Sergio Rabell Hernández

Professor DrC. Sergio Rabell Hernández was the distinguished initiator of Intensive Care in Cuba, Teaching Chief of the Intensive Care Unit at the University Hospital "General Calixto García", who ceased to exist physically at 66 years of age.

Rabell was the son of a railroad worker and his mother was a seamstress. He completed his primary studies in Artemisa and his high school education at the Instituto de El Vedado. As a young man he enjoyed baseball and played as a pitcher.

In 1960 he completed his medical studies at the University of La Habana and began his work activity in 1961, as a rural physician in the rural hospital of the Imías region, Baracoa.

Upon his return to the capital, he joined the University Hospital "General Calixto García" where he remained always, until the end of his days.

Specialist of the First Degree in Internal Medicine in 1965 and of the Second Degree in 1984. The following year, by Resolution No. 3, of June 27, he is recognized by the National Commission of Scientific Degrees of the Republic of Cuba, as a Candidate for Doctor in Medical Sciences. In 1989 he achieved the teaching category of Full Professor of Internal Medicine and in 1992, the scientific category of Doctor in Medical Sciences.

In his work committed to his vocation as a physician, his work stands out as an internationalist:
1970 – Aid brigade for victims of the Peru earthquake.
1972 – Aid brigade for victims of the Nicaragua earthquake.
1973 – Medical aid brigade for care of President Velazco Alvarado.
1974 – Medical aid brigade during the flooding that occurred during the cyclone that affected Honduras.
1976 – Care of seriously wounded in Luanda, during the Angola war.

Responsibilities. Chief of Service of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) University Hospital "General Calixto García" (1972 – 1981), Chief of Intensive Care Unit (1985–1989) and Teaching Responsible for ICU and Advisor to more than 40 Completion Theses for Internal Medicine, Anesthesia, Clinical Laboratory, Orthopedics and Surgery Residencies. (1989-2000)

Other responsibilities assumed: Member of State Tribunals for examinations of Specialists in Internal Medicine (1972-2000), Member of Tribunal for Annual Prize of MINSAP (1993-1994), Honorary President of the Commission for the 25 years of the First Polyvalent Intensive Care Unit in the country (1997) and Advisor to the Magazine 16 de Abril.

Always eager to learn something new, to offer better quality care, he received two valuable post-graduate courses abroad: in 1968, Training in Internal Medicine and Hematology (Sweden) and in 1970, Training in Intensive Care (Spain). In 1995 he was an Intensive Care Advisor in Peru. But not content with keeping the new knowledge acquired, he socialized those new insights, coordinating ACLS, ATLS Courses, with the Presidential Joint Chiefs of Staff. (Mexico, 1996)

He was a Member of several Cuban Scientific Societies: Full Member of the Cuban Society of Internal Medicine; Member of the Cuban Society of Cardiology; Member of the Cuban Society of Allergology and Member of the National Commission of Adult Intensive Care, participating in numerous national scientific events, among which stand out: 1964 - XI National Medical Congress, 1965 - Symposium on Renal Complications of Shock. 1972 - National Surgery Conference. Panelist Symposium on Intensive Treatments. 1974 - I National Congress of Cardiology. Roundtable on Coronary Care. 1975 - I National Congress of Anesthesiology and Resuscitation. -1981 - Third National Congress of Internal Medicine. First National Conference on Intensive Care. 1996 - Scientific Congress of the Centennial of the Hospital "General Calixto García", National Conference: "25 Years of Polyvalent Intensive Care". Honorary President. Lecture: History of Intensive Care. 1998 -XII Forum of Clinical Science and Technology of the MININT G and 19. Moderator of Roundtable "Medical Ethics" and VIII Scientific Meeting of Military Hospitals.

He was also a Member of several International Scientific Societies: of the Nicaraguan Society of Internal Medicine, of the Pan-American and Iberian Federation of Critical Medicine and Intensive Therapy Societies and Honorary Member of the Society of Intensive Care of Trujillo, Peru. He participated as a Delegate to the I World Congress of Intensive Care (England, 1974), Delegate to the II World Congress of Intensive Care (France, 1976), Delegate to the XIII National Congress of Internal Medicine (GDR, 1982) and Delegate to the National Congress of Internal Medicine (Nicaragua, 1986).

Among his numerous scientific publications, the following stand out, among the national ones: Standards of Internal Medicine. MINSAP (1st edition, 1968 and 2nd edition, 1975), Text on Nursing Intensive Care (1978), Updates in Intermediate Therapy and Protocol for the management of Acute Myocardial Infarction (Advisor). And among the international ones: Medical Emergencies (3rd. Edition, 1981 and 4th. edition, 1986) Dr. Guarocuya Batista del Villar. Dominican Republic and Use of antibiotics in the ICU. Journal of the Health Service of the Police Forces (Peru). Vol. 47 January-June 1986.

National Awards and Distinctions Received
- XX Anniversary Medal.
- September 28 Medal.
- Internationalist Worker Medal.
- Commander Manuel "Piti" Fajardo Medal.
- XX years of Service in the MININT Medal.
- Medal for Cuban Education.
- "José Tey" Medal
- "Frank País" Order.
- "La Giraldilla" Order.
- Certificate of Recognition: Founder of the First Polyvalent Intensive Care Unit and Master of Generations of Intensive Medicine Physicians.

Foreign Awards and Distinctions
- "Hipólito Unanue" Order, from Peru, for care of victims of the earthquake.
- "Commander of the Order of the Sun" Medal, Peru, for care of president Velazco Alvarado.

DrC. Sergio Rabell Hernández was a simple, modest and capable professor, with a high spirit of dedication and commitment to his profession as a physician, an example of the fulfillment of professional and social duty for new generations.