Dr Anikó Somogyvári began her studies at the former Medical University of Pécs in 1974. As a Budapester, she thought it would be a good idea to choose Pécs, to get to know another city, different people. She has fond memories of her years there, she loved being a medical student. Later in life they began working with her husband in New Orleans, at Tulane University. She first conducted basic science there and then clinical research, later she headed the Clinical Research Office of the Institute of Oncology as a director, and since January of this year she has been working as an independent Clinical Research Consultant for the University Ethics Committee, now as a retiree.
Written by Rita Schweier
- When I started my career, the medical profession was of social esteem, which is why I chose it, and because good students usually applied to medical, law, teaching and technical universities. I loved going to university, I had many good professors, of whom the teachers of basic sciences were outstanding: dr Béla Flerkó, dr Dezső Szabó, dr József Tigyi. Professor Ernst also occasionally appeared at biophysics lectures, his personality leaving a deep imprint on everyone.
- How did your professional career develop after graduating from university?
- I started working as a rheumatologist in Harkány, but my husband, who was a member of the Institute of Anatomy, had the opportunity to work in New Orleans, Tulane University, in the laboratory of Nobel Prize-winning Professor Andrew Schally, with whom the anatomists of Pécs nurtured a fruitful collaboration. I followed him as his wife. In the lab, I was introduced to basic science research, namely neuroendocrinology. When we returned to Hungary after three years, I continued my work in Harkány, I took a specialisation exam in rheumatology. Then in 1989 we returned to New Orleans again, to another research team led by Akira Arimura. As a biologist for the Schally Group, he began to form a new work group. In the US-Japanese lab, I re-immersed myself in basic research, examining the physiological effects of a newly discovered polypeptide. We also worked together with the University of Pécs, as many researchers spent years in the laboratory led by Schally. We also had working relations with Semmelweis University and several Japanese universities. As an invited professor, I also gave some lectures at Showa University in Tokyo, as we worked closely with them as a partner. As a result of this period, I have published 35 scientific papers in international papers.
I loved basic research, but I was lacking direct contact with patients, so in the early 2000s I changed my profile, my interest shifted to clinical research. Since I didn’t have a license to practice and I felt like I could no longer be a resident at the age of nearly fifty, I earned a master’s degree in health management from Tulane University.
- And then you applied for the position of Director of the Clinical Research Office of the Institute of Oncology.
- Yes. This office is mainly responsible for the logistics of clinical research, plays an important role in the selection of appropriate clinical drug trials, in FDA-regulated execution and ensures the acquisition of licenses, coordinators, and assists young researchers. Thus, it provides the background for clinical research from inception to the communication of results.
I also participated as a consultant in the Bone Marrow Transplant program (stem cell transplantation) and as an expert in the University’s Ethics Committee in the process of approving clinical trials.
- You retired earlier this year, but I don’t think you’ve been idle ever since.
- Not really, I have been working as an independent Clinical Research Consultant since January 2021, mainly for the University Ethics Committee.
- Are you still in touch with your former fellow students?
- Yes, one of my classmates and I travel a lot in Europe, North and Central America, and the Caribbean. There are some - about twenty - I keep in touch with on Facebook. Unfortunately, personal contact could not remain between us as we came to America shortly after graduating from the university. When we travel home, we usually meet my relatives in Budapest.
- How attached are you to the University of Pécs? Do you follow the work going on here?
- I only partially follow the research work, and mainly the Institute of Anatomy, as I also worked with current and former heads of institutes when I did basic research.
- What, how much did you get from the Medical University of Pécs? To what extent did your years and experiences determine your later career?
- It’s hard to tell how much I got from the university, but a perspective for sure. Professor Artúr Hámori put it this way: “Based on what you learn here - using your eyes, ears, smell and touch - you should be able to make a diagnosis in the middle of the desert without tools.” Of course, we know that this is not quite how it works, but I believe that a good doctor should rely not only on laboratory results, CT or X-rays, but also on what has been learned and observed in practice. The patient has to be seen as a whole, and not just the certain organ he is complaining about.
Photo:
wikipedia.org/Tulane University