Julian Aleksandrowicz (Polish pronunciation:[ˈju.ljana.lɛk.sanˈdrɔ.vit͡ʂ]; 1908Kraków –1988Kraków) was a Polish medical professional,professor of medicine, and a notable specialist onleukemia.[1] He is known for having developed concepts of comprehensivepsychotherapy of persons suffering fromsomatic diseases, as well as of theecological prevention ofcancer and leukaemia.[1][2]
Aleksandrowicz was of Jewish descent, and afterGerman invasion of Poland (during which he fought in the 72nd Infantry Regiment), he was imprisoned in theKraków Ghetto (he managed to bury his research data beforehand and recover them after the war). He founded one of the three ghetto hospitals.[3][4] While in the ghetto, he was aided by one of thePolish Righteous, Józef Adamowicz (who was eventually caught and beaten to death by Nazi guards at the ghetto).[citation needed] Later, in 1943, Aleksandrowicz managed to escape the ghetto and became a physician of the Polish resistance,Armia Krajowa in theKielce-Radom IndependentJodła Region, under anom-de-guerreDoktor Twardy. Eventually he became aplatoon leader. For his participation in the resistance, he received the Silver Cross of theVirtuti Militari.[4][5]
For most of his life, he lived inKraków. He was an author of many medical texts (including the first Polish textbook onhematology), and a professor (since 1951) and a director of the notable Hematology Clinic at theJagiellonian university medical college (1950–1978).[1]
