Roberto Sollet Guilarte

Professor of Merit DrC. Roberto Sollet Guilarte remained linked for more than fifty years to Higher Medical Education with exemplary performance as a physician, professor and leader in several institutions. He is considered the founding Dean of the Manuel Fajardo Faculty of the University of Medical Sciences of Havana.

Sollet was born in Baracoa. He studied medicine at the University of Havana, graduating in 1953.

Upon the triumph of the Revolution, in 1959, he served as Head of the Cardiology Department at the Hospital de la PNR, until 1961, when he began teaching and obtained the teaching category of Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, without abandoning his responsibilities.

He held various administrative positions. From 1961 to 1964 he was sub-director, coordinator of teaching and improvement at Hospital "Comandante Manuel Fajardo". Later he was head of the Department of Medicine at the Military Hospital "Carlos J. Finlay".

While at Hospital "Manuel Fajardo", he combined his activity with that of Head of Department of that specialty at the School of Medicine, from 1971 to 1975.

In 1975 he was appointed International Advisor for the creation of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of Aden, South Yemen. In 1977 he was promoted to the teaching category of Full Professor.

From 1979 to 1980 he was sub-head of the Department of Medicine at Hospital "Trinidad Guevara" in the Republic of Nicaragua.

In the 1983-1984 academic year, with the conversion of the School of Medicine No. 1 of the ISCMH into the Faculties "General Calixto García" and "Comandante Manuel Fajardo", he was appointed to lead the second institution; for which he is considered its founding Dean.

In 1985 he obtained the scientific category of Doctor in Medical Sciences and served as an Advisor to PAHO in Washington, on non-communicable chronic diseases.

In 1998, for his relevant merits, he was conferred the Special Status of Consulting Professor and in 2008 the Special Teaching Category of Professor of Merit of the Higher Institute of Medical Sciences of Havana.

He participated in multiple national and international events of the Scientific Societies and organizations to which he belonged, including, in the branches of Health, those of Cardiology and Internal Medicine. He was a Full Member of the International Society of Internal Medicine and the Latin American Society of Internal Medicine.

He received numerous decorations and recognitions, including the medals of Underground Fighter, International Fighter, 20th Anniversary of the FAR, José Tey, Manuel Fajardo and Solidarity, from the People's Republic of South Yemen; as well as distinctions for Cuban Education and for the 470th anniversary of the Foundation of the School of Medicine.

He passed away on June 18, 2015, in Havana, at the age of 87.