Revista Habanera de Ciencias Médicas (Nov 2010)
Sergio Rabell Hernández. Destacado médico internista cubano, iniciador de los cuidados intensivos en el país Sergio Rabell Hernández. Outstanding cuban internist pioneer of intensive care in the country
Abstract
Sergio Antonio Rabell Hernández (1933-2000) artemiseño, de origen social obrero, se vinculó al Directorio Revolucionario 13 de Marzo y al Movimiento 26 de Julio desde el golpe de Estado de Fulgencio Batista. Al triunfo de la Revolución, se incorporó a las Milicias Universitarias y concluyó sus estudios de Medicina en la Universidad de La Habana en 1960. Cumplió su Servicio Social Rural en Imías, Baracoa. A su regreso a la capital, se vinculó al hospital General Calixto García, donde permaneció hasta el final de sus días. En este hospital, desarrolló toda su actividad profesional como especialista de Medicina Interna e Intensiva, su actividad docente desde Instructor hasta Profesor Titular y su actividad política como Secretario General del núcleo de su área y Secretario del Comité de Dirección del Partido Comunista de Cuba del Hospital. Sus responsabilidades asistenciales y docentes, y su activa militancia revolucionaria no le impidieron continuar su superación profesional y alcanzó la categoría de Especialista de Segundo Grado en Medicina Interna y Doctor en Ciencias Médicas. Su permanente y mantenida contribución al desarrollo científico, la elevación de la calidad asistencial, la labor educativa y la construcción del socialismo en su patria, le hicieron merecedor de varias distinciones y reconocimientos nacionales y extranjeros. El 22 de abril de 2000 dejó de existir físicamente el prestigioso profesor de Medicina Interna, compañero y amigo e insigne iniciador de los cuidados intensivos en Cuba.Sergio Antonio Rabell Hernandez (1933-2000), born in Artemisa and with working class roots, joined the March-13th Revolutionary Directory and the July-26 Movement since Batista's coup d'etat (1952). When the Revolution triumphed, he enrolled in the University Militia Units and finished his medicine studies at Havana University in 1960. Then he rendered his rural social service in Imias, Baracoa. After such period, he came to work at Calixto Garcia Hospital in Havana, where he stayed until his death. In this hospital, he developed his whole professional life, as a specialist of Internal and Intensive Medicine, as a medicine tutor -from the lowest to the highest teaching rank of Professor- and as a political leader. He was General Secretary of the Communist Party local in his working area, and later on the Secretary of the Directive Committee in the hospital. His medical and teaching workload, as well as his active party militancy did not stop him from professional upgrading. He became a Specialist of Internal Medicine, First and Second Degree; he also reached a PhD Degree in Medicine. Because of his persistent and permanent contribution to the medical scientific development and the improvement of the quality of health care; also because of his educational endeavor and his work in the building of socialism in his homeland, he deserved to be acknowledged and awarded on several occasions in the country and abroad. On April 22, 2000, the outstanding professor of Internal Medicine and pioneer of intensive care services in Cuba passed away.
