The prominent professor Dr. Alfredo Dueñas Herrera, father of Cuban and Latin American cardio-epidemiology, dies

April 2, 2020

On March 31st, the same day his retirement would have become effective, the distinguished professor, Dr. Alfredo Dueñas Herrera, passed away. He was considered the father of Cuban and Latin American cardioepidemi­ology.

Dr. Dueñas graduated as a Doctor of Medicine in 1965. He completed his Rural Medical Service at the II Eastern Front Frank País and was Coordinator of Rural Medical Service in North Oriente.

He was Sub-Director of Medical Care and Head of the Department of Preventive Cardiology at the Cuban Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery ICCCV and Head of the National Cardiology Group during the period 1999-2014, among other responsibilities.

He was part of the Cuban Medical Brigade that went to Peru in 1970 to provide support following the deadly earthquake and was head of Cuba's medical mission in the People's Republic of Angola, between the years 1985 and 1987.

He received numerous national and international recognitions for his work: Medals as an internationalist worker, 10th Anniversary of the Union of Sciences, for Cuban Education, José Tey, Manuel Fajardo and 75th Anniversary of the Cuban Society of Cardiology.

He was recognized as a Distinguished Cardiologist of Central America and the Caribbean and was awarded recognition for services rendered as a member of the executive board of the World League of Arterial Hypertension.

Dueñas was also a founding member of the National Working Group of the Program for Prevention and Control of Tobacco Use in Cuba.

He conducted relevant studies on cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors, primarily related to arterial hypertension and tobacco use, among which stands out the "Prospective cohort study in 150,000 Cuban adults on cardiovascular risk factors". He was the author of numerous papers on these topics, published in national and international journals and presented at scientific events.

"His interaction with his patients, his professional work, his teachings and, ultimately, his example, will serve us to keep him always present in our daily activities and will spur us on to fulfill each day better our main commitment to serve with humility, sacrifice and efficiency the health of our people," highlights in his message the President of the Cuban Society of Cardiology, Dr. C. Eduardo Rivas Estany.