Juan Vela Valdés

Doctor Honoris Causa of the University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Physician. Specialist of the 1st degree in Organization and Administration of Public Health. Full Professor of Theory and Administration of Public Health.

Literacy educator "Conrado Benítez". Responsible for student assistants and non-graduate instructors of the Faculty of Medical Sciences. He began working as a rural physician and Director of the "Patricio Sierra Alta" Hospital in Maisí, subsequently he worked as Regional Director of Public Health in Baracoa and Guantánamo. He was appointed Provincial Director of Public Health of the Province of Camagüey.

Rector of the University of Camagüey, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Higher Education, Rector of the Higher Institute of Medical Sciences of Havana, Rector of the University of Havana and Minister of Higher Education are positions held throughout his rich teaching career.

He has been a Member of the Central Committee of the PCC; Honorary Member of the Economic Society of Friends of the Country and Member of Honor of the APC.

He was appointed Interim President of the Union of Universities of Latin America (UDUAL) and elected President of UDUAL.

Honorary Professor of the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz, Bolivia. Member of the Council of the United Nations University.

He has participated in several international events and official missions abroad. President of the Organizing Committee of the 1st Integrated Conference "Latin American University and Population Health".

Among the awards received are:

- Commemorative Medal "For Literacy".

- Medal 40th Anniversary of the Triumph of the Revolution.

- Medal XX Anniversary of the Assault on the Moncada Barracks.

- Medal "Ignacio Chávez" conferred by UNAM.

- Distinction "For Cuban Education".

- Distinction "Manuel Fajardo".

- Annual Award "Carlos J. Finlay" granted by the Scientific Council of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Pinar del Río.

- Award for a Teacher granted by the University Student Federation

- Outstanding Figure of the State and Government.

- Commemorative Plaque for the 485th Anniversary of the Villa of San Cristóbal de La Habana, granted by the Provincial Assembly of People's Power of the City of Havana.

- Doctor Honoris Causa of the National University of Engineering of Nicaragua