Orlando Zamora Almeida

Professors, students, and workers of the Faculty of Medical Sciences "Miguel Enriquez" and of the entire University of Medical Sciences of Havana, join in the sorrow of the family members of Professor Dr. Orlando Zamora Almeida, Professor Emeritus of the University of Medical Sciences of Camagüey and Consultant of the University of Medical Sciences of the capital, who passed away on April 4th at the age of 76.

This distinguished university professor, who accumulated 47 years of teaching experience, graduated as a Doctor of Medicine in 1963. In 1972 he achieved the rank of Full Professor of Surgery at the Central University of Las Villas and since 1975 has been a Member of the Cuban Society of Surgery. Throughout his teaching career he served as a member on a considerable number of Teaching Categorization Boards and State Specialist Boards, accumulating over one hundred participations and presentations of scientific papers at National and International Conferences and Congresses on Surgery and other specialties. In 2004 he was named Honorary Member of the Cuban Society of Surgery.

Throughout his fruitful career as a surgeon, educator and revolutionary, he served as:
- Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of Camagüey
- Head of the Provincial Surgery Group in Camagüey
- Vice-Rector of the University of Camagüey
- Head of Surgery Service and Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences "Miguel Enríquez", University of Medical Sciences of Havana
- Member of the National Commission of Higher Medical Education of MINED
- Advisor to the Pan American Health Organization in Mexico, 1973
- Deputy to the National Assembly of People's Power

For his outstanding career, he received multiple recognitions and decorations, among which are:
- Medal of Underground Struggle Fighter
- 30th, 40th and 50th Anniversary Medal of the FAR
- International Worker Medal (Ethiopia and Nicaragua)
- Piti Fajardo Medal
- Medal for Cuban Education
- Pepito Tey Medal
- Frank País Medal
- 30th Anniversary and Founder Medal of the University of Camagüey
- 40th Anniversary and Founder Medal of the University of Camagüey
- 20th Anniversary Medal of the Higher Institute of Medical Sciences of Camagüey
- 70th Anniversary Medal of the National Society of Surgery
- 80th Anniversary Medal of the National Society of Surgery
- 40th Anniversary Medal of the Beginning of Higher Education in Camagüey
- Founder of the Communist Party of Cuba
- Deputy of the National Assembly of People's Power
- Founder of Higher Education in Camagüey
- Founder of Higher Medical Education in Camagüey
- Recognition from the Minister of Public Health for 45 years of work in the service of health.

In January 2014, the National Council of Scientific Degrees awarded him the Annual Prize corresponding to the professional with the greatest professional achievements, but beyond his important scientific and professional trajectory, Professor Zamora Almeida was always distinguished by his dedication, industriousness, sensitivity, devotion, meticulousness and sacrifice toward his patients and students. His qualities as an educator earned him a mixture of affection, admiration and respect from several generations of his disciples. His example is, without a doubt, the greatest legacy of an exceptional Professional and Educator.

Professor Zamora knew how to unite his professionalism and humanism as a physician with the noble mission of training multiple generations of professionals in the health sector, contributing with his consistent actions to the achievements and advances of Public Health and Higher Medical Education in Cuba on the national and international level.