 DR. LUIS IZQUIERDO MORA
“One serves himself well, when he serves others”. Following
this personal precept, Dr. Izquierdo has lived his
life. He thus fulfi lls the requirements of our Distinguished
Physician: a life dedicated to his fellow being...
Dr. Izquierdo is a graduate of the UPR School of
Medicine. He is a diplomate of the American Board
of Family Medicine, has been certifi ed in Geriatrics, is
a diplomate of the American Board of Quality Care
an Utilization, a Fellow of the American Academy of
Family Physicians and of the American College of Public
Health and Preventive Medicine, a professor in the
four local Medical Schools, and a assiduous taker of
Continuing Medical Education courses to the extent
that he has averaged 100 credits yearly for the last 50
years.
Notwithstanding above, he has surpassed by much,
the expectations of a physician. He has chosen to delve
into many other avenues of human endeavor, and
there has attained excellence. Secretary of Health,
Senator, President of the Puerto Rico Medical Association,
collaborator of the four local Medical Schools,
recipient of an honorary PhD degree, writer, organizer,
member of many medical and civic organizations. He
has labored patiently, persistently, aggressively, for the
betterment of every person or group in his contact. By
this behavior he has achieved a degree of greatness
that comes not by seeking his own gain, but that of his
fellow beings. Unselfi shly, with humility, fi nding no limitation…
laboriously, he worked while others slept. He
has been instrumental in the creation of many medical
residencies such as family medicine, emergency
medicine and preventive medicine. His contributions
to the training and accomplishments of medical students,
physicians, medical and civic groups have
earned him the dedication of many conventions, a
named lecture and a Health Center dedicated and
named after him. He was involved in the creation of
the Cardiovascular Center of Puerto Rico and the
Caribbean. He has been an advisor to presidents
of many organizations and created courses for family
physicians. He has written eight books on topics
such as family medicine, physician responsibility, history
of medicine in Puerto Rico, adolescence, abortion,
preventive medicine, and health practices. In
addition, he has also been an editor, a trustee and a
leader in medical cooperativism.
Important positions and honors have come his
way. But different from others, it has not been the
positions, but what he has made of them that has
distinguished him. He has used them as instruments
of work, as a power to achieve and as stimulus to
inspire, create, organize and improve. The late Albert
Schweitzer said “a man must return back in
the measure in which he has been given”. Possibly,
Dr. Izquierdo may have returned more than he has
received. Our late UPR Chancellor Jaime Benítez
added that the works of a man should be greater
than himself. Dr. Izquierdo has complied on both
accounts: his life’s work will be beyond him.
No doubt his wife and children have contributed
to his achievements. They have contrived to keep
shining the light of his intellect. For this we give them
credit. But more importantly, they did not extinguish
the light in his long nights of toil, so we can all now
benefi t from them.
Dr. Izquierdo, as a friend and a colleague, as an
admirer, in the name of our Chapter, and of the
many people you have helped we say…. “Thanks”;
and we congratulate you... May your light continue
shining… May you always fi nd new ways to work for
others… You have set an example to follow.
In view of his multiple contributions and accomplishments
summarized above, the Puerto Rico
Chapter of the American College of Cardiology has
dedicated to him its 19th Annual Convention and
recognizes him as the Distinguished Citizen of the
year 2008.
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