LPCC NEWS

On April 20, 1954, Dr. Isaac González Martínez died in a deep sleep, with his glasses on, the lamp lit and in his hands he held an open science book, "Luminiscence and the Scintillation Counters". His life is noted for his research career and medical wisdom both locally and internationally. The discoveries and achievements of Dr. Isaac Gonzalez Martinez were impressive and of great impact throughout the island. Since founding the Puerto Rican League Against Cancer, his medical career took a turn towards research and treatment for the disease of cancer. Dr. Isaac Gonzalez Martinez gave back to his homeland his scientific knowledge. He created a concept of comprehensive care for cancer patients by providing specialised services under a single institution, ahead of the times. He worked until his last day and studied until the moment of his departure. His departure caused a great stir in the print media, to the extent that there was mourning in the Senate and the House of Representatives. Copies of reviews follow.

Mrs. Mendoza de Muñoz Marín begins the groundbreaking ceremony for the projected League Against Cancer Hospital. To her left is Miss Gloria Campos; to the far left is Mrs. Ana de Oliveras Guerra; and to the far right is Dr. César A. Toro, current president of the League. At that time, Dr. Isaac González Martínez was hospitalized in very delicate health, so he was represented by the First Lady of the Country, Mrs. Inés Mendoza de Muñoz Marín.

Founded the Puerto Rican League Against Cancer. Diplomate of the American Board of Radiology and is designated Fellow of the American College of Radiology.

He was appointed Chief of Radiology at the Diaz Garcia Clinic, located where the Pavia Hospital in Santurce is currently located.

Enrolled at the Medical School of Ehrlangen, Germany, where he learned to handle new techniques in the treatment of breast and womb cancer. He travels to the Medical School of Strasbourg, Vienna, where he expands his knowledge in bladder cancer. In this tour of the Old Continent, he could not miss an educational stop in the city of Seine, Paris, nothing less than at the Curie Institute, to study the wonders of radium in cancer patients, being one of the first disciples of this institution. There he met with the highest eminences in this field. This is how Dr. Gonzalez Martinez prepares to face this new challenge, the treatment for the cancer disease that continued to increase in Puerto Rico. He returns to the island and begins to treat cancer using the methods acquired in France, based on the premise that "Prevention and Early Diagnosis" should be our major focus. He is fully dedicated to treating cancer patients and after six years of providing treatment and studying cancer as such, he presents to the Medical Association of Puerto Rico his first communication on the clinical observations and results obtained with these cancer patients.

Inauguration of the School of Tropical Medicine. Dr. Gonzalez becomes a consultant in Radiology.

Invited to the Annual Meeting of the "American Roentgen Rays Society" in St. Paul, Minnesota where he is recognized for his work. Dr. Isaac Gonzalez motivated by his thirst to discover the unknown is that a new challenge was born in his life. He wanted to expand his knowledge in the application of X-rays as a treatment for cancer patients, because he was not satisfied with what he had acquired so far.

He travels to the United States with the intention of acquiring equipment with more technological advances. Dr. Manuel De La Pila Iglesias de Ponce raises the need for the government to establish a Cancer Institute, a project that was supported by Dr. Isaac Gonzalez Martinez, but this request was not heeded in the corresponding spheres. Years went by and Dr. Gonzalez continued arduously advocating for this project to become a reality, but the government maintained its position.

He was conferred the title of Radiologist with outstanding grades. Became a member of the French Society of Radiology. He passed a course in Urology from the Necker School of the University of Paris, obtaining the title of Urinary Tract Monitor from the School of Medicine of the University of Paris. He graduated in Applied Bacteriology at the aforementioned university in Paris, which allowed him to be associated with the Pasteur Institute. He arrives on the island and is named President of the Medical Association of Puerto Rico. Dr. Jorge del Toro, eminent surgeon of the Surgical Department of the Municipal Hospital of San Juan, together with Dr. Manuel Diaz Garcia, noticed and denounced the frequency of patients with cancer disease, which led to the emergence of different theories about cancer disease. Dr. González occupied the position of Director of the Insular Biological Laboratory.

Presides over the Academy of Medicine of Puerto Rico. Moves to France and begins studying Radiology at the School of Medicine of the University of Paris.