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Will SansomPhone: (210) 567-2579
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sansom@uthscsa.edu Roman Hlatky, M.D., assistant professor in the department of neurosurgery at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, died Sept. 20 in a motor vehicle accident. He was 38. He died on his way home from caring for patients at University Hospital.
Dr. Hlatky, born Sept. 4, 1968 in Trencin, Slovakia, was a specialist in neuro-oncology, neurotrauma and general neurosurgery. He completed his medical degree in 1992 and neurosurgery residency in 1999 at Charles University in the Czech Republic. Charles University, located in Prague, is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious universities.
In 1999, Dr. Hlatky moved to Texas to accept a clinical research fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. The fellowship was in disturbances of cerebral blood flow after severe head injury. In 2001-2002, he continued at Baylor with a basic research fellowship on the same theme with experiments in mice.
In 2002, he moved to Wayne State University in Detroit for a one-year neuro-oncology clinical fellowship. The following year, he returned to Houston to do a second neuro-oncology fellowship at the U.T. M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. He then joined the Health Science Center faculty under the leadership of Professor and Chair David F. Jimenez, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Dr. Hlatky was a member of the Congress of Neurobiological Surgeons, the National Neurotrauma Society, the International Society for Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, the Society for Neuroscience and several other noted societies. His awards and grants were numerous, including the American Association of Neurosurgical Surgeons’ Best Poster Presentation in Tumor Section at the 2004 Annual Meeting of the Association.
Even at this relatively early stage in his career, Dr. Hlatky’s papers, book chapters and electronic publications numbered more than 100.
“Clearly, when the world loses someone who has given his life to the healing of others, when the world loses a person of this training and experience, there is a void that can never be filled,” said Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., president of the Health Science Center. “His wife and son are in our thoughts and prayers. This is a great loss for them and for all of South Texas.”
William L. Henrich, M.D., M.A.C.P., dean of the School of Medicine and vice president for medical affairs, made this statement: “I would like to extend my sincerest sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of Dr. Hlatky. Not only has our campus lost a vital member of our faculty, but we have lost a valued member of society. Dr. Hlatky will be greatly missed.”
Dr. Jimenez said, “Dr. Hlatky played a pivotal role in the recent rebuilding of our department. A brilliant researcher and an accomplished surgeon, he worked tirelessly to provide superb patient care and to significantly advance the field of neurotrauma and neurocritical care. He leaves a tremendous void in the department.”
Dr. Hlatky’s survivors include his wife, Radka, and his son, Roman, 12.
In lieu of flowers, the Roman Hlatky, M.D. Memorial Fund has been established at Frost Bank to benefit his wife and son. In addition, the Roman Hlatky, M.D. Memorial Research Fund has been established to continue his research in the Health Science Center department of neurosurgery. Contributions for this account can be mailed to the U.T. Health Science Center, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, MC 7835, San Antonio, Texas 78229.
