University of Silesia 1991-1993
Vice-Dean of English Language Program 1999-2005
Chairman of Education in English 1995-1999
Mem. of the Polish Esperanto Association 1978-
Mem. of the Polish Associations of Catholic Physicians, vice-president of the Silesian
Division 1995-1999
Founder and editor-in-chief of the journal: Annales Societatis Doctrinae Studentium
Academiae Medicae Silesiensis 1974-1987
Deputy editor-in-chief of the journal: Annales Academiae Medicae Silesiensis 1995-,
Editor of the Chronicle of the Medical University of Silesia 1995-2004
Member of the Editorial Board of several journal including: European Journal of
Internal Medicine, Reumatologia, Medycyna Praktyczna, Internistas (Vilnius),
Lekarz, Gabinet Prywatny, Achievements:
Publications in medical journals: about 400 papers, 8 books, over 400 abstracts in
congress materials, contribution to popular magazines and newspapers, translations of
books from English
Main fields of interest:
- description of the original method of induction of animal model of collagen disease
(hydralazine-induced lupus-like disease in guinea pigs);
- description of the collagen maturation defect induced with hydralazine;
- description of the method for determination of hydroxyproline in blood, urine and
tissues;
- description of alteration in collagen metabolism in hyperthyroidism and
hypothyroidism in humans and animal models;
- description of influence of heavy metals or antirheumatic drugs on collagen
metabolism in vivo;
- description of the defect in signal transduction in T cells from patients with
systemic lupus erythematosus and partial correction of this defect with lithium in
vitro;
- description of internal organ involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis without
overt manifestations of the disease;
- studies on systemic vasculitis;
- optimalization of biological therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Honors:
1973 The Bruno Nowakowski Award
1974 The Polish Academy of Sciences Award
1978 Cross of Merit
1991 and 1992 Research Awards of the Ministry of Health
1993 The Zamenhoff Medal 1995 Medal of the Polish Society of Internal Medicine
1997 The Palacky University Medal
1998 The Udine University Medal
1998 Medal of the Commission of National Education
1998 Medal and the Honorary Diploma of the 50th Anniversary of the Medical
University of Silesia
2004 Medal of the Slovak Society of Medicine
2005 Honorary Diploma of the German Society of Internal Medicine