Daniel Alonso Menéndez

Daniel Alonso Menéndez. Notable Cuban pediatrician and public health physician. Founding Director of the "William Soler" Children's Hospital (1960-1962).

He was born in San Antonio de los Baños, province of La Habana, son of Daniel Alonso Zarza and Consuelo Menéndez Fornells.

He completed his primary studies at a public school in his native town, where his mother was a teacher. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Letters and Sciences from the Institute of Secondary Education in La Habana (1938). He pursued his higher education at the University of La Habana, where he obtained the title of Doctor in Medicine (1944).

In 1940 he obtained a position as an internal resident at the Municipal Children's Hospital, a position he maintained until his graduation and where he continued as an internal physician, always serving under the eminent professor doctor Ángel A. Aballí y Arellano, with whom he achieved solid scientific training.

Physician at the Legal Charitable Center for Workers of Cuba (1945-1960). In 1934 he joined the Communist Youth League and in 1936, the first Communist Party of Cuba, later the Communist Revolutionary Union Party and the Popular Socialist Party.

As an activist he came to hold the position of General Secretary of the cell of said Party in the School of Medicine. He contributed to the revolutionary cause by carrying out risky missions directed by his Party, such as collecting and sending medicines to the Sierra Maestra, for which he was imprisoned on 2 occasions.

Upon the Triumph of the Revolution he dedicated himself to it with all his strength, holding the following positions:

Treasurer of the National Medical College (1959).
Founding Director of the "William Soler" Children's Hospital (1960-1962).
National Director of Hospitals and Polyclinics (1962-1964).
Vice-Minister of Medical Education (1964 - 1966).
Director of the Institute of Research and the National Center for Information on Medical Sciences (1967-1973).
Vice-president, acting as President, of the Scientific Council of MINSAP (1973- 1979).
Co-author of the books: "Medical Ethics" (1977) and "Dr. Ángel A. Aballí y Arellano (1880-1953), Master of Cuban Pediatrics" (2003), a posthumous work.

He was a founding member of the Integrated Revolutionary Organizations (ORI), the United Party of the Socialist Revolution (PURS) and the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC)
General Secretary of the nucleus of the PCC at the central level of the Ministry of Public Health.

He received numerous decorations and recognitions from the Cuban Revolution, among them:
"Comandante Manuel Fajardo" Order
Certificate of Recognition on the X Anniversary of the research institutes
Specialist of II Grade (Superior) in Pediatrics (1967).
He belonged to numerous national and foreign scientific societies, but the one he most appreciated was:

Full Member of the Cuban Society of Pediatrics.
Publications

Among his numerous publications, the following stand out:

"Abscessed Bacterial Bronchopneumonia in Childhood" (1962)
"Organization of the Milk Diet Department" (1962)
"Dr. José Elías Borges" (1961)
"Finlay Oration" (1966)

Research
He participated in important medical research such as:
"Biometric Study of Newborns in the Province of Oriente and the Maternity Wards of Ciudad de La Habana and their Possible Relationship with Risk Factors"
"Growth and Development of the Cuban Population 0 -19 Years Old" (1970-1972)

He died in La Habana, during a work session, on September 18, 1979.