Publishing date: 3 June 2026 Immagine notizia Immagine Paragrafo Paolo Severgnini, Associate Professor of Anaesthesiology at the University of Insubria, has been awarded the title of Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, an honour bestowed by the President of the Republic upon individuals who have distinguished themselves through their professional, social, civic and institutional commitment, and presented by the Prefect of Varese, Salvatore Pasquariello. The ceremony took place on 2 June in the Aula Magna of the University of Insubria, as part of the celebrations for the 80th anniversary of the Italian Republic.Professor Severgnini, Director of the School of Specialisation in Anaesthesia, Resuscitation, Intensive Care and Pain Management at the University of Insubria, one of Italy’s leading experts in the field of mechanical ventilation and medical emergencies and a figure of long-standing clinical, scientific and academic distinction, was honoured with a retrospective highlighting the key moments and qualities of his work. Immagine Professor Severgnini is an example of professional excellence, dedication to public service, and commitment to the community. A physician of the highest calibre, he has built his career on expertise, self-sacrifice, and a constant commitment to safeguarding people’s health, distinguishing himself in both clinical practice and academic and scientific activities.Particularly significant was his contribution during the Covid-19 pandemic. During one of the most challenging periods in the country’s recent history, Dr Severgnini worked on the front line caring for hundreds of critically ill patients and, for several months, directed one of the intensive care units established at the Milan Trade Fair hospital.During the same period, he served on the ASST Sette Laghi crisis unit, placing his expertise, sound judgement, and extraordinary sense of duty at the service of the community.Alongside his outstanding professional achievements, he has demonstrated an equally remarkable commitment to volunteer work. For many years, he served with the Italian Red Cross, distinguishing himself through generosity, availability, and a strong spirit of service, for which he was awarded the organisation’s Second-Class Medal.He has also carried out humanitarian missions abroad and has been active in the Civil Protection service, participating in rescue operations and helping to organise emergency response structures.In the fields of associations and volunteering, Dr Severgnini has made a valuable contribution by promoting a culture of health prevention and taking part in initiatives aimed at increasing public awareness and knowledge of cardiovascular health.For his exceptional commitment during the pandemic, he was also awarded the prestigious Melvin Jones Fellow recognition by Lions Clubs International.Dr Paolo Severgnini therefore stands out as a professional of the highest merit, capable of combining scientific expertise, organisational skills, a spirit of service, and profound humanity.His career and his enduring commitment to volunteer work represent a tangible example of dedication and service rendered with honour to institutions and society as a whole.«I thank everyone - Professor Severgnini said emotionally -. I thank His Excellency, and above all I thank you for choosing to highlight, in particular, the period of the Covid pandemic and the especially demanding service carried out during those years. However, I feel it is my duty to remember, and to remind all of you, of the commitment shown at every level by nurses, doctors, healthcare personnel, and students who worked tirelessly during that time. I must also thank my family, especially my wife Gabriella, who has stood by me throughout all these years and, above all, during that particularly difficult period». Immagine A total of nineteen citizens from the Province of Varese received the honour of Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, conferred by Decree of the President of the Republic on 27 December 2025. Among them was another professor from the University of Insubria, Giuseppe Carcano, Head of the Provincial School Office of Varese and adjunct professor of Italian Literature in the Department of Human Sciences and Innovation for the Territory. The full list of recipients is: Vincenzo Agrifoglio, Massinissa Askeur, Angelo Borroni, Angelo Maria Calati, Giuseppe Carcano, Riccardo Carlini, Pietro Falletta, Gianluca Giarola, Giuseppe Gigliola, Salvatore Giuseppe Manca, Giuseppe Micalizzi, Tonino Perrucci, Mauro Porro, Massimo Pupo, Antonio Salomone, Alessandro Scorziello, Paolo Severgnini, Francesco Sottili and Giorgio Stracquadanio.The presentation of the honours was the highlight of the celebrations on 2 June, a particularly significant occasion as it coincided with the 80th anniversary of the 1946 referendum that marked the birth of the Italian Republic and the first time women were allowed to vote. During the ceremony, the Prefect of Varese, Salvatore Pasquariello, read the message sent by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella. Immagine Another significant moment of the ceremony was the keynote address delivered by Professor Giulio Facchetti, Professor of Linguistics at the University of Insubria. In his speech, he recalled the profound significance of Article 2 of the Italian Constitution, describing it as a cornerstone of democracy and a safeguard against all forms of authoritarianism:«The Republic recognises and guarantees the inviolable rights of the individual, both as a person and within the social groups where human personality is expressed, and requires the fulfilment of the fundamental duties of political, economic and social solidarity.»Professor Facchetti emphasised that political, economic and social solidarity is an essential condition for the functioning of a democratic community. Addressing especially the younger generations, he encouraged them to preserve and strengthen the values of the Constitution through civic participation and awareness of both their rights and responsibilities.(Main photographs: Paolo Severgnini and Professor Severgnini with Prefect Salvatore Pasquariello; within the text: the conferment of the honour on Giuseppe Carcano; final photograph: Professor Giulio Facchetti.)