National Medicine Award for doctor José Joaquín Puello
SANTO DOMINGO. The neurosurgeon José Joaquín Puello, recognized this year as National Medicine Award awarded by the Academy of Sciences of the Dominican Republic, has a close relationship with the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC). In addition to being one of its founders, he left as a legacy the creación, together with Bernardo Defilló and other renowned doctors, from the Medicine School.
"Being an idealist, dreaming of a medical school managed to see it come true in 1973", recalls the dean of the Area of Health Sciences, Raymundo Jiménez, who was one of the first graduates of that school.
Jiménez assures that José Joaquín Puello was a exemplary teacher both in classrooms and in their professional practice. In fact, when the Academy of Science awarded him the award, he valued the contributions that the doctor native of San Juan to do medical science, the health of humanity, sports science, as well as in the academic and teaching area.
Dr. Puello taught the subjects at INTEC Clinical Neurosurgery y Neuro Anatomy. He then became a member of the Board of Regents. In 1984 he became president of the academy.
“One of the things that impacts me the most is when you leave the operating room and the patient's family member takes your hands and says: 'God bless his hands.' That is the greatest recognition that they can give you ”. José Joaquín Puello
Academic training
In 1957 he entered the School of Medicine of the University of Santo Domingo (UASD), thanks to the support of the Rotary Club of his native province that paid him the registration, 75 Dominican pesos.
In 1962 he won the Obstetrics and Gynecology award as a medical term student. In 1963 se graduate de Medical Doctor Magna Cum Laude.
Between 1964 and 1971 he studied several postgraduate courses at institutions such as the Bambury General Hospital (attached to the University of Oxford, England), where he became a general surgeon; postgraduate studies in neurosurgery and general surgery at Churchill Hospital, University of Oxford, England (1964-65); Postgraduate studies in neurosurgery at Radclife Hospital, University of Oxford, England (1965-66).
Also, from 1966-1967 he was awarded a scholarship by the British Council for studies of clinical neurology, neuro-anatomy, electro-myography and electroencephalography, at the National Hospital for Nervous Diseases (Institute of Neurosurgery, University of London, England); from 1967 to 1969 he studied Neurosurgery as Chief of Residents at Radcliffe Infirmary University of Oxford and Cardiff Royal Infirmary University of Wales.
Between 1969 and 1970 he concluded his tenure as head of residents at the University of Wales and returned to the Department of Neuropathies at the University of Oxford, and in 1971 he specialized in Micro Neurology at the University of Vermont, United States of America.
His teaching life began in 1970 at the UASD as a professor of Neuro-Anatomy, later teaching the subject of Physiological Psychology. In 1970 he entered the Pedro Henríquez Ureña National University to teach the subject of Clinical Neurosurgery.
Accolades
Puello has been recognized with the Order of Duarte, Sánchez y Mella, Master of Neurological Surgery (2002) Master of Medicine (2010) Immortal of Dominican Sports (2014) Recognition National Congress (2015) Academic Honorary, among others.