In memory of Professor Milton Costa May 26, 1944 – August 26, 2021

Rio de Janeiro, August 14, 2021

We were taken aback at the sudden news of the death of Professor Milton Costa on August 2, 2021.

I first met Prof. Milton Costa in 1992, when the Federal University Hospital of Rio de Janeiro Clementino Fraga Filho Digestive Motility Laboratory was inaugurated, at that time it was housed in the Radiology Department of that Hospital.

Prof. Milton Costa graduated from the School of Medicine of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (FURJ) in 1972 and trained in surgery at the Division of General Surgery of the Moncorvo Filho Hospital, as an assistant to Prof. Humberto Barreto, a very distinguished surgeon and Professor at FURJ.

He obtained his Master´s degree in General Surgery in 1974 and his Doctorate in 1983, also at FURJ. In 1991 he became Full Professor in the Biomedicine Sciences Institute (BSI) at Health Science Center of FURJ, where he lectured, taught dissection with extreme skill and accuracy and supervised many research projects and thesis. His main area of interest was the study of anatomical and functional aspects of deglutition. He was head of the Laboratory of Digestive Motility and Imaging at BSI, and developed the method of videofluoroscopy of deglutition. He was a true pioneer in this area both state and countrywise, promoting the value of this method in the study of deglutition and different causes of dysphagia. He was a source of inspiration to many of his students, who later followed his steps as anatomists and physiologists. His work was also highly appreciated by phonoaudiologists, who learned with him the techniques for managing their patients with dysphagia.

During his professional life, he delivered more than 100 courses on the morphologic functional and videofluoroscopic bases of deglutition and dysphagia, both in Brazil and abroad. Between the years of 2003 and 2018 he also published numerous papers in national and international scientific journals, most of which were peer-reviewed. The last one, in 2018, was published by the supplement of Arquivos de Gastroenterologia about “Neural control of deglutition”¹.He wrote several chapters in books on this subject and his book “Deglutição e disfagia - bases morfofuncionais e videofluoroscópicas” by Medbook Publishers is an important reference in the field.

For many years, we kept a close professional contact due to our common interests, and with time we developed a solid friendship which included our Study Group on Esophageal Disorders. In several Brazilian of Gastroenterology Congresses, we participated in meetings on deglutition and dysphagia. Milton was always affable, friendly and had a keen sense of humor. When in Congress at Buenos Aires, as both of us loved tango, we went to several shows together.

Milton was a Member of the Brazilian Society of Digestive Motility and Neurogastroenterology since 1988. During my term as President of this entity (2011-2012), I had the privilege and the honor to have him as Scientific Director. Among the many initiatives, we had the opportunity of launching the first National Survey on Digestive Motility in Brazil. Our personal and professional links continued after his retirement, as we shared an interest in music. On a more personal note, I also had the opportunity of meeting his wife and three of his five children to whom he dedicated a very special place in his heart.

My heartfelt condolences to his wife, Maria de Lourdes, his descendants, Luiz Gustavo, Ana Luiza, Mónica, Ana Paula, Ana Cristina and to his family.

Professor Milton Costa leaves an important legacy to all those that worked with him. Brazilian Gastroenterology has lost a most valuable member and a precious human being.

My dear friend, rest in peace.

REFERENCES

• ¹
  Costa MMB. Neural control of Swallowing. Arq Gastroenterol. 2018;55 (Suppl 1): 61-75. DOI: 10.1590/S0004-2803.201800000-45.
  » https://doi.org/10.1590/S0004-2803.201800000-45

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  22 Oct 2021
• Date of issue
  Jul-Sep 2021