Journalist Julia Osendi Requests End to Irreverent Treatment of Professor Rodrigo Álvarez Cambra

November 15, 2020

Journalist Julia Osendi in a publication made on Cibercuba echoes the irreverent treatment received by Professor Rodrigo Álvarez Cambras, who since his retirement 4 years ago, remains forgotten by those who should have respect and admiration for him.

She notes that when the professor retired at 82 years of age, none of his precious treasures that brightened his office and that were part of the personal history and the Frank País Hospital: photographs with high dignitaries, famous athletes, renowned dancers; titles and awards conferred by the most prestigious universities and healthcare centers of the 5 continents, Olympic medals, gloves, balls, soccer balls… could be donated to the institution since they asked him to take it all to his home using not the best terms, like an old piece of junk that worked and no longer has juice!

In October of last year when a Cuban Orthopedics Congress was held, the first one held without being the president of the society, they did not have the courtesy to invite him.

Furthermore, the Cuban Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology, directed by Professor Álvarez Cambras for four decades, overlooked the effort and dedication of his entire work team when publishing the "History of Orthopedics and Traumatology in Cuba" without mentioning—not even mentioning!—Alvarez Cambras and his team in any of its 6 pages, which is undoubtedly an infamy that should be denounced.

Doctor of Medical Sciences, Full Professor, Full Researcher, Specialist of 1st and 2nd degree in Orthopedics and Traumatology and Diplomat in Higher Medical Education, Liván Peña Marrero, a boy who after a violent accident and on the verge of becoming an invalid was saved at Frank País, and who has remained for 24 years at the side of his teacher, sent Julia the following communication that he made public on the hospital's WhatsApp site:

"I invite you to read the 'History of Orthopedics and Traumatology in Cuba' which is published on the Society's website on its Infomed portal, in which incredibly no mention is made of Professor Álvarez Cambras since the 'history' told there makes a leap from Professor Julio Martínez Páez to Professor Alfredo Ceballos Mesa and there it ends.

"An institution that has brought much glory to Cuban medicine is omitted, that has contributed much to Cuban sports and to the health of our people in general.

"We greatly respect the professors who have been recognized on that page, but Álvarez Cambras deserved to be among them. We respect all the centers, especially the Fructuoso Rodríguez Hospital, but Frank País also earned the right to appear.

"This writing has been exposed thus with impunity and defiantly since 2018 and despite the complaints it has not been corrected. It is a humiliating and dishonest attitude toward our workers. It is a lack of respect for the very history of Cuban medicine that should not be allowed." End of Professor Liván's quote.

I reiterate: I thought that beyond humiliating a human being, who moreover saved so many lives and helped harvest tremendous sports victories, I had seen it all…but I was mistaken.

Along with presidents, ministers, and the people are those medals of Alberto Juantorena, Mireya Luis, María Caridad Colón, Reglita Hernández, Iván Pedroso, Javier Sotomayor and so many others that would make this writing very long.

I have learned that all the personnel of Frank País Hospital demand that the place that Professor Rodrigo Álvarez Cambras and his colleagues of so many years have richly earned be recognized in said document.

Hopefully the rectification comes soon and next December 22 the eminent professor can happily celebrate his 86th birthday. Incredible but true!