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Drauzio Varella

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Antônio Drauzio Varella (Brazilian Portuguese: [ˈdɾawzju vaˈɾɛlɐ]; 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][2] 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.[3][4][5]

Drauzio Varella
Born
Antônio Drauzio Varella

(1943-05-03) May 3, 1943 (age 81)
São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
EducationMedicine School, University of São Paulo
Occupation(s)Physician, writer, science communicator
Years active1970–present
Known forLiterary and popular science writing
Medical career
FieldOncology, immunology
InstitutionsInstituto de Assistência Médica ao Servidor Público Estadual
ResearchCancer and AIDS
Notable worksEstação Carandiru
AwardsPrêmio Jabuti (2000)
Websitedrauziovarella.uol.com.br

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.[6][7] 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[8] Varella received the 2000 Prêmio Jabuti for his book Estação Carandiru.[9][10]

Career

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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,[11] and has worked at Hospital do Câncer, specializing in oncology.[1]

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,[12] Cleveland Clinic,[12][1] Karolinska Institute,[12] Hiroshima University[12] and the National Cancer Center of Japan.[12] Varella has often studied AIDS, specifically the treatment of Kaposi's sarcoma.[12]

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.[13][12] 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.[17]

Writing

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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,[18]pregnancy, obesity and others, which were exhibited at the Fantástico show on Sundays.[17] 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,[10] 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

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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

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Varella has been married to actress Regina Braga since 1981, and has fathered two daughters.[1] He is an atheist.[23][24][25][26]

Works

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  • Carcereiros (2012)
  • Prisioneiras
  • AIDS Hoje. In 3 volumes, in collaboration with Antonio Fernando Varella and Narciso Escaleira.
  • Estação Carandiru (1999), Companhia das Letras.
  • Macacos, Publifolha ("Folha Explica" series)
  • Nas ruas do Brás. Companhia das Letrinhas (children's book)
  • De braços para o alto. Companhia das Letrinhas (children's book)
  • Florestas do Rio Negro. With Alexandre Adalardo de Oliveira and Douglas C. Daly
  • Maré - Vida na Favela
  • Casa das Palavras, with Paola Berenstein, Ivaldo Bertazzo and Pedro Seiblitz (images).
  • Por um fio. Companhia das Letras, 2004.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Ozorio de Almeida, Alexandra; Marcolin, Neldson. "Antônio Drauzio Varella: The doctor's message". Pesquisa FAPESP (in Brazilian Portuguese). FAPESP. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Drauzio ou 'Dr. Auzio' Varella? Médico esclarece 'confusão' com seu nome". Estadão (in Brazilian Portuguese). 23 March 2017. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  3. ^ Costa, Camilla (9 October 2016). "'É um desserviço às mulheres': Drauzio Varella desmente boato que liga mamografia a câncer de tireoide". Bem Estar (in Brazilian Portuguese). G1. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  4. ^ Campos, Maíra (23 March 2020). "Drauzio Varella desmente em vídeo 14 fake news sobre coronavírus". Catraca Livre (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  5. ^ Varella, Drauzio (18 March 2018). "Opinião - Drauzio Varella: Imposição pelas mãos". Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  6. ^ Varella, Drauzio (29 September 2011). "Viagem ao passado". drauziovarella.uol.com.br (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  7. ^ Piana, Ronald (10 April 2022). "Brazilian Oncologist Antônio Drauzio Varella, MD, Rises From the Streets of São Paulo to International Fame". ascopost.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Sobre o Objetivo". Objetivo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  9. ^ "Tragédia do Carandiru inspirou livros, filmes e músicas". Globo.com (in Portuguese). 2 October 2012. Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  10. ^ a b "Premiados do Ano Prêmio Jabuti 2000". www.premiojabuti.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Prêmio Jabuti. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Drauzio Varella recebe prêmio por sua trajetória e contribuição à oncologia". Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 5 August 2019. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g "Médico e escritor, Varella ganhou notoriedade em campanhas de prevenção à Aids". Folha de S. Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 22 March 2005. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  13. ^ "Herói de gibi incentiva preso a usar camisinha". Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 24 September 1995. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  14. ^ Lanna, Marcos (January 2000). "Estação Carandirú, de Drauzio Varella". Ilha – Revista de Antropologia (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2 (1). Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina: 155–162. ISSN 2175-8034. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  15. ^ de Almeida, Flávio (November 2008). "Um doutor na sala de TV". Diversa (in Brazilian Portuguese). No. 16. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  16. ^ Varella, Drauzio (8 January 2005). "Febre amarela". Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 9 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  17. ^ a b "O que fez Drauzio Varella?". FAPESP Na Mídia. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  18. ^ ""Sou ateu", afirma o médico Drauzio Varella para revista". Terra (in Brazilian Portuguese). 3 November 2011. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  19. ^ "Drauzio Varella lança 'Prisioneiras', o último livro de uma trilogia". O Globo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 14 May 2017. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  20. ^ Varella, Drauzio (18 March 2018). "Opinião: Imposição pelas mãos". Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 19 March 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  21. ^ Naísa, Letícia (22 November 2018). "Pesquisadores brasileiros criam instituto para combater pseudociência | Exame". Exame (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  22. ^ "Sou médico, não juiz, diz Drauzio sobre presa trans que matou criança". Correio Braziliense (in Brazilian Portuguese). 8 March 2020. Archived from the original on 9 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  23. ^ "Sempre um Papo: Drauzio Varella (médico e escritor)". Portal da Câmara dos Deputados (in Brazilian Portuguese). 4 April 2009. Archived from the original on 9 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  24. ^ Segatto, Cristiane (9 August 2004). "Entrevista com Drauzio Varella". Época. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  25. ^ Alves, Micheline (8 February 2013). "Drauzio Varella". Trip (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  26. ^ "'Não é agora, com 80 anos, que vou desacelerar', diz Drauzio Varella". Folha de S.Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 29 April 2023. Archived from the original on 9 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
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