Massimo Masi

The news of Massimo Masi’s death surprised everyone, even many of his closer friends and colleagues because in his gruff and somewhat shy lifestyle, he had not made public the severe disease that had struck him in recent months.

He entered the Pediatric Clinic of the S. Orsola Polyclinic in Bologna as a University Assistant in 1971, became Associate Professor of Pediatrics in 1980, and directed the Pediatric Clinic from 2003 to 2010.

Yet at the beginning of his career as a researcher and clinician, he had sensed that new research in the field of immunology and allergology would open up new diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities and he therefore ventured into this still largely unexplored field. He was in fact one of the founders and was also the longest serving National Secretary of the Italian of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Group which would later give rise to the Italian Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. He was also a founding member of the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (AIEOP).

During his career he published numerous studies of the highest national and international level In the field of immuno-allergology, ranging from primary and secondary immunodeficiencies (HIV in particular) to the pathogenic mechanisms of atopic dermatitis.

Massimo was a clinician, a complete pediatrician, and perhaps one of the last who had the skills to manage every type of pathology; he did not know everything but he knew how to deal with new, unexpected situations: he taught a method of approaching the patient and understanding different diseases. Well known were his requests for review of resolved cases, the famous “epicrisis of the case” that was discussed in groups, to evaluate in retrospect whether there had been mistakes in the request for tests, delays in  therapy or other critical aspects to be learned from to improve future competence.

As a Professor of Pediatrics, his lessons on pediatric cases  are noteworthy, where he transferred his clinical skills to students.

When he retired from the hospital and university, he continued to carry out activity in the field of Territorial Assistance of the Region Emilia Romagna on emerging issues such as the “abused/injured child”, leading a working group of the Region’s staff, which drafted the regional guidelines for reception and care of children and adolescents who were victims of injuries, as well as the Regional Protocol for the protection of the psychophysical health of adopted children. His work in favor of children has stopped only now with his death.

All of us, who were lucky enough to know him and work with him, will miss him greatly.