Oscar Beto Alonso Chil

Dr. C. Oscar Beto Alonso Chil, physician, Specialist of Second Degree in Internal Medicine, Full Professor and Consultant at the University of Medical Sciences of La Habana. He holds the status of Professor Emeritus.

Harvesting the excellent work results that the professor obtained has been the result of much personal effort and creative work, dedicated to the improvement of the teaching-educational process and to the development of Medicine as a science.

After the revolutionary triumph in 1959, he dedicated all his efforts to the development of Medicine in these times. For these reasons, it is considered important to make known the history of this professional of Cuban Medicine, trainer of new generations of physicians and exemplary figure in the teaching and research of Medicine, as well as his unconditional dedication and commitment to work.

Dr. Alonso Chil came from a middle-class family and was the third of five siblings, the result of the union of a father of Spanish origin, a prominent worker dedicated to commerce, and a mother with little education and very humble, but with great human sensitivity, always ready to help those in need.

In 1968, he founded a home based on love and solidarity when he married his wife and mother of his two daughters; one of them followed in his footsteps in the profession and is a Family Physician.

The Prof, as he is called among his colleagues, excelled in his student life. He studied between 1935 and 1942 in Primary Education at the "José Martí" School in Candelaria, Pinar del Río.

He later entered the Institute of Secondary Education in Artemisa, where he received his degree as Bachelor of Sciences in 1947, the year he began studying Medicine at the University of La Habana at age 17 and graduated as Doctor of Medicine in 1954.

While still in his 5th year of studies, he began to collaborate in teaching Medical students in the Internal Medicine chair no. 7 of the University Hospital "Calixto García" and once graduated, he was appointed Assistant Physician of that Chair where he taught practical classes to Medical Clinic students until 1959.

Between 1954 and 1959, he worked at the Vedado Clinical Center as an Internal Medicine physician. Between 1957 and 1960, he worked in the Municipal Health Department of La Habana as a physician.

The professor, in an interview, expressed that among all the facets in which he developed as a professional, what he most liked to do was care for patients: "I had the best professors, but the ones who made me a physician were my patients. I made visits to very poor people in La Habana, I learned from their illnesses and needs."

Very young, he joined in the training of physicians, a task he faced with total dedication and for life, contributing to the creation of teaching programs for specialties. The teaching he provided was distinguished by its high quality, which evidences his constant self-preparation, professional, political and scientific-pedagogical improvement, which earned him recognition from leaders of the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP), the University and the Medical Sciences Faculties where he worked, as well as from his students who consider him a paradigm to imitate. He reveals that he greatly enjoyed being among young people, which is why he was very satisfied to teach classes.

As a physician, he served as head of the Internal Medicine Service at "Dr. Enrique Cabrera" Hospital; head of the Clinical Department; Advisor to MINSAP for 25 years; secretary of the National Group of Internal Medicine of MINSAP; member of the National Commission on Asthma; member of the Commission of the Program for Diabetic Care; member of the Commission of the Program for Elderly Care; he was part of the MINSAP Commission for the OPD 2000.

The professor's work is highly recognized by colleagues, students, and administrators of the University of Medical Sciences of La Habana, where all agree in recognizing his efficiency, work capacity and great prestige among professors and students, always willing to help all teachers who needed him; a deep expert in his specialty, he possesses great pedagogical mastery, a guide for new generations.

The professor, doctor, researcher and scientist Alonso Chil stands out for his spirit of sacrifice and dedication to work, in which he has excelled throughout his fruitful life; dedicating much of his time to study, research and teaching, he has earned important honors. His work is contained in 5 volumes and numerous articles required reading for physicians, professors and specialists.

His participation in events, both national and international, shows the success of his results. His valuable contribution in Examination Boards of First and Second Degrees of Medical Specialties has contributed to raising the quality of graduates, which enhances his scientific authority. However, what stands out most in his history is his simplicity, humility and sensitivity, which make him a glory of Cuban Medicine.

At the close of this Portrait, we learned the sad news of his death in late 2021. Unforeseeable twists of life that, nevertheless, despite his advanced age, surprised us. However, his professional work is so important that we can only tell him that with his scientific knowledge well known, it now falls to us to preserve his memory and legacy. His death does not entail an ending because his work merits continuity, which is the best way to follow his teachings, because his undoubted professional merits in Medical Sciences make real the precept of José Martí: "Death is not true when the work of life has been done well."

Author of more than 20 articles published in Cuban and international Medical Journals, where he highlighted his unwavering defense of the clinical method and the need for its learning and application in the diagnosis of diseases.

He belonged to numerous Scientific Societies including: Full Member of the Cuban Society of Internal Medicine; Founding Member of the Cuban Society of Education in Health Sciences; the International Society of Internal Medicine (ISIM); the Latin American Society of Internal Medicine (SOLAMI); the Cuban Association of the United Nations (ACNU) and the Central American and Caribbean Association of Internal Medicine (AMICAC).

In his scientific credentials, it is worth highlighting the mentoring of more than 50 Completion of Residency works in Internal Medicine, master's theses and scientific degrees, work that he developed with the humility that characterized him and that pleasant, cordial treatment without neglecting rigor in work.

In some of the important Dengue epidemics, Epidemic Neuropathy, the maternal Program on care for pregnant women with chronic diseases, his work stood out as Advisor to the Ministry of Public Health since 1967 as secretary of the National group of Internal Medicine.

He received important decorations including: Manuel (Piti) Fajardo Medal in 1982, José Tey Medal in 1989, Frank País Medal in 1992, Professor Emeritus ISCM-H in 2003, Everyday Hero from PAHO, Commemorative Seal of the Cuban Society of the United Nations and the Distinction of the Pinar del Río Shield in 2010.

Other Distinctions:

Distinction for Cuban Education. 1983.
National Vanguard of Health 1990-1995.
Exemplary Worker. Enrique Cabrera Hospital. 1964 and 1973.
Distinction Exemplary Educator. 1995.
Annual Prize of the National Medical College for Best Scientific Work published in journals. 1956.
Development of Teaching at the Santiago de Cuba Faculty ISCM-SC 1997.
Distinguished Leader of the Medical University of Habana. 1999-2000.
Annual Health Prize for Excellence in Work during 1999. MINSAP.
Founding Member of the Geronto-Geriatric Complex on the 12th Anniversary of its Founding Hospital Doc. C.Q. 10 de Octubre. 2000.
Faculty of Medical Sciences of Cienfuegos 20 years of Higher Medical Education. 2000.
Founding Member of "Enrique Cabrera" Hospital 2001.
Recognition from the Ministry of Public Health for his integration during the 50 years since graduation to public health.
Member of Honor of the Permanent Court of Medical Sciences, January 2011.
Commemorative Seal 60th Anniversary of ACNU.
Tribute of Recognition to physicians graduated before 1959.

Only COVID-19 could have stopped him. Neither the decline in vision and hearing nor the years lived, which he accompanied with a cane to continue teaching at the Clinical Surgical Hospital 10 de Octubre, managed to do so. That health center returned to him the care and devotion that professor Alonso once taught. His disciples were his last physicians, who join in the grief of the entire Cuban Society of Internal Medicine and the Societies of Latin America.

Exemplary father, founder of a beautiful family, paradigm for several generations, cultured man, defender of the need to integrate arts and sciences, brilliant internist.

We say farewell to the beloved professor Alonso Chil with profound sorrow and confirm for him a place among the indispensable, those who with wisdom and determination have forged the history and achievements of public health in Cuba. Rest in peace, master, the work of your life grants you that right!