JUAN ARANDA RAMIREZ, MD, FACC

Dr. Juan Aranda was born on February 3, 1942, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. His parents were Mr. Juan Aranda and Mrs. Eva Ramirez. He was raised in Ponce and studied at the Colegio Ponceño de Varones, graduating in 1959. He then attended the Mayagüez Campus at the University of Puerto Rico graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1963, with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. He studied Medicine at the School of Medicine of the University of Puerto Rico, graduating in 1967. He was awarded the Dr. Isaac González-Martínez prize in oncology and the Dr. José Belaval prize in obstetrics and gynecology.

He completed his training in Internal Medicine at the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) Medical Sciences Campus Program. In the year 1970, he developed an interest in cardiology and he proceeded to complete a fellowship, supported by the National Heart and Lung Institute under the direction of Dr. Mario García-Palmieri at the University District Hospital. In 1973, he moved to Miami to complete a fellowship in Electrophysiology.

While at the Beach Army Hospital in Texas from 1971 to 1973, with the rank of major, he was named chief of medicine and director of the outpatient medical clinics. During his two years of military service he was responsible for innovations such as the ambulatory clinics, established a coronary care unit and developed the protocol for the problem oriented record. This protocol and guidelines were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1974. These studies were used by the Department of Defense to establish the use of the problem oriented record throughout the medical services of the Armed Forces. For these accomplishments, Dr. Aranda received the Army Commendation Medal.

At the end of 1974, he was awarded the Harry Bothwick Memorial prize for his outstanding work as a fellow in cardiology. His studies regarding the association of mitral valve prolapse and coronary artery disease were published in Circulation and the American Journal of Medicine. In 1975, Dr. Aranda returned to Puerto Rico as Chief of Cardiology at the Veterans Administration Hospital. Dr. Aranda was very active in the development of the affiliation of the cardiology services between the Veterans Administration Hospital and the UPR School of Medicine. Among his accomplishments he developed the diagnostic electrophysiology laboratory as well as expanded the programs to carry out clinical studies and research in cardiology. He and his fellow-trainees received, during three consecutive years in 1977, 1978, and 1979 – one of Purdue Frederick awards for their research papers.

In the year 1986 he moved to the private practice of cardiology serving as director of the cardiac catheterization laboratory at Pavía Hospital and in 1989 he became chief of cardiology, a position held until 1999. In 1987 Dr. Aranda was elected Governor for Puerto Rico of the American College of Cardiology. By that time the National ACC started the organization of chapters in different states; Dr. Aranda took the leadership in organizing a chapter for Puerto Rico. The chapter has been recognized nationally for its annual scientific sessions as well as for its informative bulletin.

During this time as President of the Puerto Rico Chapter of the American College of Cardiology (ACC PR Chapter), he with several other members established the award recognizing an outstanding person for community services. The first year Dr. Michael De Bakey was the awardee. The second year, Mr. Nelson Mandela from South Africa was chosen to receive this award. Dr. Aranda and other members of the chapter went to South Africa and donated an echocardiographic machine to a hospital with limited resources.

Dr. Juan Aranda has accomplished much and he has received many well deserved recognitions. He is a member of multiple organizations and has been an editor of several medical publications such as the Bulletin of the Puerto Rico Medical Association, the Pavía Hospital bulletin and the “Revista Latinoamericana de Cardiología”. He was a member of the National Committee for hypertension of the American College of Cardiology. Dr. Juan Aranda is a member of approximately 30 professional organizations in which he has always been a leader. He has been a professor at the UPR and the Miami University schools of medicine. In addition, Dr. Aranda has delivered multiple lectures and presented scientific papers at local, national, and international cardiology meetings. He has published 77 scientific papers, 96 abstracts, and written 7 textbooks chapters. He has participated in 80 research projects and has presented papers in 138 scientific sessions.

Dr. Juan Aranda is an educator, researcher, organizer, public servant, and distinguished physician.

Dr. Juan Aranda has had a life devoted to service to humanity, to relieve cardiology suffering from his patients, to serve as a role model with his contributions and humanitarian principles, in the education of physicians and health related personnel, as well as special husband, father and grandfather. Due to his multiple values the PR Chapter of the ACC is honored in selecting him as the outstanding and distinguished cardiologist and human being of the year.