Dr. Rafael Angel Castañeda Barbán

Abstract

On Wednesday, May 18 of this year we received the sad news of the death of Dr. Rafael Angel Castañeda Barbán, Specialist of II Degree in Maxillofacial Surgery that until the last moments of his life worked in the Hospital "Miguel Enríquez". At the time of his death he held the category of Assistant Professor of the Faculty of Stomatology at the University of Medical Sciences of Havana. Professor Castañeda joined the Rebel Army in the II Eastern Front with only 16 years. He began his pre-university studies in the city of Havana, and in 1964 the Stomatology career. He graduated as a stomatologist in 1968. Since then, he contributed to teaching, work that would develop flawlessly throughout his life. He was Head of the Maxillofacial Surgery Service of the Hospital "Saturnino Lora" of Santiago de Cuba (1975-1977), founder of the Maxillofacial Surgery Service of the "Miguel Enríquez" Hospital and Head of Service for 31 years. He served as Chief of the Provincial Group of Maxillofacial Surgery of Havana and as a member of the National Group of the specialty, was his boss until the time of his death. As a teacher, linked to the Faculty of Stomatology at the University of Medical Sciences of Havana, he contributed to the training of dozens of generations of stomatologists and maxillofacial surgeons from Cuba and the world. Throughout his life he received multiple distinctions and recognitions for his teaching and internationalist work. He joined the Communist Party of Cuba in 1988. His high revolutionary commitment, his thought of a firm man, was always evident in him, which was able to instill in his students and comrades the best human and patriotic values. He was also an example to follow as a father, husband and friend. His memory will be imperishable for current and future generations of stomatologists.