Drauzio Varella Explained

Drauzio Varella
Birth Name:Antônio Drauzio Varella
Birth Date:3 May 1943
Birth Place:São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Education:Medicine School, University of São Paulo
Occupation:Physician, writer, science communicator
Years Active:1970–present
Known For:Literary and popular science writing
Field:Oncology, immunology
Work Institutions:Instituto de Assistência Médica ao Servidor Público Estadual
Research Field:Cancer and AIDS
Notable Works:Estação Carandiru
Prizes:Prêmio Jabuti (2000)

Antônio Drauzio Varella (pronounced as /pt-BR/; born May 3, 1943, in São Paulo, Brazil) is a Brazilian physician, educator, scientist and medical science popularizer in the press and TV, as well as best-selling author.[1] In addition to medicine, Varella is a public commentator on issues such as prison conditions, social welfare, government, literature and his professed atheism and skepticism, and has frequently debunked pseudoscientific medical claims.[2] [3] [4]

Varella was born in the Brás district of São Paulo to family of Portuguese and Spanish descent and studied medicine at the University of São Paulo.[5] [6] While a student, he was among the founders of preparatory course Sistema Objetivo, where he taught chemistry for several years. The institution was later expanded into Universidade Paulista[7] Varella received the 2000 Prêmio Jabuti for his book Estação Carandiru.[8] [9]

Career

After his 1967 graduation, he specialized in infectious diseases with Prof. Vicente Amato Neto, at the University of São Paulo and at the Hospital do Servidor Público de São Paulo. This work led him to develop an interest in immunology. Varella interned at MD Anderson in 1978,[10] and has worked at Hospital do Câncer, specializing in oncology.

As a medical professor, he works at Universidade Paulista, but has taught also in several other institutions in Brazil and abroad, such as the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic,[11] Karolinska Institute, Hiroshima University and the National Cancer Center of Japan. Varella has often studied AIDS, specifically the treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma.

He has had an active role in prevention and educational campaigns about AIDS, being the first one to have a radio program on the subject. From 1989 to 2001 he volunteered to work as an unpaid physician in one of the largest prisons of Brazil, the Carandiru, in order to help tackle an AIDS epidemic among inmates.[12] [13] He wrote the best-seller book Estação Carandiru chronicling this experience, later adapted in the film Carandiru, by Hector Babenco). The book has been described as a quasi-ethnographical study of the prison.[14]

As the chairman of a cancer research institute at Universidade Paulista, Varella presently heads a research program on the potential of Brazilian Amazon medicinal plants for treating neoplasms and antibiotic-resistant bacteria.[15] [16] This research is supported by the São Paulo Research Support Foundation.

Writing

Varella is also very active in the public understanding of science, particularly in the medical area. He writes columns for the largest Brazilian newspapers and was invited by the Globo TV Network to host a series of programs on the human body, the brain, first aid, smoking,[17] pregnancy, obesity and others, which were exhibited at the Fantástico show on Sundays.[18] He is also the producer and host of a TV talk show on medicine and health, which is broadcast on several TV channels.

For his work as a writer, Varella received several prizes and awards, among them the Prêmio Jabuti from the Brazilian Book Chamber, the International Book Fair of Bologna, Bologna, Italy, and The International Book Biennal of Rio de Janeiro (2001).

He has also written fiction for adults[19] and children and has often been a vocal supporter of scientific skepticism.[20] [21]

Controversy

In 2020, Varella was criticized after hugging an inmate who been convicted of murdering and raping a 9-year-old child during a documentary aired on Fantástico reporting on the life of trans women incarcerated in male prisons. He later apologized, stating that he did not know what crime she had committed, and that he avoids learning this information to avoid bias when treating patients.[22]

Personal life

Varella has been married to actress Regina Braga since 1981, and has fathered two daughters. He is an atheist.[23] [24] [25] [26]

