Oscar Mateo de Acosta Fernández

===BODY===
He was born in La Habana, graduated with a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1951. In that same year he obtained, through competitive examination, the position of Internal Medicine Physician at the University Hospital "Gral. Calixto García".

From 1955 to 1958 he received various trainings at prestigious Universities in the field of Endocrinology: 1955 Indiana University School of Medicine: Posgraduate Assambly in Endocrinology and Metabolic. Indianapolis (Indiana, U.S.A.)

In 1956 and 57 Fellow in Endocrinology at Massachussets. General Hospital (Prof. Fuller Albright) and Joslin Clinic (Prof. E. P. Joslin), Boston. (USA).

1958 VI Postgraduate Course in Diabetes and Basic Metabolic Problems. American Diabetes Association Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. (USA). 1955 Fellow in Endocrinology, Medical College of Georgia (Prof. R. Greenblatt, Augusta, Georgia, USA).

1962 Fellow at the Central Institute of Endocrinology, Moscow (USSR).

1962 Fellow at the "C. I. Parhon" Institute, Bucharest. Romania.

He was Full Professor of Internal Medicine since 1960, Specialist in Endocrinology 2nd Degree since 1967 and Doctor in Sciences of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba since 1981.

He joined the Ministry of Public Health as Director of Medical Teaching and the National School of Public Health until 1962 and as Director of the Department of Endocrinology of the "Comandante Manuel Fajardo" Hospital from 1961 until 1966 when he was tasked with founding the National Institute of Endocrinology, which he directed until 2001.

He was always characterized by rigorous clinical training in Endocrinology, influencing with this concept the first endocrinologists and the subsequent development of studies in the specialty, with an integral clinical and research approach.

Today all provinces in the country have endocrinologists that he, in a direct or indirect manner, forged. Result of the dedication that the professor always had to the specialty and his Institute. Under his direction, research was developed in the field of Endocrinology, excelling in diabetes, thyroid and human reproduction.

He promoted the idea of the Diabetes Care Center, which is currently generalized throughout the country. He developed the multidisciplinary team for "In Vitro Fertilization" that made it possible to achieve the first 12 pregnancies in infertile couples, at an early time, as were the 80s.

Under his Direction the Institute was recognized from then on by WHO/PAHO as a Collaborating Center in Human Reproduction and as a Collaborating Center for Comprehensive Diabetes Care.

He is author of several books on Diabetes Mellitus, as well as other publications related to the Specialty, including the publication of the first Standards for Diagnosis and Treatment in Endocrinology.

He participated in more than 200 National and International Scientific events and published more than 197 scientific papers in national and international journals. He received more than 11 medals or National distinctions, highlighting the "Carlos J. Finlay" Medal awarded by the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba in 1991.

He was recognized by WHO, the International Diabetes Federation and the Pan American Health Bureau, which awarded him the PAHO Prize in Administration in 1991.

He received the Hagedorn Medal, awarded by the Latin American Association of Diabetes. He was a member of the Latin American Association of Diabetes and more than 20 National and International Medical Societies and Organizations.

For years he was the Head of the National Endocrinology Group of Cuba.

He is undoubtedly the founder of the specialty in Cuba. He was characterized by his dedication to the development of human capital from the point of view of work ethics, discipline, scientific rigor, the use of clinical practice as a fundamental tool of the integral approach that endocrinologists should have, where quality care, teaching and research, were always his inspiration, and is the permanent legacy that he leaves us.

He was that kind of person who leaves a mark, not only scientific and human, but of social commitment to his country.