Yulino Castillo Núñez exalted as Father of Modern Dominican Endocrinology
SANTO DOMINGO. - The Dominican Society of Endocrinology and Nutrition (SODENN) exalted Dr. Yulino Castillo Núñez, Outstanding Graduate (2011), to the rank of Father of Modern Dominican Endocrinology. Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), who in turn was sworn in as a member of its Board of Regents during the period 2022-2024.
His extensive career in his practice as an endocrinologist, nutritionist and teacher earned him the award of this recognition in the Manuel del Cabral auditorium of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), an event in which Julio Sánchez Maríñez, rector of INTEC, participated; Arturo del Villar, Academic Vice-Rector of INTEC; Mario Uffre, dean of the Faculty of Medicine, and Zealandia Matos, vice dean of the Faculty of Medicine, both from the UASD.
Sánchez Maríñez congratulated the work of Castillo Núñez and highlighted how important his professional participation has been at the university from which he graduated in 1986. “Yulino honors us at INTEC with his dedicated work as a teacher, coordinator (of the Internal Medicine Area) and member of the Board of Regents.”
Likewise, the board of directors of SODENN was present, led by its president, Scheherazade Hasbún, who mentioned outstanding qualities of the winner. “This moment not only represents well-deserved recognition, but also a tribute to the teacher whose work has left an indelible mark on the field of endocrinology in our nation by continuing and maintaining for more than 30 years the legacy of love of teaching, inherited his father and mentor, Dr. Julio Cesar Castillo Vargas, father of Dominican endocrinology,” Hasbún said.
The doctor described Castillo Núñez as “a tireless pioneer, an inspiring leader and a passionate defender of endocrinology and knowledge. Throughout his career, he has dedicated his life to medical excellence, combining technical skill with human compassion to transmit knowledge to his students and provide the highest quality care to his patients.”
Dr. Américo Bordas, professor at the UASD, illustrated the personality and values of Castillo Núñez. “If he could summarize his existence in a few words, he would say that he is an upright, noble, good, generous, affable man, with a great fine and healthy sense of humor. Concerned about others, always willing to listen and help anyone (a patient, a neighbor, a student, a colleague, a family member),” he said, and then recalled some of his hobbies, including watching baseball as a Licey fan and to dance merengue.
His colleague Rita Desangles highlighted his virtue as a teacher. “You were born to teach and your passion and love not only makes you a capable man, but an immense, very immense one,” he said.
After receiving his plaque and sash that exalt him as the father of modern endocrinology, he spoke a few words of gratitude to everyone present and honored the support of his family and friends, especially that of his wife Lourdes Ricart. “More than an act of exaltation, it has been a compromise to kill me with love.” “The most valuable things in life are all intangible,” he said in his emotional speech.
More about Yulino Castillo Núñez
He graduated from INTEC with academic honor Magna Cum Laude and completed his postgraduate degree in Internal Medicine between 1987 and 1991, where he reached the position of Chief Resident. Then, he completed his postgraduate degree in Endocrinology and Nutrition at the Salvador Zubirán National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition, National Autonomous University of Mexico, 1991 and 1993, where he was also Chief of Endocrinology Residents.
He was president, vice president and general secretary of the Dominican Society of Endocrinology and has presented more than 500 conferences at international congresses in Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Ecuador, Brazil and Argentina, among others. He has been a teacher for almost 30 years, at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) and at INTEC, where he is a full professor of Endocrinology and coordinator of the Internal Medicine Area. He is Head of Service of the National Endocrinology Residency at the Dr. Salvador B. Gautier Hospital and under his tutelage 55 medical specialists in endocrinology and nutrition have been trained.
Declared as “Master of Dominican Medicine” by the Dominican Medical College, on August 18, 2020. “This is the highest award that our Medical College can grant to a Dominican doctor who has dedicated his life to teaching and investigation,” said Bordas.