Works

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Drauzio ou 'Dr. Auzio' Varella? Médico esclarece 'confusão' com seu nome . 7 October 2024 . Estadão . 23 March 2017 . pt-br . 17 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220517184744/https://emais.estadao.com.br/noticias/gente,drauzio-ou-dr-auzio-varella-medico-esclarece-confusao-com-seu-nome,70001711772 . live .
  2. News: Costa . Camilla . 'É um desserviço às mulheres': Drauzio Varella desmente boato que liga mamografia a câncer de tireoide . 7 October 2024 . Bem Estar . G1 . 9 October 2016 . pt-br . 7 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241007162608/https://g1.globo.com/bemestar/noticia/2016/10/e-um-desservico-mulheres-drauzio-varella-desmente-boato-que-liga-mamografia-cancer-de-tireoide.html . live .
  3. News: Campos . Maíra . Drauzio Varella desmente em vídeo 14 fake news sobre coronavírus . 7 October 2024 . Catraca Livre . 23 March 2020 . pt-BR . 7 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241007162608/https://catracalivre.com.br/saude-bem-estar/drauzio-varella-desmente-em-video-14-fake-news-sobre-coronavirus/ . live .
  4. News: Varella . Drauzio . Opinião - Drauzio Varella: Imposição pelas mãos . 7 October 2024 . Folha de S.Paulo . 18 March 2018 . pt-BR . 19 March 2018 . https://archive.today/20180319131956/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/colunas/drauziovarella/2018/03/imposicao-pelas-maos.shtml . live .
  5. Web site: Varella . Drauzio . Viagem ao passado . drauziovarella.uol.com.br . 7 October 2024 . pt . 29 September 2011 . 7 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241007173959/https://drauziovarella.uol.com.br/drauzio/artigos/viagem-ao-passado-artigo/ . live .
  6. Web site: Piana . Ronald . Brazilian Oncologist Antônio Drauzio Varella, MD, Rises From the Streets of São Paulo to International Fame . ascopost.com . 7 October 2024 . en . 10 April 2022 . 7 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241007162608/https://ascopost.com/issues/april-10-2022/brazilian-oncologist-ant%C3%B4nio-drauzio-varella-md-rises-from-the-streets-of-s%C3%A3o-paulo-to-international-fame/ . live .
  7. Web site: Sobre o Objetivo . Objetivo . 7 October 2024 . pt-br . 6 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230306110530/https://www.objetivo.br/institucional/index.asp . live .
  8. News: Tragédia do Carandiru inspirou livros, filmes e músicas . . 2 October 2012 . 19 April 2013 . pt . 1 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230401021223/https://g1.globo.com/sao-paulo/noticia/2012/10/tragedia-do-carandiru-inspirou-livros-filmes-e-musicas.html . live .
  9. Web site: Premiados do Ano Prêmio Jabuti 2000 . www.premiojabuti.com.br . Prêmio Jabuti . 7 October 2024 . pt-BR.
  10. News: Drauzio Varella recebe prêmio por sua trajetória e contribuição à oncologia . 7 October 2024 . Folha de S.Paulo . 5 August 2019 . pt-BR . 17 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230217115714/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/equilibrioesaude/2019/08/drauzio-varella-recebe-premio-por-sua-trajetoria-e-contribuicao-a-oncologia.shtml . live .
  11. Web site: Ozorio de Almeida . Alexandra . Marcolin . Neldson . Antônio Drauzio Varella: The doctor's message . Pesquisa FAPESP . FAPESP . 7 October 2024 . pt-BR . 7 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241007162607/https://revistapesquisa.fapesp.br/en/antonio-drauzio-varella-the-doctors-message-2/ . live .
  12. News: Herói de gibi incentiva preso a usar camisinha. 7 October 2024. Folha de S.Paulo. 24 September 1995. pt-BR. 7 October 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20241007165920/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/fsp/1995/9/24/cotidiano/10.html. live.
