# Prominent Professor Dr. Francisco Ponce Zerquera Passed Away

**Date:** 11/10/2021

In the early morning hours of November 7, 2021, Consulting Professor of Legal Medicine and President of the Medical Ethics Commission of the Faculty of Medical Sciences "General Calixto García Íñiguez", Dr. Francisco Ponce Zerquera, passed away, just two months after turning 90 years old.

The Professor was born in Havana on September 16, 1931. He graduated as a doctor of medicine in 1960. He achieved the First Degree of specialist in Legal Medicine in 1980 and the Second Degree of that specialty in 1990.

Although he worked as an Assistant Instructor of Medical Ethics at the Institute of Basic and Pre-Clinical Sciences Victoria de Girón from 1979 to 1982, he officially entered Higher Education in 1981, acquiring his first teaching position of Instructor, then Assistant in 1988 and Auxiliary Professor in 1996. In 2007, he was granted the Special Status of Consulting Professor.

Throughout his professional and academic life, he completed 73 post-graduate courses and taught 53. He participated in 253 scientific events: 192 national events with 130 lectures and/or papers presented and 61 international events with 45 lectures and/or paper presentations.

He conducted 9 research projects and disseminated the results in 16 publications, all national, as Author in 12 of them and as Co-author in 4.

He served on State Legal Medicine Tribunals since 1977, serving as President, Secretary, or Member, as well as Tutor or Advisor for research work by post-graduate students.

Throughout his career, he assumed numerous responsibilities, such as Director of Quinta Castellana, Clínica Santa Isabel, Clínica Antonetti, Clínica La Inmaculada, National Medical Center and the Institute of Legal Medicine for 21 years.

He was Vice Director of the Mutual Clinics Department. Head of Medical Care for Fellows, Chief of the Department of Legal Medicine at the Higher Institute of Medical Sciences of Havana (ISCM-H), and directed the Advisory Commission of the Rector for the specialty. He was Principal Professor of the subject at his Faculty and at the University of Medical Sciences. He was a member and permanent guest of the Governing Council of the "General Calixto García" Faculty, of its Scientific Council, President of its Academic Credits Commission and its Medical Ethics Commission.

He was secretary and member of the Governing Council of the Vice-Minister of Medical and Social Assistance for 10 years and served as President, Secretary, or Member of numerous Committees, Commissions, Tribunals, or Boards for various teaching, research, or administrative purposes.

Founder of the National Group of Legal Medicine in 1969, he held its leadership position since then. Member of the Cuban Society of Legal Medicine since 1976, in which he served as President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and recently as Vice-President.

Founding Member of the Bioethics Chair of the FCM "General Calixto García" in 1995, the first in the country, and since 1997, National Coordinator of the discipline. He was also a member of the Cuban Health Administration Society.

He also belonged to several International Scientific Societies, such as Founder of the Latin American Association of Legal Medicine and Medical Deontology in 1977, and Ibero-American Association of Forensic Sciences, in which he served as a member of the executive board, including the presidency, during the period 2000-2003, and was designated as Dean of Latin American Legal Medicine by this Association.

Member of the Caribbean Medical Association (AMECA) since 1995. Member of the International Academy of Legal Medicine and Social Medicine. Honorary Member of the Ecuadorian Society of Legal Medicine. Corresponding Member of the Mexican Society of Forensic Medicine Criminology and Criminalistics. Foreign Corresponding Member of the Venezuelan Society of Forensic Sciences and Corresponding Member of the Mexican Society of Criminology. Honorary Member of the Association of Expert Witnesses of the Province of Buenos Aires. He was part of the Organizing Committees of all international Legal Medicine events held in the country.

For his outstanding work, he received numerous distinctions and honors in recognition of his contributions, including the "Manuel Fajardo Rivero" Medal, Distinction for Cuban Education, 2000, "José Tey" Medal, 2006, for Distinguished Services to the FAR, and Medal of Distinction for the 25th Anniversary of the Founding of Higher Medical Education in the Central Region ISCM-VC. Certificates as collaborating member with more than 15 years in State Security. Recognition from MININT on its 20th Anniversary, as Outstanding Staff Member of ISCM-H and of the "General Calixto García" Faculty. Recognition Diploma from the Minister of Public Health on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his graduation as a physician, for the 50th Anniversary of Rural Social Medicine and for his participation in Ethical Dialogue. Honor Diploma from the FEU for the 50th anniversary of his graduation as a physician in service of the Revolution. Recognition issued by "Doctors of the World Class of 2012". Recognition for his sustained work and contribution to the development of Medical Ethics and Bioethics in the humanistic training of Health professionals, issued by the Center for Humanistic Studies of UCM-H.

160th Anniversary Diploma "For his constant dedication to the promotion of life and work and the thought of Martí, as well as Founder and Continuator of the Multidisciplinary Colloquia José Martí in the New Millennium". Since 2018, he held the "Frank País" Order of the Second Degree and of the First Degree in 2019.