in honor of Alf Ketcham is spurring me to write a short note on some ''Italian connections'' of Alf Ketcham's. In the late 1950s and in the early 1960s, I had the opportunity to read some papers Dr. Ketcham published in both American and International Surgical and Oncology journals. I was also lucky to meet him and exchange some words in occasion of a European congress.
I was fascinated by his personality and impressed by his position as Chief of Surgery at NCI in Bethesda (to my mind, and not only mine, a cathedral in the oncology community).
Consequently, it was a natural decision to invite him to lecture for ''oncology high level courses'' organized yearly in Toronto by the Division of Surgery of Institute of Oncology of ''San Giovanni Hospital'' (where, at that time, I was in charge as Associate Surgeon).
Also, after many years I remember very well his words; the clearness of the presentations; and the complete command of the topics, both cultural and practical. His presence and cooperation was one of the main reasons our ''courses'' succeeded.
Many times in my practice, in case of serious head and neck, musculoskeletal, and pelvic tumors, etc., I asked myself ''What would Alf suggest?'' before I made a decision.
Besides the visits to Toronto, I spent more time with him repeatedly in Bethesda and then Miami where after work I enjoyed the hospitality of his family in their beautiful home in the Coral-Gable area and on short cruises I saw Miami on his ''Bertrand'' ship! Our friendship continued over the years, on occasion at meetings in Italy, Switzerland, and USA, and after his hip surgery.