  13. News: Médico e escritor, Varella ganhou notoriedade em campanhas de prevenção à Aids . 7 October 2024 . Folha de S. Paulo . 22 March 2005. pt-BR.
  14. Lanna . Marcos . Estação Carandirú, de Drauzio Varella . Ilha – Revista de Antropologia . January 2000 . 2 . 1 . 155–162 . 7 October 2024 . Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina . pt-BR . 2175-8034.
  15. News: de Almeida . Flávio . Um doutor na sala de TV . 7 October 2024 . Diversa . 16 . Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais . November 2008 . pt-BR . 7 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241007174000/https://www.ufmg.br/diversa/16/index.php/entrevista . live .
  16. News: Varella . Drauzio . Febre amarela . 7 October 2024 . Folha de S.Paulo . 8 January 2005 . pt-BR . 9 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241009162506/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/fsp/ilustrad/fq0801200519.htm . live .
  17. Web site: "Sou ateu", afirma o médico Drauzio Varella para revista . Terra . 7 October 2024 . pt-BR . 3 November 2011 . 7 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241007173959/https://www.terra.com.br/diversao/gente/sou-ateu-afirma-o-medico-drauzio-varella-para-revista,86cdc8c2ed75a310VgnCLD200000bbcceb0aRCRD.html . live .
  18. Web site: O que fez Drauzio Varella? . FAPESP Na Mídia . 7 October 2024 . 7 August 2021.
  19. News: Drauzio Varella lança 'Prisioneiras', o último livro de uma trilogia . 7 October 2024 . O Globo . 14 May 2017 . pt-BR . 7 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241007165607/https://oglobo.globo.com/cultura/livros/drauzio-varella-lanca-prisioneiras-ultimo-livro-de-uma-trilogia-21337533 . live .
  20. News: Varella . Drauzio . Opinião: Imposição pelas mãos . 7 October 2024 . Folha de S.Paulo . 18 March 2018 . pt-BR . 19 March 2018 . https://archive.today/20180319131956/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/colunas/drauziovarella/2018/03/imposicao-pelas-maos.shtml . live .
  21. News: Naísa . Letícia . Pesquisadores brasileiros criam instituto para combater pseudociência Exame . 7 October 2024 . Exame . 22 November 2018 . pt-br.
  22. News: Sou médico, não juiz, diz Drauzio sobre presa trans que matou criança . 7 October 2024 . Correio Braziliense . 8 March 2020 . pt-BR . 9 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241009162507/https://www.correiobraziliense.com.br/app/noticia/brasil/2020/03/08/interna-brasil,832978/sou-medico-nao-juiz-diz-drauzio-sobre-presa-trans-que-matou-cria.shtml . live .
  23. Web site: Sempre um Papo: Drauzio Varella (médico e escritor) . Portal da Câmara dos Deputados . 7 October 2024 . pt-br . 4 April 2009 . 9 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241009162611/https://www.camara.leg.br/tv/195316-drauzio-varella-medico-e-escritor-bl-1/ . live .
  24. News: Segatto . Cristiane . Entrevista com Drauzio Varella . 7 October 2024 . Época . 9 August 2004 . 24 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220524021346/http://revistaepoca.globo.com/Epoca/0,6993,EPT791133-1664-4,00.html . live .
  25. Web site: Alves . Micheline . Drauzio Varella . Trip . 7 October 2024 . pt-br . 8 February 2013 . 7 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241007173959/https://revistatrip.uol.com.br/trip/drauzio-varella . live .
  26. News: 'Não é agora, com 80 anos, que vou desacelerar', diz Drauzio Varella . 7 October 2024 . Folha de S.Paulo . 29 April 2023 . pt-BR . 9 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241009162609/https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/equilibrioesaude/2023/04/nao-e-agora-com-80-anos-que-vou-desacelerar-diz-drauzio-varella.shtml . live .

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