Prof. Jan Zdzisław Ryn (1938–2022)

Jagiellonian University, Poland

Graduated from the Kraków Medical Academy (1963); medical practitioner specializing in psychiatry, studied under Antoni Kępiński. Professor of the Chair of Psychiatry at the Jagiellonian University Medical College, and of the Chair of Clinical Rehabilitation at the University of Physical Education in Kraków. Vice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the Kraków Academy of Medicine (1981–1984). Head of the Department of Social Pathology in the Chair of Psychiatry at the Jagiellonian University Medical College (1984–2009), engaged in research on concentration camp pathology.

Holds an honorary doctorate from Universidad Científica del Sur (Lima, Peru).

Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Chile and Bolivia (1991–1996), and Argentina (2007–2008). Has written or coauthored 37 books and about 400 papers on scientific and academic subjects. Has participated in numerous mountaineering expeditions, serving as their physician. Expert on mountain medicine. Traveler and discoverer, and member of the Explorers Club.

Being the last surviving Co-Editor of the original Polish Przegląd Lekarski – Oświęcim, Prof. Ryn was the person who initiated the process of translating the invaluable academic journal into English and organizing the annual conference Medical Review Auschwitz: Medicine Behind the Barbed Wire, thus starting the contemporary Medical Review Auschwitz project.

Prof. Ryn has passed away in 2022.