In Memory of Prof. Daniel MAZZIOTTA, EB Member †

In Memory of Daniel Mazziotta, IFCC EB Member (2015-2016)

By Rosa Isabel SIERRA-AMOR, IFCC EB Member.

The Latin American Community is deeply saddened by the death of Prof. Daniel Mazziotta from Argentina. Daniel passed away quietly in Buenos Aires on Sunday, February 14, 2016.

The IFCC has lost one of its brightest and sharpest specialists in lab medicine who contributed to worldwide IFCC reputation with a broad smile, spreading enthusiasm in promoting Lab Medicine well beyond the Latin American borders.

Daniel Mazziotta participated very actively in IFCC, beginning as corresponding member of the Committee on Analytical Quality (C-AQ) of the Education and Management Division (1992). After that, he was member of the Nomination Committee (1994) and full member and Chair of the C-AQ (1997, 1998-2002).  In 2002, he was elected Member of the IFCC Executive Board (2003-2005, 2006-2008), and elected again for the term 2015-2017. Unfortunately, he could not resist the cancer he suffered for several years already.

Daniel was Professor of Clinical Chemistry at National University of La Plata (1989- -), Director of the External Quality Assessment Program of the Argentine Biochemical Foundation (1987- ) and Director of the Reference and Standardization Laboratory in Clinical Biochemistry of Argentine Biochemical Foundation (1997). He graduated in Chemistry (1974) and Biochemistry, Clinical Orientation (1976) at the National University of La Plata, Argentina. From 1974 to 1982, he served the Central Laboratory Service of the Hospital San Juan de Dios of La Plata working for the Intensive Care Unit and the Heart and Lung Functional Exploration Service. He became member of the Central Commission of External Quality Control of the Ministry of Health of Province of Buenos Aires (1978) and the organizer of External Quality Control Program for the same Ministry from 1980 to 1986.

He also participated very actively in other organizations, holding positions as member of the Executive Board of the Specialists on Biological Analyses Association (1984 and 1986), Secretary of the Biochemical Federation of the Province of Buenos Aires (1986 to 1992). Member of the Permanent Scientific Section of the Latin-American Confederation of Clinical Biochemistry since 1987. In addition, he was also National Representative of Argentina.

He contributed as member of the Editorial Board of Acta Bioquimica Clinica Latinoamericana, the official journal of the Latin-American Confederation of Clinical Biochemistry (COLABIOCLI), and Member of the Intercontinental Board of Accreditation and Quality Assurance journal. He received the American Association for Clinical Chemistry International Fellowship Award in 2000. He was Honorary National Member of the Argentine Medical Association and Member of Honor of the Cuban Society of Clinical Pathology. In 2006 he received an award for his Professional Career in Argentina after developing intensive post-graduate education courses on Quality Control around the country, as well as in many Latin-American countries, including Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Venezuela and Brazil. He acted as advisor for the Pan-American Health Organization in Guatemala and Ecuador.

We express our appreciation to Daniel for his efforts promoting quality management and laboratory medicine worldwide.

Your friendship was of great value to all. Daniel, you will be missed with great respect!