Word was received today of the passing of Dr. Aldo Pinchera, Professor Emeritus of Endocrinology, University of Pisa; Head of the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Centre for the Study and Treatment of Thyroid Diseases and Other Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders; and Regional Coordinator for West Central Europe of the International Council for the Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD). Only a month ago, Dr. Pinchera hosted the 2012 annual meeting of the ICCIDD.

A specialist in thyroid disease with special regard to thyroid autoimmunity, thyroid cancer and endemic goiter, Dr. Pinchera, trained at the University of Rome and had been on the faculty of the Medical School, University of Pisa since 1969. He served as visiting professor at numerous medical schools in the U.S., UK, France, Canada, Belgium, Brazil, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan,Japan, China, Russia and Senegal. He was the recipient of numerous professional awards and served as president of the European Thyroid Association, was founder and, for 20 years, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation. He authored or co-authored 879 scientific articles and edited or co-edited 29 volumes and 109 chapters contributing heavily to scholarship in his areas of expertise.

Dr. Pinchera’s ebullient spirit, sage counsel and boundless energy will be missed by his professional and ICCIDD colleagues.