Enrique Pérez Santiago
Encyclopedia
Enrique Pérez Santiago was born in Comerío, Puerto Rico
. He was the first Puerto Rican
hematologist and he began the formal program at the University of Puerto Rico Hospital.
. Enrique studied at the UPR Rio Piedras, where he joined Phi Sigma Alpha
Fraternity. Later he went to study at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and graduated in 1943. He then returned to Puerto Rico to do his internship at the District Hospital in Fajardo
.
He was teaching Hematology at the UPR, Medical Sciences Campus in 1954, year when the campus graduated its first class. He joined the Interamerican Society of Hematology and, in 1958, he joined the newly founded American Society of Hematology
. That same year, Dr. William Crosby, director of the research laboratory of the Walter Reed Hospital met with Dr. Pérez Santiago to establish a research center at the Rodriguez Military Hospital in San Juan for studying the Tropical sprue
, which was at that time an endemic condition on the island and in tropical regions of Asia. In some time the laboratory and the research center were established in the Conference Room 10 of the military hospital. There were many leading research doctors doing their army internship, studying the cause and treatment of the sprue. Dr. Pérez Santiago, in collaboration with Dr. Thomas Sheehy, published one of the first studies of the treatment of sprue with antibiotics and other alternatives.
In 1960 when the District Hospital of Bayamón moved to the Hospital Ruiz Soler, where Puerto Rico Medical Center would be established, Dr. Pérez Santiago was named director of Hematology of the hospital and of the medical school. With it came his closest collaborators, Mrs. Jean Fradera, Director of the laboratory and researcher, and Mrs. Mary López, his Secretary. In 1960 he was elected President of the Medical Association of Puerto Rico.
named him director of planning of the Department of health. In 1968, he invited the American Society of Hematology to hold its 1970 Convention in Puerto Rico. It was a great success with over 3000 attendees, typical festivals in Casa de España
and the Dupont Plaza Hotel and a concert in the theater of the University led by Pablo Casals
. After this Convention, he founded the Puerto Rican Society of Hematology in 1971. In 1973, he became Assistant Secretary of Health. Then he was medical director of the Cancer Center, project which was unsuccessful. From 1976 to 1978 he was the Dean of the UPR, Medical Sciences Campus. There he recruited Dr. Lillian Haddock as associated Dean and Dr. Pedro Rossello for the Department of surgery and medicine. He also expanded educational consortia.
Later, Dr. Pérez Santiago returned to his private practice. But his public service was not over: Governor Hernández Colon returned to recruit as director of the Office of Quality Public Service. This was the basis for the founding of the Office of Government Ethics of Puerto Rico.
Comerío, Puerto Rico
Comerío is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the center-eastern region of island, north of Aibonito; south of Naranjito and Bayamón; east of Barranquitas; and west of Cidra and Aguas Buenas. Comerío is spread over 7 wards and Comerío Pueblo...
. He was the first Puerto Rican
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
hematologist and he began the formal program at the University of Puerto Rico Hospital.
Early life and education
His father don Manuel A. Pérez was a public servant, reason which had to move to San Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. Enrique studied at the UPR Rio Piedras, where he joined Phi Sigma Alpha
Phi Sigma Alpha
Phi Sigma Alpha Fraternity commonly known as La Sigma, is a Puerto Rican fraternity established originally as the Sigma Delta Alpha Fraternity on October 22, 1928 at the University of Puerto Rico by 12 students and a professor...
Fraternity. Later he went to study at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and graduated in 1943. He then returned to Puerto Rico to do his internship at the District Hospital in Fajardo
Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Fajardo is a small city in Puerto Rico located in the east region of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Ceiba and east of Luquillo.Fajardo is spread over 7 wards and Downtown Fajardo , which serves as the administrative center of the city...
.
Medical career
After serving in the Army Medical Services Corps he joined the Tropical School of Medicine to do his residency in internal medicine. At the end of his training, he stayed as a doctor and became acting medical director. In 1950, he moved to Boston to specialize in hematology with the renowned hematologist Dr. William Dameshek in the New England Medical Center of Tufts University. On his return, he went to work at the Bayamón district hospital as director of Hematology and at his private practice at Presbyterian Hospital.He was teaching Hematology at the UPR, Medical Sciences Campus in 1954, year when the campus graduated its first class. He joined the Interamerican Society of Hematology and, in 1958, he joined the newly founded American Society of Hematology
American Society of Hematology
The American Society of Hematology is a professional organization representing hematologists. It was founded in 1958. Its annual meeting is held in December of every year and has attracted nearly 20,000 attendees. The society publishes the medical journal Blood, one of the most cited peer-review...
. That same year, Dr. William Crosby, director of the research laboratory of the Walter Reed Hospital met with Dr. Pérez Santiago to establish a research center at the Rodriguez Military Hospital in San Juan for studying the Tropical sprue
Tropical sprue
Tropical sprue is a malabsorption disease commonly found in the tropical regions, marked with abnormal flattening of the villi and inflammation of the lining of the small intestine.It differs significantly from coeliac sprue.-Symptoms and signs:...
, which was at that time an endemic condition on the island and in tropical regions of Asia. In some time the laboratory and the research center were established in the Conference Room 10 of the military hospital. There were many leading research doctors doing their army internship, studying the cause and treatment of the sprue. Dr. Pérez Santiago, in collaboration with Dr. Thomas Sheehy, published one of the first studies of the treatment of sprue with antibiotics and other alternatives.
In 1960 when the District Hospital of Bayamón moved to the Hospital Ruiz Soler, where Puerto Rico Medical Center would be established, Dr. Pérez Santiago was named director of Hematology of the hospital and of the medical school. With it came his closest collaborators, Mrs. Jean Fradera, Director of the laboratory and researcher, and Mrs. Mary López, his Secretary. In 1960 he was elected President of the Medical Association of Puerto Rico.
Public service
In 1967, Governor Rafael Hernández ColónRafael Hernández Colón
Rafael Hernández Colón is a Puerto Rican politician who served as the fourth Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico for three non-consecutive terms, from 1973 to 1977 and from 1985 to 1993. An experienced politician, Hernández holds the record for being the youngest Governor of Puerto Rico,...
named him director of planning of the Department of health. In 1968, he invited the American Society of Hematology to hold its 1970 Convention in Puerto Rico. It was a great success with over 3000 attendees, typical festivals in Casa de España
Casa de España
Casa de España is the headquarters of a private social organization whose members are those of Spanish descent in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Calle Ponce de Leon. The building was designed in a Moorish Revival style by Pedro de Castro. The building dates from 1932...
and the Dupont Plaza Hotel and a concert in the theater of the University led by Pablo Casals
Pablo Casals
Pau Casals i Defilló , known during his professional career as Pablo Casals, was a Spanish Catalan cellist and conductor. He is generally regarded as the pre-eminent cellist of the first half of the 20th century, and one of the greatest cellists of all time...
. After this Convention, he founded the Puerto Rican Society of Hematology in 1971. In 1973, he became Assistant Secretary of Health. Then he was medical director of the Cancer Center, project which was unsuccessful. From 1976 to 1978 he was the Dean of the UPR, Medical Sciences Campus. There he recruited Dr. Lillian Haddock as associated Dean and Dr. Pedro Rossello for the Department of surgery and medicine. He also expanded educational consortia.
Later, Dr. Pérez Santiago returned to his private practice. But his public service was not over: Governor Hernández Colon returned to recruit as director of the Office of Quality Public Service. This was the basis for the founding of the Office of Government Ethics of Puerto Rico.