The ESMINT community were deeply saddened to hear of Maciej Szajner’s untimely passing and offer sincere condolences to his family and friends. Thank you very much to ESMINT Past President – Maciej’s fellow ESMINT band-mate – Patrick Brouwer for this obituary:
There are no words, but still we have to find some…
A shock went through the neurointerventional community when we were informed of the passing of our beloved colleague and friend Prof. Dr. Maciej Szajner on May 13th 2025.
Maciej who is known for his big smile, loving heart and inclusive mentality, was a respected and amicable neurointerventionalist based out of Lublin, Poland. He was an important figure in our ESMINT society, in the MENC, in the Polish community and above all a driving force of the ‘neurointervention band’ in which he put all his heart, soul and passion.
His open mind made him train and visit many centers to enhance his education and make a difference in patient care. Jacques Moret and James Byrne were of particular influence and were considered mentors and friends. To broaden his view even more, he took a one year sabbatical in the University Hospital in Groningen, the Netherlands. Upon his return to Poland he finished his PhD with a very bulky book on arteriovenous malformations, one of his most favorite disease states.
Maciej had a deep understanding of how ‘ego’ could harm patients, and he was very worried about the decline of the neurointerventional field with very little focus being given to understanding the pathophysiology, but even more so to ‘the patient as a whole’. This is why he wanted to make a difference as the chair for the Ethics Committee within ESMINT and as an examiner for ECMINT/EXMINT.
Even though he would seize every opportunity for a jam-session with a live band, the ESMINT conference was an annual highlight for him where he could pick up his guitar, play his blues harp, or sing a song. The friendship within the band, which lasted for almost 20 years, is something that was a given. His warm heart, his ‘teddy-bear’ appearance and his amazing sense of humor are going to be dearly missed.
Dear friend, may the heavens give you the chance to jam with Jimi Hendrix and the Blues Brothers, rest in peace.
