José Antonio Soto

For friends and patients, the word that best defines Dr. Soto is "humanist." A man of extraordinary culture who always had the desire to go beyond with the sole intention of doing good for others.

Soto graduated from the Instituto Superior de Ciencias Médicas "Victoria de Girón" in La Habana in 1987. Shortly after, he fulfilled a mission as an envoy to Ethiopia. In Cuba, he worked as a healthcare professional at Hospital Manuel Fajardo before settling in the United States in 1992, after crossing the Mexican border with his wife.

Soto established himself in Miami from the early 90s, working as a family medicine specialist and surgeon, and also shared medical advice and knowledge on local television and radio.

Upon arriving in the United States, he wasted no time in becoming involved in the process of revalidating his degree. He studied at Harvard University Health Services in 1998, and a year later began his Family Medicine practice at the University of Miami hospitals and Jackson Memorial.

Subsequently, Soto opened an office for private medical practice in Sunny Isles Beach, in northeast Miami, and was affiliated with Hospital de Aventura. He worked as a family medicine specialist and surgeon.

As part of his research, he successfully patented in 2006 his study on the use of purified seawater in the treatment of respiratory diseases. He was a member of the American Medical Association (AMA).

Beyond his love and respect for his profession, he had a particular passion for mountain climbing, sailing, and learning about other cultures.

The distinguished physician was highly respected by the South Florida community and gained fame leading this expedition to climb Mount Everest.

Soto achieved fame among the Cuban community in the diaspora on December 25, 2016 after climbing one of the highest mountains on the planet. From the height of 5,643 meters at Monte Kala Pattar, at the foot of Everest, he recited José Martí's Versos Sencillos and sang the National Anthem of Cuba.

On this occasion, Soto placed a commemorative plaque from the people of Cuba to the people of Nepal, with gratitude to the United States of America, in remembrance of his expedition and the highest altitude climbed by a Cuban: Dr. José Antonio Soto.

His passion for challenges was immense. In June 2018, as part of an expedition, Dr. Soto reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania: "5,895 meters above sea level; that is, 19,341 feet"

His death constitutes a significant loss for the medical community of South Florida. Soto practiced his profession and developed extensive health education work in the media, not to mention his passion for Cuban issues and his civic activism.

He was a great communicator who shared scientific content on television programs and radio spaces. In recent months, he was especially dedicated to studying coronavirus, advising his patients and guiding his audience.

In 2010, Dr. Soto published the book Habana 20/20, and two years earlier La beca o la nueva escuela and Marine Therapy Health Benefits of Seawater Minerals.

The last months of his life were dedicated to studying and treating COVID-19 patients, and only three weeks before his death, he wrote on his Facebook wall: "Congratulations America: thank you, America for your nurses, your rescuers, your secretaries and technicians, thank you for your children born and yet to be born. Together we will overcome the pandemic. Deaths continue to decline, even if that is an inconvenient truth for some."

Upon his death, he is survived by his wife, Alicia, and his children José Antonio and Venssen Manuel.

Regarding the illness that took his life, he maintained a daily report on social media for months: "Coronavirus Dr. Soto Reports." He commented on the latest official figures of cases and deaths as well as other data of general interest.