Three significant losses for Cuban medical sciences

September 11, 2021

Doctors of Science Israel Borrajero and Roberto Castellano Pérez died during the course of this week from non-COVID causes. Meanwhile, Dr. María de la Concepción Galiano Ramírez, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Pediatric Hospital of Centro Habana, belonging to the Faculty of Medical Sciences "General Calixto García" died as a consequence of COVID.

Impressive is the curriculum vitae of Doctor of Science Israel Borrajero who passed away on September 10 at the age of 91. The professor, a specialist in Pathological Anatomy, remained active until his death and during the pandemic period was a member of the team of experts in pathological anatomy that every Tuesday and Thursday, since April 2020, meets at the Clinical Surgical Hospital "Hermanos Ameijeiras", in Havana, to analyze the autopsies of those who died from COVID-19 that arrive from various centers in the country and, based on joint assessment, establish a more qualified diagnosis from the scientific point of view.

Doctor of Science Roberto Castellanos passed away on September 8 and was the founding delegate of the Territorial Delegation of the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment of Cuba in Havana. Graduated as Doctor of Medicine in 1969, in 1981 he completed postgraduate studies in Sweden, obtaining the degree of Master of Science and received the title of Doctor of Science in Havana. From 1976 to 1980 he directed the Science and Technology activities of the Ministry of Higher Education. He was vice president of the National Commission for the granting of Scientific Categories in Cuba, from 1980 to 2015 and from 1985 to 1995 was Vice President of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba.

Dr. María de la Concepción Galiano Ramírez was a Specialist of 1st and 2nd Degree in Child Psychiatry and had achieved the teaching category of Assistant Professor in 2003, the category of Assistant Researcher in 2005 and the scientific category of Master in Comprehensive Child Care in 2007. Advisor of the Cuban Journal of Pediatrics from 2010 until her death.

She was a Full Member of the Society of Neurosciences of Cuba, of the Cuban Society of Psychiatry and of the Society of Pharmacology (Chrono-pharmacology Section). She belonged to the Caribbean Organization for Brain Research, to the Latin American College of Neuro-psycho-pharmacology as a Founding Member and as a Full Member, to the Iberian Association for Sleep Pathology and to the Psychiatric Association of Latin America – APAL.