MAY 2008

As I hear the deafening sound of thunder I find myself seconds later without electrical power.  A storm is passing by taking away the heat and the humidity, which are characteristic of this time of year.  The storm, however, did not affect the class schedule here at the Latin American School of Medicine.  Dr. Candida Reina Garcia and Dr. Rafael Armando Pardo continue to work diligently as they guide students in the study of human anatomy.

Dr. Candida Reina Garcia

Dr. Garcia was born in Havana in January 6, 1947.  She studied odontology at the University of Havana where she graduated in 1972.  In Cuba, odontology is also known as estomatologia.  After practicing odontology for over 30 years she retired in 2002, due to problems with her health.  Once retired Dr. Garcia “felt motivated to participate in the LASM project” and in 2004 she joined the project as a professor of anatomy. 

Dr. Garcia stated that her goal as a professor at the Latin American School of Medicine (LASM) is “to transmit the knowledge that I posses so that it becomes useful to the students and to excel so that I can portray that knowledge with the best possible quality.”  She said that her vision is “to see kind physicians capable of truly curing those that seek their services.” 

According to Dr. Garcia, her mother had a vision as well.  She wanted her daughter to obtain a higher education “but she died long before seeing that result.”  Her voice softened as she remembered her mother and, with a smile on her face, Dr. Garcia said that her mother would have been proud to know that she had successfully achieved that goal.

To sit in one of Dr. Garcia’s classes is a privilege.  She is kind by nature and is always eager to help students find ways to minimize any difficulties they are having with learning the material.  She is also very attentive, especially with students struggling with the material.  Dr. Garcia is very motivated and she is never willing to let any of her students fail.  She is a great asset to the anatomy department. 

Dr. Rafael Armando Pardo

Dr. Pardo was born in Havana in October 27, 1944.  He graduated in 1967 from the University of Havana with a specialty in odontology and human anatomy.  A year after graduating he returned to the University of Havana, but this time to begin his career as a professor of anatomy.  It was obvious that Dr. Pardo had a zeal for teaching because he had begun his teaching career even before he completed his post-grad education.  He had excelled in his studies at the University of Havana, which gave him the opportunity to be an instructor of human anatomy while studying at the university. 

Dr. Pardo has spent the last 40 years of his life in the classroom with students from all over Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean; and he is not planning to retire.  In fact, a number of professors in the anatomy department at the LASM were Dr. Pardo’s students during their studies at the University of Havana, including Dr. Garcia.  Dr. Pardo is a vivid example of most Cuban professors who say, morir al pie del cañón. He explains, “It’s a phrase that means that I will die at my work place.” 

The objective of the LASM project, according to Dr. Pardo, is to “form doctors for our brother countries of Latin America who need them.”  With that in mind, Dr. Pardo joined the project in 1999, the year that the LASM was founded.  Prior to joining the project Dr. Pardo had been on missions around the world.  For instance, from 1979 to 1980 and from 1992 to 1994 Dr. Pardo worked at a medical school in Aden, city in southern Yemen. 

Students love, admire, trust and respect Dr. Pardo.  He is an excellent professor that always asks the student to go the extra mile.  Dr. Pardo always has your best interest in mind and he is always willing to lend a helping hand.  It is very common to walk around the school and see Dr. Pardo surrounded by a group of students in the hallway.  Students come to Dr. Pardo for the advice of a father and the advice of a well-respected professor.  According to Dr. Pardo, “the communication between the professor and the students is very important and should not be limited to the classroom.”  This communication was also a characteristic of Dr. Pardo’s father who was a professional musician and a professor as well.  Dr. Pardo believes that there is no need to maintain a distance between the professor and the student.  He said, “We have the possibility and the necessity to communicate [with the students] and we are willing to listen. That’s normal, that’s how we are.” 

Dr. Pardo and Dr. Garcia are qualified representatives of the professors that make the Latin American School of Medicine such a great medical school.  They are the driving force behind this project.  They are our professors; our friends and our neighbors and they deserve to be recognized for their tremendous efforts in making our dream a reality.  I am personally very grateful for the creation of this program that brings together students from over 25 different countries.  It’s a blessing to be here.