Thirty-two stories of dedication to the medical profession from across Italy. Passion, generosity, and a calling to altruism far beyond what is enshrined in the Hippocratic Oath.

Just like Geppino Micheletti, the Trieste surgeon (1905-1961) who on Sunday 18 August 1946 operated for over 24 consecutive hours on the wounded who arrived continuously in the wards of the Sartorio Sartorio hospital in Pola from the nearby beach of Vergarolla, where a depot of defused mines had been detonated, causing carnage among the families who were watching the Coppa Scarioni swimming competitions while waiting for the evening party that would celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Pietas Julia Nautical Society.

Micheletti didn't stop even when he learned that among the more than 100 victims (though only 64 were identified due to the devastation of their bodies in the explosion) were his two young sons, Carlo and Renzo. Micheletti (an Italianization of Michelstaedter, and in fact Geppino was the cousin of the Gorizia philosopher Carlo who committed suicide at a young age) received for his selfless service the Grand Gold Medal of the Municipality of Pula a few days after the massacre, the Silver Medal for Civil Valor in 1947 when he had already accompanied the people of Pula into exile to escape the dictatorship of Tito's communist Yugoslavia, and the Gold Medal for Merit in Public Health, awarded posthumously by President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella in 2025.

The memory of the hero of the Vergarolla massacre is now being passed down to new generations of his colleagues thanks to the "Dr. Geppino Micheletti" Award, which was presented on Wednesday, July 15, in the Sala della Regina (Queen's Hall) of the Chamber of Deputies. The award ceremony was initiated by the Honorable Andrea Mascaretti, who organized the event together with the National Federation of the Orders of Surgeons and Dentists and the main associations of Adriatic exiles: the Federation of Associations of Istrian, Rijeka, and Dalmatian Exiles, the Association of Italian Dalmatians in the World – Free Municipality of Zadar in Exile, the Association of Istrian Communities, the Association of Italian Rijeka in the World – Free Municipality of Rijeka in Exile, the Association of Italians from Pula and Istria – Free Municipality of Pula in Exile, the National Association of Venezia Giulia and Dalmatia, and the National League of Trieste.

While the Honorable Mascaretti was in the Chamber, Dr. Milena Polidoro coordinated the awards ceremony, which opened with a speech by Anna Maria Crasti, an exile from Vrsar and national councilor of the ANVGD, a passionate promoter of this initiative aimed at "raising awareness of our history through Micheletti." This was confirmed by architect Massimiliano Tita, a collaborator with FederEsuli who, among other things, curated the temporary exhibition that, at the initiative of the Honorable Mascaretti, has for several years been a feature of the institutional ceremonies of Remembrance Day in Milan.

Maria Grazia and Alberto Micheletti emotionally remembered their illustrious uncle, who followed the Polesani into exile, being transferred to the hospital in Narni, Umbria, where he died in 1961. Filippo Anelli, President of the FNOMCeO, emphasized that "the role of the doctor is not only technical, but also social: our profession contributes not only in terms of healthcare, but also in respecting constitutional rights. Micheletti's experience speaks above all of solidarity, altruism, and dedication, which is one of the most important values ​​of our profession."

FederEsuli Vice President Fabio Tognoni thanked the organizers for holding an event that honorably commemorates Geppino Micheletti, holding him up as an example for new generations of doctors, but also for the Vergarolla massacre and the sacrifices of Adriatic Italians. It was then up to Professor Davide Rossi to provide a historical overview to help the audience, who filled the Sala della Regina in the Chamber of Deputies, understand the dynamics that led to the Vergarolla massacre.

Each of the 32 award recipients, 5 of whom were posthumously awarded, including the Istrian exile Lucio Parenzan for his pioneering work in pediatric cardiac surgery, was awarded a plaque together with the book by Prof. Duccio Vanni (University of Florence) “ Geppino Micheletti (1905-1961) Life, works and awards of the doctor hero of the Vergarolla massacre ” (Apice Libri, Sesto Fiorentino 2022).

The ceremony can be watched again on the CDM Arcipelago Adriatico YouTube channel :