Mario R. García Palmieri
Encyclopedia
Dr. Mario Rubén García Palmieri Phd; MACC; (born August 2, 1927) is a cardiologist and the first Hispanic
to have the distinction of being designated a "Master" by the American College of Cardiology
(MACC) in recognition of his contributions to the field of cardiology. Among the many societies which he has resided are the Puerto Rican Society of Cardiology and the PR Medical Association.
for outstanding students. He graduated from the Magna Cum Laude from the UPR in 1949. After he graduated from UPR, he applied and was accepted in the School of Medicine of the University of Maryland
and earned his medical degree in 1951. He returned to Puerto Rico where he completed his residency. He then went to the School of Medicine at the University of Puerto Rico
where he continued his professional training in internal medicine and cardiology thus, becoming the first cardiologist to be trained in Puerto Rico.
García Palmieri has published 178 medicine articles, 6 books, and more than 80 newspapers columns geared to orient the people concerning medical problems. He participated in two presidential medical commissions, one under the presidency of Richard Nixon
and the other under the presidency of Jimmy Carter
. The commissions published nine books on their investigations of which five were co-authored by Garcia Palmieri.
In 2001, he was awarded the ACP Laureate Award. The award honors those members of the ACP in Puerto Rico who have demonstrated, by their example and conduct, an abiding commitment to excellence in medical care, education or research, and in service to their community and the ACP. Recipients of the award bear the title "Laureate of the Puerto Rico Chapter." He has the distinction of being the first Hispanic
designated a "Master" by the American College of Cardiology. The cardiologists achieving highest distinction in the field are awarded the title Master of the American College of Cardiology (M.A.C.C.). This honor is bestowed upon a maximum of three cardiologists in practice each year. He has also been decorated by the governments of the Dominican Republic
, Venezuela
and Spain
. In 1999 he was given the "Medalla de Honor" of Fi Sigma Alfa Fraternity.
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
to have the distinction of being designated a "Master" by the American College of Cardiology
American College of Cardiology
The American College of Cardiology is a nonprofit medical association established in 1949 to advocate for quality cardiovascular care through education, research promotion, development and application of standards and guidelines, and to influence health care policy...
(MACC) in recognition of his contributions to the field of cardiology. Among the many societies which he has resided are the Puerto Rican Society of Cardiology and the PR Medical Association.
Early years
García Palmieri was born in the town of Adjuntas, Puerto Rico, and received his secondary education in the town of Aguadilla. He was accepted by the University of Puerto Rico where he earned his Bachelor in Science degree. His family was very humble and could not afford to pay for his continued education, however García Palmieri because of his grades (he was a Magna Cum Laude student) was the recipient of a scholarship program offered by the University of Puerto RicoUniversity of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
for outstanding students. He graduated from the Magna Cum Laude from the UPR in 1949. After he graduated from UPR, he applied and was accepted in the School of Medicine of the University of Maryland
University of Maryland
When the term "University of Maryland" is used without any qualification, it generally refers to the University of Maryland, College Park.University of Maryland may refer to the following:...
and earned his medical degree in 1951. He returned to Puerto Rico where he completed his residency. He then went to the School of Medicine at the University of Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus
The University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus —or Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Ciencias Médicas in Spanish— is a state university located in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is one of the eleven campuses of the University of Puerto Rico...
where he continued his professional training in internal medicine and cardiology thus, becoming the first cardiologist to be trained in Puerto Rico.
School of Medicine at the University of Puerto Rico
In 1960, García Palmieri was named Director of Internal Medicine of the School of Medicine at the University of Puerto Rico (RCM), position which he held until 1995, and in 1961 Director of the institutions cardiology program. During this period (1966 - 1967), he was named by Roberto Sánchez Vilella, the governor of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico’s Secretary of Heath. He resigned from the position because of heath problems and returned to the RCM.García Palmieri has published 178 medicine articles, 6 books, and more than 80 newspapers columns geared to orient the people concerning medical problems. He participated in two presidential medical commissions, one under the presidency of Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
and the other under the presidency of Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
. The commissions published nine books on their investigations of which five were co-authored by Garcia Palmieri.
Memberships
García Palmieri holds Fellowships in the Royal Society of Health, the American College of Chest Physicians, the European Society of Cardiology, and the American Heart Association. He is also the only person to serve twice as president of the International Society of Cardiology. In 1956 he was president of Fi Sigma Alfa fraternity.Honors
García Palmieri is the first person on whom the University of Puerto Rico bestowed the title of "Distinguished Professor." In 1980, he received the International Achievement Award of the American Heart Association. His many honors include the title of Master of the College of Physicians (1984), and the Honor and Gold Key Award (1989) for most distinguished alumnus in the University of Maryland. In 1996, the University of Puerto Rico established the Mario Garcia Palmieri endowed chair, and the main bi-annual lecture of the Interamerican Congress of Cardiology bears his name.In 2001, he was awarded the ACP Laureate Award. The award honors those members of the ACP in Puerto Rico who have demonstrated, by their example and conduct, an abiding commitment to excellence in medical care, education or research, and in service to their community and the ACP. Recipients of the award bear the title "Laureate of the Puerto Rico Chapter." He has the distinction of being the first Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
designated a "Master" by the American College of Cardiology. The cardiologists achieving highest distinction in the field are awarded the title Master of the American College of Cardiology (M.A.C.C.). This honor is bestowed upon a maximum of three cardiologists in practice each year. He has also been decorated by the governments of the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. In 1999 he was given the "Medalla de Honor" of Fi Sigma Alfa Fraternity.
Written works
Among his written works are the following:- Lo Que Debes Saber Sobre Tu Salud; Publisher: La Editorial Universidad de Puerto Rico (January 1, 2000); ISBN 0847701077; ISBN 978-0847701070
- The Electrocardiogram and Vectorcardiogram in Congenital Heart Disease; Publisher: Grune & Stratton (1965); ASIN: B000IRBWY8
- The International Society and Federation of Cardiology and its components: historical data, 1950-1990; Publisher M.R. Garcia-Palmieri, 1990
- Historia Grafica De La Sociedad Interamericana De Cardiologia 1944-1999; Publisher s.n.; ISBN 0965010805 / 9780965010801 / 0-9650108-0-5
See also
- List of Puerto Ricans
- Puerto Rican scientists and inventors