Francisco Raúl Rojas Ochoa

Dr. Francisco Rojas Ochoa was a fully developed intellectual, possessor of a truly formidable artistic sensibility. His most notable contributions transcended the framework of science. From a very early age, he understood the importance of caring for the quality of primary data as a pillar of health statistics; he tirelessly defended the principles of Cuban Public Health, joined the decisive fight against pseudoscience, cultivated demography, administrative management techniques and, above all, medical ethics. He displayed a valuable contribution to the History of Medicine and Public Health.

He did not have statistical training, but rather a powerful common sense that allowed him to appropriate the results of this discipline, for whose practical interpretation he demonstrated great skill. Throughout his life he published dozens of scientific articles and numerous books. His most fruitful stage took place within the framework of various academic institutions, among them, the National School of Public Health. His last publication, considered among the most outstanding, was Actor y Testigo, constitutes a true intellectual testament.

Doctor of Medicine, Master of Science in Public Health, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Specialist of Second Degree in Organization and Administration of Health, Full Professor, Senior Researcher.
Academic of Merit of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba.

Francisco Raúl was born in Tacajó in the eastern province of Holguín. From an early age he began to manifest his desire to study medicine. "The foundation I have found for this early choice is the presence in my family of an uncle, my mother's brother, and a physician by profession. He was the most sought-after person in the town. He worked in the sugar mill and was a prominent figure in the community. He had the best horse and later was even able to buy a jeep".

His grades showed that he "passed for being smart" and during his elementary and secondary studies he made maximum effort and passed the entrance exams with excellence. He then sought a new goal: university.

Rojas Ochoa arrived in the Cuban capital in mid-1951. He had been accepted to the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Havana, near the Calixto García General Hospital. He completed his medical studies at the University of Havana.

From this stage of formation he has expressed: "When I arrived at medical school I don't say it was bad, but disorganized. The programs were outdated, the textbooks aged. Each professor, upon assuming a position as chair, would establish his own bibliography and it would only be changed if he retired or died".

At that time, during the first two academic years, students only worked with cadavers and barely had contact with patients.

During that time, Rojas Ochoa learned eagerly. Perhaps at that moment in his life it was not evident, but his interest in caring for patients directly would benefit his later career. History of Cuba".

Upon completing university studies he joined the group of physicians who performed social service.

He was provincial director of public health in Camagüey (1961-1964), created Cuba's first maternal home, an institution of the health system designed to improve the quality of care for pregnant women.

He later served as National Director of Statistics of the Ministry of Public Health (1966-1976), from where he directed the program for training and improving human resources for the sanitary statistics offices in the country and the curriculum for training physicians and other professionals specialized in biostatistics.

As Specialist of Second Degree in Organization and Administration of Health, he made valuable contributions to the development of administration of health programs and services in Cuba and in other countries in the region; and also to the training of several generations of leaders and public health professionals. For his contribution in this field he received the PAHO Prize in Administration in 2005.

He is an honorary member of the Cuban Society of Public Health. Member of the Cuban Society of History of Medicine. Master of Science in Public Health, Doctor of Medicine, Full Professor and Researcher.

Doctor of Sciences, Professor and Merit Researcher at the University of Medical Sciences of Havana, Francisco Rojas Ochoa has published more than 100 works, including journal articles and books. In the area of scientific editing, in which he worked for more than 30 years as director of the Cuban Journal of Public Health, he achieved that this publication ranked among the most cited in the Spanish-speaking world.

For his contribution in various programs in this field he received the PAHO Prize in Administration in 2005.

Dr. Francisco Rojas Ochoa is an honorary member of the Cuban Society of Public Health and a full member of the Academy of Sciences, president of the Advisory Board of the Medical Sciences Publishing House and has been awarded the Annual Prize for Public Health for his book "Vaccines. Cuba 1959-2008".

Outstanding Merits
For his arduous work he is:

Member of the Cuban Society of Medical Educators.
Member of the Latin American Society of Medicine (ALAMES).
Member of the International Association of Health Policies (IAHP).
Professor of Sanitary Statistics at the School of Medicine of the University of Havana, founder of this discipline in higher medical education, Statistics and Demography at the School of Public Health of the Ministry of Public Health.
Founder of the first master's degree program held in Cuba authorized only for foreign students, at that time, named Master's in Public Health, which continues to develop, coordinator of the version for Cuban students who are part of the Cuban mission in Venezuela. Member of specialty, master's and doctoral thesis committees.

Guest Professor at the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, at the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico, at the Juárez Autonomous University of Tabasco, at the Arnoldo Gabaldón Institute of Higher Studies in Public Health.

Fundamental Contributions
He made important contributions, among the most relevant are five texts of the specialty in public health, pre and post-graduate of his authorship, seventy-six articles in journals. Advisor for master's and doctoral theses.

Recognition Received
National Vanguard of the Health Workers Union on several occasions.
Administration Prize of the Pan American Health Organization.
Prize of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba.
Annual Prize of MINSAP.

Honorary Member of the Cuban Society of Public Health. Member of the Cuban Society of History of Medicine. Member of the Cuban Society of Medical Educators. Member of the Latin American Society of Medicine (ALAMES). Member of the International Association of Health Policies (IAHP).
Work Specialty: Public Health.

Teaching and Research Categories
Professor and Merit Researcher.
Full Academic Member of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba.
Doctor of Medical Sciences.
International Master's in Public Health.

Awards, Medals and Distinctions
Administration Prize of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
Order "Carlos J Finlay", conferred by the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba.
Distinction for Cuban Education.
International Worker.
Order "Frank País" of First and Second Degrees.
Medal "José Tey".