Professor Alfonso Alvarez Bravo 1913–1996

GYNECOLOGY &OBSTETRICS International

Journal

of Gynecology

& Obstetrin

55 (1996)

31 I-312

In memoriam

Professor

Alfonso Alvarez Bravo

1913-1996 Professor Alfonso Alvarez Bravo, a leader in medicine and one of the founders and presidents of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), died on March 30, 1996. Dr. Alvarez Bravo graduated from the School of Medicine at the Universidad National Autonoma de Mexico on March 4,1937 when he was 23 years old. As a student, he worked at the General Hospital in Mexico City, where in 1939 he became an intern and in 1945 received the appointment of surgeon. Investigating, learning, and teaching came easily and naturally to the young physician, who was 0020-7292/96/$15.00

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PlISOO20-7292(96)02777-4

0 1996 International

Federation

deeply attracted to the practice of surgery and soon excelled in surgical procedures of the digestive tract, including the esophagus, the bile duct, stomach, and colon, as well as in gynecologic surgery. His dedication to the study of gynecologic pathology led to a profound concern for the surgical and medical therapeutics in this field. During World War II, he was one of several young doctors from the General Hospital in Mexico City offered the opportunity to go to the United States to study and work side by side with such great gynecologists as George N. Papanicolaou and Isador Rubin in New York, and Fuller Albright in endocrinology in Boston. Returning to Mexico, Dr. Alvarez Bravo was appointed Chief of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the Hospital Espanol in Mexico City in 1947, a position he held for the rest of his life. In 1937, he began his teaching career as Professor of Medical Physics, teaching students preparing for a Bachelors Degree. Soon he was a Professor Instructor, teaching Introduction to Clinical Surgery. In 1941, only four years after his graduation, the School of Medicine designated him Assistant Professor. Later, he became a Full Professor of Pregraduate Clinical Surgery, a position he held for twenty years. In 1959, Dr. Alvarez Bravo founded the University Course of Specialization in Gynecology and Obstetrics in Mexico. Years later, he founded the Masters and the Doctorate in the Medical Sciences of Gynecology and Obstetrics. For four years he was Division Chief for Superior Studies in the School of Medicine at the University of Mexico. At his own expense, year after year, Dr. Alof Gynecology

and Obstetrics

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In rnemoriam

/ltitemationalJoumal

of Gynecology

varez Bravo invited renowned professors from the United States, Europe, and Latin America to the Department of Gynecology at the Hospital Espanol for the benefit of his students. This permitted the distinguished visitors to experience the high level of teaching and professionalism of Mexican Gynecology and Obstetrics, and gave Dr. Alvarez Bravo and Mexico international regard and respect. His experience, as expressed in his scientific papers at international meetings, and his unique understanding of friendship among colleagues, created for him a situation of natural leadership that in 1960 brought about his threeyear tenure as President of the Latin American Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FLASOG). On behalf of Mexico, Dr. Alvarez Bravo participated in the formation of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, of which he was president for three years. At FIGO, he founded the International Committee on Maternal Mortality, over which he presided for more than fifteen years. Another valuable contribution of Dr. Alvarez Bravo was the extensive film library he edited, which has been used as a teaching aid in gynecologic surgery in Spain and Latin America. He published some two hundred scientific articles in recognized national and international medical journals. He was the author of several books. He took part in the planning of numerous scientific meetings, and he presented papers on all five continents. He founded and was president of the Mexican Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, which

& Obstetrics

55 (1996)

311-312

today comprises fifty-eight societies and almost 3000 gynecologists and obstetricians. He founded and was president of the Mexican Council of Gynecology and Obstetrics, which is equivalent to the Board of Gynecology and Obstetrics in other countries. He was also president of the National Academy of Medicine in Mexico and occupied numerous other executive positions, including that of Director of the Hospital Espanol of Mexico. Many scientific societies and associations in Mexico and abroad made him an honorary member and paid homage to him because of his contributions and intellectual services to science. Although he received international recognition, he was particularly proud of his designation as Professor Emeritus at the Universidad National Autonoma de Mexico. A man of many interests, he enjoyed several sports; he played the organ, and composed verses and romantic songs. Dr. Alvarez Bravo was born on July 7, 1913 in Mexico City where he died of complications of diabetes mellitus at the age of 82, leaving a rich heritage of achievement and inspiration. To encourage professional excellence and the transmission of his ideals, his postgraduate students have formed a society called ‘Colegio de Alumnos de1 Professor Alfonso Alvarez Bravo’. Dr. Carlos Femandez de1 Castillo S.

Federation

President Mexicana de Ginecologia y Obstetricia, A.C. Mexico City, Mexico