Enrique José Hechavarría Vaillant

He was born in Santiago de Cuba, son of Carmen and Urbano, and completed his early education in a primary school. In 1918 he entered the "La Salle" school in that city until completing Preparatory and entering the Institute, but due to not being of the required age, he had to wait 3 years to do so. In 1930 he graduated as a Bachelor of Sciences and Letters.

Already an adolescent, and due to the political situation prevailing on the Island, his parents (with economic resources) sent him to study in France. In 1931 he began his studies at the School of Medicine in Paris, and graduated as a physician in 1937. In that same year he had to return to Cuba, because his family's economic conditions had changed unfavorably.

Before revalidating his medical diploma, he began working as an external student first and later as an internal student at the Municipal Children's Hospital (now "Pedro Borrás"). In 1938, he revalidated his degree and was appointed Honorary Physician of the Surgery Service at that Hospital, with the right to eat and live in the dormitory where he lived until 1951.

In 1938, in addition to his duties at the Children's Hospital, he entered the professional career in the Chair of Surgical Pathology with professor Ernesto R. de Aragón, which was located in the Fortún ward of the University Hospital "Calixto García," whose management he was put in charge of; during his teaching career, he served as Instructor and associate physician, among other roles.

In 1950 he obtained by competitive examination the position of Assistant. Years later he became Assistant Professor and subsequently Full Professor of Surgery when the study plans were modified.

For years he simultaneously practiced General Surgery (University Hospital "Calixto García") and Pediatric Surgery (Municipal Children's Hospital) and his collaborators were doctors Hernández Amador, Morandeira and Villavicencio.

In 1941 he was appointed Assistant Surgeon of the Children's Hospital and during the 1940s and early 1950s, he was Surgeon of the "Damas de la Purísima" clinic on 15 and 4, Vedado, "La Sagrada Familia" clinic in Vedado, "La Asunción" clinic in Guanabacoa, "Acción Médica" clinic (later National Medical Center of La Víbora).

In 1952 due to his prestige and medical ethics achieved in his professional career, he was appointed member of the Board of Governors of the University Hospital "Calixto García".

In May 1956, he took responsibility for the care of Guillermo Jiménez, a Law student, wounded by a bullet in the abdomen, when after 2 re-interventions, other surgeons at the Hospital, avoided such responsibility.

In April 1958, his small office at San Lázaro 1210 was raided when his car was seized in the assault on the armory on Mercader Street.

Two months later, his office was searched again by Lieutenant Bequer after the attack on Santiago Rey (Batista's Minister), on L Street between 23 and 25, Vedado. In this second search, not finding Professor Hechavarría, the few valuable items that existed in the office were stolen from him.

Upon the fall of Batista's regime, in 1959, the professor was appointed surgeon and Head of the Surgery Department of the Municipal Children's Hospital. In July 1960 he was appointed Member of the Board of Governors of the University of Havana.

When the massive resignation of the faculty from the old School of Medicine occurred, he was one of the few who remained at the University and along with Presno Guerra and other doctors (Torroella) played a decisive role, not only in maintaining the graduation of physicians, but in directing to a large extent, the future of surgery in Cuba.

He was an Honorary Member of the Cuban Society of Surgery, Honorary Member of the International Society of Surgery (ISS/SIC) and member of the Cuban Society of Pediatrics.

In 1964 he began working full-time at "Pedro Borrás" Hospital since, despite being Full Professor of General Surgery, he was the most experienced surgeon in Pediatric Surgery (in which specialty he is considered the Father) to train residents in this branch of Surgery that was beginning to develop.

He participated in International Congresses in Boston and Warsaw. He was awarded the rank of Specialist of Second Degree in Surgery.

As a teacher he advised different resident completion works, and also participated as president or secretary of different state tribunals.

He published in national journals various articles of a scientific nature and was an outstanding collaborator in surgical standards.

As a surgeon he performed the most varied and risky surgical interventions and also made a modification to the Duhamel technique for the treatment of aganglionated megacolon.

In 1979 he was granted the degree of Doctor in Medical Sciences by direct appointment.

He received numerous medals and decorations. In 1995 he was honored with the diploma of University Dignity.

His life was characterized by his ability, simplicity, the complete absence of personal ambitions and his great love for surgery, where he had the fortune that by remaining intellectually lucid and manually skilled, he could practice it until his death.

He died in Havana on June 24, 1995, and for all those who had the privilege of knowing him, he left a memory of affection.