Related videos:
The Provincial Health Department of Villa Clara and the Provincial Clinical Surgical Hospital "Arnaldo Milián Castro" mourned the passing of Dr. C. Gerardo Álvarez Álvarez, a specialist in Internal Medicine with 52 years of experience and one of the most influential figures in medical education in central Cuba.
Both institutions shared posthumous tributes on social media, where they described the loss as “irreparable for Villa Clara medicine” and characterized him as “a mentor of mentors, a professor of professors.”
Dr. Álvarez Álvarez has accumulated an academic and clinical career spanning more than five decades. He was also a Full Professor and Consultant, Senior Researcher, and Master in Medical Psychology, titles that reflect a career devoted to both clinical practice and the training of new generations of specialists.
He presided over the Villa Clara Chapter of the Cuban Society of Internal Medicine (SOCUMI) for over 15 years and mentored 21 specialty works throughout his professional life.
Among his academic works, the book The Error in Medicine (2021, Medical Sciences Publishing House of Havana) and Topics in Medical Emergencies (second edition) stand out, reference materials widely used in Cuban medical training.
He also published scientific articles in the journal Acta Médica Centro, including research on arterial hypertension in global personalities.
His career included internationalist missions in the Bahamas, Ethiopia, Colombia, Angola, and Mexico, as well as numerous recognitions: Annual Health Awards in Villa Clara, Relevant Award at the National SOCUMI Congress, and the 40th Anniversary Seal of the Scientific Societies.
The death of the renowned physician sparked a wave of reactions on social media, characterized by respect and sorrow, particularly among colleagues, students, and patients. Messages of condolence and acknowledgments of his professional and personal journey predominated, with expressions such as “what sad news… the scientific community is dressed in mourning,” “a regrettable loss for Villaclarean and Cuban medicine,” and “an excellent professional and human being.”
Many highlighted his formative impact and his approachability, remembering him as a “mentor and outstanding professor,” “the doctor for everyone,” and “a professor of professors.” The expressions of affection emphasized the lasting impact he leaves on several generations, as well as his legacy beyond the clinical field.
Other testimonies highlighted his human and teaching dimensions: "he taught us not only medicine but also the true meaning of practicing it with love," wrote a former student, while another stated, "I am a clinician thanks to his education and example."
The farewells reflected the profound impact of his loss: “today the medicine of Cuba and the world is in mourning,” noted one user, while others remembered him as a constant inspiration, whose legacy will endure in the medical community.
The Provincial Health Directorate of Villa Clara concluded its tribute with a phrase attributed to the doctor himself: "To teach is not to leave a mark on minds, but to ignite hearts so that others may also lead."
Filed under: