Cuban dentistry mourns the death of professor Dr.Cs. Julio César Santana Garay

August 28, 2021

The Cuban dental community deeply regrets the physical passing of the illustrious and beloved Dr.Cs. Julio César Santana Garay, a professor to so many generations of specialists and physicians.

Santana Garay was born in Camagüey on December 5, 1927, and graduated as a dental surgeon in June 1944. He achieved the rank of Full Professor of oral pathology in 1971; specialist of II Degree in maxillofacial surgery in 1975; Consulting Professor at Santiago de las Vegas Sanatorium in 1989; Consulting Professor at the Faculty of Dentistry "Raúl González Sánchez" in 1993; and Consulting Professor at the National Institute of Oncology and Radiology (INOR) in 1994. He obtained the rank of Senior Researcher of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba in 1982 and in 1997 he defended his Doctorate in Sciences at Charles University in Prague, Czechoslovakia.

He received the special ranks of Professor Emeritus awarded by the University of Havana in 1996 and Researcher Emeritus awarded by the Academy of Sciences of Cuba.

His curriculum includes over one thousand papers presented and courses taught at national and international events, 42 research projects conducted, 41 research papers supervised with 16 awards and 15 mentions. He published 81 articles in national and international journals, nine textbooks and six reference books, two of which received the National Minsap Prize.

He was a member of five national Scientific Societies, Member of the Argentine Society of Clinical Bucomaxillofacial Pathology and Member of the Mexican Society of Bucomaxillofacial Surgery.

He received a total of 49 recognitions, distinctions and medals, among which stand out the "Frank País" Order of II Degree, the "Carlos J. Finlay" Order, "The Historic Ax" —the highest decoration awarded by the Province of Holguín—, the Provincial Shield of Camagüey, the honorary recognition "Founder of the PDCB", Outstanding Personality of Science at INOR, the honor diploma of the Cuban Society of Maxillofacial Surgery, University Dignity Diploma, and was proposed for the Prince of Asturias Prize (Spain) in 2005 and Diploma from the Academy of Sciences in recognition of the contribution to the development of science and technology, as well as most distinguished in teaching activity in the commemoration of the XX anniversary of its founding, to mention only a few.

He dedicated his life from September 1961 to teaching the prevention and diagnosis of oral cancer, which culminated in 1983 with the creation of the Oral Cancer Prevention Program (PDCB), the first and only one in the world.

His work and example transcended the borders of our country, and together with his tireless work in oral cancer prevention, made him worthy of the Assembly of the Latin American Dental Federation (FOLA) gathered in Rio de Janeiro on July 15, 2009, approving Argentina's proposal to proclaim December 5 as Latin American Day for the Fight Against Oral Cancer, being the birthday of Professor Julio César Santana Garay, thus recognizing his dedication to teaching, researching and raising awareness among professionals in Latin America and the world regarding the prevention of this disease. Also on this occasion he was named Honorary Director of the same.

As for his political trajectory, he joined the National Revolutionary Police in January 1959, being one of its founders, serving with the Police Battalion during the confrontation with the mercenary landing at Playa Girón. He also fought in clandestinity, was arrested and tortured for having collaborated in the delivery of weapons to carry out the attack on Jacinto García Menocal. Member of the Communist Party of Cuba since 1986.

The imperishable work of the professor will guide Cuban dentistry forever, through his example, his knowledge, his dedication to the care and maintenance of the health of the Cuban people and sister nations.