HISTORY: Adrian Walton Zorgniotti (1925–1994): Renaissance Urologist

Abstract

Adrian Zorgniotti was born on March 3, 1925 and died on July 6, 1994. During his 47 years as a physician, he brought innovation and imagination to the field of Urology, especially in the field of erectile dysfunction (ED).Biographical information was obtained from Dr. Zorgniotti's curriculum vitae, his published articles, and his eulogies. Several of his colleagues and peers were also interviewed by telephone. In addition, personal experiences of this author, from the 9 years we spent as associates, and of several other friends were recounted.Dr. Zorgniotti's involvement with the history of Urology began in 1970 when he published his first historical treatise on Rome's first doctor, Arcagathus. He continued his involvement when he served as moderator for the History Forum of the American Urological Association (AUA) from 1975 to 1988 and as Historian for the AUA from 1979 to 1988.This innovator brought vision to the field of ED when he introduced the combination of papaverine and phentolamine as an intracavernous injection for the treatment of ED. He also organized the first International Conference on Corpus Cavernolum Revascularization in 1978 at New York University and published long‐term results with this therapy.Adrian Zorgniotti will probably be best remembered by the multitude of Urologists whose lives he has touched for his generosity of spirit and for his ability to help shape our careers with a kind gesture, suggestion, or phone call. I am proud to call him a mentor, a colleague, and a friend.