2 January 2019 was a very sad day for former students of Professor Josep Maria Domènech Mateu, Lecturer in Anatomy and Embryology at the School of Medicine of the Autonomous University of Bellaterra (UAB). The academic passed away, aged 74.
A brilliant disciple of the leading Spanish anatomist Francisco Orts Llorca, Domènech Mateu gained his professorship at an early age. His remarkable teaching skills and outstanding abilities as a heart and nervous system embryology researcher soon made the UAB Department of Human Anatomy a global benchmark in the field.
His lectures were always packed and showcased his enthusiasm for students to learn anatomy while enjoying their studies. In the end, as always, you were right, and we regretted the degree drawing to a close. My dear Professor, I now remember, as if it were yesterday, the day I met you and the warmth you showed me, as well as your affection for my grandfather, Salvador. I had the great fortune of spending many hours in the Department as a student teacher and meeting other young professors, such as José Ramón Sañudo, now a Lecturer in Anatomy at the Complutense University, who learned under your tutelage. Your classes were always memorable, both in the classroom and next to the corpse or under the microscope. Now, fighting back the tears upon hearing of your passing, I want to remind you that you were the best teacher I’ve had in my life and you awoke – of this I’m certain – a desire in your students to be better physicians every day. Sit tibi terra levis!
Dr. José María Gil-Vernet Sedó