Romfilatelia introduces into circulation on Tuesday, October 15th, this year, the anniversary issue entitled C. I. Parhon, 150 years since his birth. The postage stamp of the issue with the face value of Lei 13 reproduces a portrait image of the scientist in a work atmosphere of a research laboratory in the field of medicine, and the First Day Cover reproduces a facsimile of the student ID card issued by the University of Bucharest.
Dr. Constantin I. Parhon, the founder of the Romanian school of endocrinology and one of the pioneers of world endocrinology, was born on October 15th, 1874, in Câmpulung, Argeș County. He graduated from the “Unirea” National College in Focșani and from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Bucharest. In the year of his graduation (1900), he obtained the title of Doctor of Medicine with a thesis entitled “Contributions to the Study of Vasomotor Disorders in Hemiplegia”. He practiced medicine as an intern and extern in several hospitals in Bucharest. Later, he became associate professor at the Clinic of Nervous Diseases in Bucharest (1903) and completed further training in Munich (1906).
He was employed in medical education as a university professor of neurology and psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine in Iași (1913-1933) and later as a professor of Endocrinology Clinic at the Faculty of Medicine in Bucharest (1933-1940; 1940-1958).
The intention of Dr. Constantin I. Parhon, expressed alongside Ștefan Milcu, to establish a research institute in the field of endocrinology became a reality on November 8th, 1946, when, through Decree-Law no. 895/1946 issued by King Michael I, this institute was founded.
The institute, currently known as the “C.I. Parhon” Institute, operates under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Health. Patient care is provided alongside scientific research and teaching activities, aimed at training new generations of students and medical residents.
In 1928, C.I. Parhon was elected a corresponding member of the Romanian Academy, becoming a tenured full member in 1939 and later an honorary president. He was the founder of the Journal of the Romanian Society of Endocrinology (in Romanian: Revista Societății Române de Endocrinologie), which has been published since 2005 under the aegis of the Romanian Academy.
He was concerned with the clinical study of endocrinopathies, the role of endocrine glands and the problems of general endocrinology, but, apart from medicine and research, he remained faithful to his passion for nature, especially for plants. He had a rich knowledge of botany and horticulture, which he imparted to his pupils and students.
He died on August 9th, 1969 in Bucharest.
Romfilatelia thanks the representatives of the National Archives of Romania for the documentary support granted to the development of this issue of postage stamps.
