Krakow honours Maltese surgeon

Lino Cutajar has just been named honorary citizen of the city of Krakow in Poland in recognition of his achievements in urological surgery.

The presentation of the award was made during the opening ceremony of the annual congress of the European Society of Surgery, held to coincide with the 750th anniversary of the foundation of Krakow. A wide section of the Krakowian hierarchy was present including Cardinal Tanislaw Dziwisz, the mayor of Krakow and the rector of the Jagellonian University.

Jan Kulig, the congress president, described Prof. Cutajar, a former president of the European Society of Surgery, as "a distinguished surgeon and an expert in the sphere of urological surgery".

"Your activities and achievements in this particular area, as well as your devoted contribution to numerous surgical societies have brought upon you prestige in the scientific community worldwide," Prof Kulig said.

Prof. Kulig also praised Maltese surgeons for their overall commitment to European surgery. Two other distinguished professors, one from Belgium and the other from the US, were similarly honoured by the city of Krakow.

Prof. Cutajar thanked the president of the European Society of Surgery and the mayor of Krakow for the honour bestowed on him, which he accepted on behalf of all Maltese surgeons.

He reminded the distinguished audience that Polish surgeons played an important part in recent years in supporting the Maltese health services and some are still practising in Malta.