“Halfway down Rue de Lannoy, towards Mons-en-Barœul” says an old postcard. We stand at the corner of Rue Louis Christiaens. This street, named after a remarkable figure, holds more than meets the eye.
Rue Louis Christiaens intersects with Rue de Lannoy. The view on that old postcard shows the location near the Fives public garden. Slightly upstream to the left, the old Louis XIV farm once stood.
Who was Louis Christiaens? He was born in Lille in 1911 into a medical family. He interned at Lille hospitals in 1932. Later, he became a monitor and Head of the Children’s Medical Clinic under Professor René Pierret. He also worked in legal and social medicine. There, he researched paternity using blood groups.
In 1939, Christiaens was eligible for a professorship in general medicine. World War II intervened. He became the Chief Physician of the Blood Transfusion Center for the 1st Region. In July 1940, he escaped a camp in Amiens. He practiced as a country doctor before returning to his assistant position in Children’s Medicine. This was at the Saint-Sauveur Hospital.
Christiaens joined the resistance movement. In May 1944, he had to leave Lille. He joined the Maquis in Dordogne until the Liberation.
After the war, in 1946, Christiaens became a consultant in pediatrics. He also became a professor of legal and social medicine that year. He co-created the Blood Transfusion Center with Professor Gernez-Rieux at the Pasteur Institute. In 1950, he succeeded Professor Leclercq. He took over the chair of Occupational Medicine. His research focused on adolescents at work and maladjusted children. He even created a school for specialized educators.
In 1958, Christiaens became head of pediatrics at the Fraternité Hospital in Roubaix. He transformed it into a pilot service. He introduced schooling there for the young patients. In 1962, he succeeded the late Professor André Breton. He became Professor of Pediatric Clinic at the Regional Hospital Center of Lille.
Christiaens was the Secretary-General of the Association of Interns and Former Interns of Lille Hospitals. In 1951, he created the “Medical Days of Lille Hospitals.” Proceeds from these events funded study trips abroad for interns.
Alongside Professor Bernard Gaudier and Professor Guy Fontaine, Christiaens developed the pediatric discipline. Sadly, he passed away suddenly on February 16, 1965. He left a mark on generations of medical students. He was a passionate advocate for the medical profession. He championed its rights, duties, responsibilities, and ethics.
This street, Rue Louis Christiaens, commemorates a man of medicine, resistance, and dedication to the well-being of children. It connects us to a legacy of service and innovation in Lille’s history. The buildings here have changed. Some were spared from destruction. Others made way for modern developments like the shopping center. The spirit of Louis Christiaens remains a vital part of Lille’s story.