Rafael Bernabé Pérez Cristiá

He studied medicine at the Universidad de La Habana. Doctor of Sciences, specialist in Toxicology and Full Member of the Academy of Sciences. He is the general director of the Regulatory Bureau for Health Protection and of the Center for State Control of Medication Quality (CECMED), of the Ministry of Public Health and general coordinator of the Grand National Project Alba-Health "Regulatory center for medications of ALBA"

This outstanding specialist of First and Second Degree in Toxicology, Professor and Full Research Investigator, Full Member of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba and Founding President of the Cuban Society of Toxicology was born in Morón, Ciego de Ávila, on September 21, 1952.

Throughout his rich work trajectory he held various national teaching and management responsibilities, such as Secretary and Member of the Permanent Court of Scientific Degrees in Health Sciences, and contributed with valuable contributions to the development of the specialty, among which stand out the organization and creation of his specialty, Clinical Toxicology, the foundation of the Toxicology Reference Center, the Design and Conduct of Clinical Trials, the Development of Pharmaceutical Regulation and the Development of Health Surveillance of Medications and Diagnostic Devices to which he offered his effort and knowledge.

He directed toxic-nutritional investigations with the National Operating Group of Civil Defense during the neuropathy epidemic and for the results obtained he received the Prize in the Annual Health Competition in 1996 and the Annual Prize of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba in 1998.

The contribution of his knowledge to strengthening the regulatory policy of medications in Cuba contributed to the categorization of the Center for State Control of Medications, Equipment and Medical Devices (CECMED) as a Reference National Regulatory Authority for Medications of PAHO for the Americas and a National Regulatory Authority for Vaccines certified by WHO.

Pérez Cristiá shared his knowledge and contributed to the development of the specialty in other countries. His teaching and research performance had international impact by achieving the leadership of Toxicology Centers in Central America and in Pharmaceutical Regulation in Central America and the Caribbean.

He was Temporary Consultant PAHO/WHO and member of the Expert Committee of the WHO Global Training Network in Vaccines, Advisor for the creation of the Toxicology Center of the Universidad de Carabobo (CITUC), Venezuela, and served as Guest Professor of Clinical Toxicology and Associated Researcher at that University.

General Coordinator of the Grand National Project Regulatory Center for Medications of ALBA (ALBAmed) and Founding Honorary Member of the National Commission on Toxicology of Ecuador.

As evidence of his willingness to socialize the new knowledge acquired in his professional, teaching and scientific work, he published more than 30 articles in scientific journals of international impact, and is author of the book Practical Manual of Clinical Toxicology, edited in our country in 1988, co-author of the book Acute Intoxications in Emergency Medicine and Critical Care, edited in Spain in 1999, as well as of the White Book on the implementation of Quality Management Systems in institutions of Cuban and Bolivian Public Health.

In recognition of his research and teaching work the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba awarded him the ORDER "Carlos J. Finlay" in 2004 and he was elected Scholar of Merit on September 17, 2011.

At the time of his death he was serving as Director of the Center for State Control of Medications, Equipment and Medical Devices (CECMED)

This health professional took advantage of his knowledge and experience as a physician to apply the listening skill, so important in the clinical method, when he had to assume responsibilities as a manager. In his high professional competence not only stood out the skills related to his specialty, but very especially his attitudes and values.

Contributions.
Foundation of the Toxicology Reference Center in Cuba.
Design and Conduct of Clinical Trials in Cuba.
Development of Pharmaceutical Regulation in Cuba, Central America and the Caribbean
Development of Health Surveillance of Medications and Diagnostic Devices.