Olympio Oliveira Ribeiro da Fonseca was born on May 7, 1985, in the city of Rio de Janeiro. His father was former Academia Nacional de Medicina (National Academy of Medicine – ANM) Secretary General Dr. Olympio Arthur Ribeiro da Fonseca, who later went on to earn the title of ANM’s Permanent Secretary, while his mother was called D. Elisa Oliveira Ribeiro da Fonseca.
He studied microbiology and medical zoology at the Oswaldo Cruz Institute and earned his doctorate degree in medicine from the University of Brazil’s National College of Medicine in 1915. His dissertation was titled “Studies on Flagellated Parasites.”
Dr. Fonseca became a Member of the National Academy of Medicine (ANM) on June 21, 1928, later securing the title of Emeritus Professor in 1960. In the institution, he amassed several roles in its board of directors and served as President from 1961 to 1963.
Dr. Fonseca held the positions of Full Professor of General Biology at the State of Guanabara (now, Rio de Janeiro) Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters, Full Professor of Parasitology at the University of Brazil (later renamed The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro – UFRJ) National College of Medicine, Head of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Head of the National Institute for Amazonian Research, and Founder and President of the Brazilian Society of Biology.
Dr. Fonseca’s extensive resume included several other positions and honorary titles, such as Honorary and Permanent President of the Sociedade Franco-Brasileira de Medicina (Franco-Brazilian Society of Medicine), President of the Sociedade Médica da Língua Portuguesa (Medical Community of Portuguese Language), Full Member and President of the Brazilian Society for the History of Science, and Member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences.
In addition, he was acknowledged as an Honorary Member of the Brazilian Academy of Military Medicine, the French Academy of Microbiology, the Belgian Royal Academy of Medicine, the Mycological Society of France, the French Society for Microbiology, the Spanish Society for Microbiology, and the Belgian Institute of Tropical Medicine.
Dr. Fonseca was further awarded the following medals and badges of honor: Medal of the Legion of Honor (France); Order of Medical Merit in the rank of Grand Officer; Order of Military Merit, also in the rank of Grand Officer; Order of the Dannebrog (Denmark); Order of Public Health (France); Naval Medal of Distinguished Service (Brazil); National Order of Merit (Paraguay), and the Somoza President Order of Miguel Larreinaga Medal (Nicaragua).
Furthermore, he served as a Corresponding Member of Medical Academies and Societies in Buenos Aires, Caracas, Paris, London, France, Argentina, Germany, and Ecuador.
Dr. Olympio Oliveira da Fonseca died of sudden illness on April 10, 1978.
Academic number: 316
Chair: 43
Member: Emeritus
Section: Medicine
Election: 24/05/1928
Inauguration: 21/06/1928
President: Miguel de Oliveira Couto
Greeted by: Carlos Pinto Seidl
Emeritus Member Status: 03/11/1960
Death: 19/04/1978
Academic number: 316
Chair: 43
Member: Emeritus
Section: Medicine
Election: 24/05/1928
Inauguration: 21/06/1928
President: Miguel de Oliveira Couto
Greeted by: Carlos Pinto Seidl
Emeritus Member Status: 03/11/1960
Death: 19/04/1978
Olympio Oliveira Ribeiro da Fonseca was born on May 7, 1985, in the city of Rio de Janeiro. His father was former Academia Nacional de Medicina (National Academy of Medicine – ANM) Secretary General Dr. Olympio Arthur Ribeiro da Fonseca, who later went on to earn the title of ANM’s Permanent Secretary, while his mother was called D. Elisa Oliveira Ribeiro da Fonseca.
He studied microbiology and medical zoology at the Oswaldo Cruz Institute and earned his doctorate degree in medicine from the University of Brazil’s National College of Medicine in 1915. His dissertation was titled “Studies on Flagellated Parasites.”
Dr. Fonseca became a Member of the National Academy of Medicine (ANM) on June 21, 1928, later securing the title of Emeritus Professor in 1960. In the institution, he amassed several roles in its board of directors and served as President from 1961 to 1963.
Dr. Fonseca held the positions of Full Professor of General Biology at the State of Guanabara (now, Rio de Janeiro) Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters, Full Professor of Parasitology at the University of Brazil (later renamed The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro – UFRJ) National College of Medicine, Head of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Head of the National Institute for Amazonian Research, and Founder and President of the Brazilian Society of Biology.
Dr. Fonseca’s extensive resume included several other positions and honorary titles, such as Honorary and Permanent President of the Sociedade Franco-Brasileira de Medicina (Franco-Brazilian Society of Medicine), President of the Sociedade Médica da Língua Portuguesa (Medical Community of Portuguese Language), Full Member and President of the Brazilian Society for the History of Science, and Member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences.
In addition, he was acknowledged as an Honorary Member of the Brazilian Academy of Military Medicine, the French Academy of Microbiology, the Belgian Royal Academy of Medicine, the Mycological Society of France, the French Society for Microbiology, the Spanish Society for Microbiology, and the Belgian Institute of Tropical Medicine.
Dr. Fonseca was further awarded the following medals and badges of honor: Medal of the Legion of Honor (France); Order of Medical Merit in the rank of Grand Officer; Order of Military Merit, also in the rank of Grand Officer; Order of the Dannebrog (Denmark); Order of Public Health (France); Naval Medal of Distinguished Service (Brazil); National Order of Merit (Paraguay), and the Somoza President Order of Miguel Larreinaga Medal (Nicaragua).
Furthermore, he served as a Corresponding Member of Medical Academies and Societies in Buenos Aires, Caracas, Paris, London, France, Argentina, Germany, and Ecuador.
Dr. Olympio Oliveira da Fonseca died of sudden illness on April 10, 1978.