# Dr. Enrique Menéndez García, renowned Holguín gastroenterologist, dies from Covid

**Date:** 08/19/2021

The Cuban Society of Gastroenterology has informed of the death of Dr. Enrique Jesús Menéndez García, a distinguished professional in this specialty, with an extensive record of clinical and teaching work in the province of Holguín.

Dr. Menéndez García was born on January 2, 1946 at the former Central Delicias, now "Antonio Guiteras", municipality of Puerto Padre, current province of Las Tunas.

In 1963 he enrolled in the pre-medical course in Havana, and subsequently studied Medicine. From this period, his contribution to teaching stands out as a teaching assistant in Physiology.

He completed his degree in 1969 and began postgraduate studies in the specialty of Gastroenterology. He was among the first residents trained at the newly established Institute of Gastroenterology, under the direction of Professor Raimundo Llanio Navarro. Once graduated, he received the task of promoting and advancing the development of this specialty in Holguín, so in 1974 he began this work at "Vladimir Ilich Lenin" Hospital.

His trajectory for more than 40 years in that institution was broad and comprehensive: he introduced techniques specific to the specialty such as diagnostic laparoscopy; he trained several generations of gastroenterologists from Holguín; he served as head of the Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology.

This entire trajectory led him to receive, in 2019, the Lenin Award "For a Life's Work", a recognition given by that healthcare center. Medical students also recognized him with the "Alma Mater" Award granted by the FEU, and the University of Medical Sciences of Holguín awarded him the "Educational Distinction XX Anniversary" for his teaching work in training health professionals of several generations in Gastroenterology.

Decorations received:

Medal of Literacy.
Medal of International Worker.
Medal 40th Anniversary of the Revolutionary Armed Forces.
Manuel Piti Fajardo Distinction.

He joined the Cuban Society of Gastroenterology from its inception and was founder of its territorial chapter. He directed the provincial group of the specialty for more than 12 years and was a member of the National Gastroenterology Group.

He had active participation in the different scientific activities carried out in his province and in the country throughout his entire career. He also was a member of the Cuban Society of Internal Medicine.

He provided medical cooperation to the sister nation of Venezuela between 2007 and 2010.