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Puerto Rican League Against Cancer787-763-4149onegron@ligacancerpr.orgBo. Monacillo #150, Ave. Américo MirandaMetropolitan Medical Center Area
Puerto Rican League Against Cancer

OUR HISTORY

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE AGAINST CANCER

1924
March 1924

March 1924

The Betances Hospital Association was founded in March 1924 by a group of citizens and doctors, including Dr. González Martínez. The main objective was to establish a community hospital for non-financial purposes.

1938

1938

In 1938 he participated in the VI Floating Congress of the Pan American Medical Association in Havana, Cuba, where he presented a scientific article on the permanent cure of uterine cervical cancer, again achieving international recognition and projection. He visited the Cancer Institute, the Radium Institute, the Mercedes Hospital, the National Anticancer Association and the League Against Cancer of Cuba (1925-1959). Dr. Gonzalez was impressed by the organizational model used, which consists of a non-profit organization based on volunteerism accompanied by an action plan for public relations, education and fundraising. That is when he decided to implement the same system in Puerto Rico. Upon his return to Puerto Rico, he meets with key people, a group composed of: Mrs. Jane Nicole de Mariani, Mrs. María M. de Pérez Almiroty, Mrs. Marcolina M. de Fernández Náter, Rafael Cuevas Zequeira, Jorge L. Córdova, Dr. J. C. Ferrer, Dr. J. H. Fond and Jorge del Toro, as well as other people of high civic spirit.

1938

1938

After the founding of the Puerto Rican League Against Cancer in 1938 and during his career, Dr. González Martínez contemplated the need to create a specialized hospital to fight cancer, which the Betances Association considered that their hospital should be established next to the Puerto Rican League Hospital, but when they did not achieve their purpose, they joined forces for the benefit of the country. From there the agreement with the League arises, making delivery of all its cash capital and bonds of the Government of the United States amounting to $100,000.00. This amount was given to the Puerto Rican League, allowing the purchase of a piece of land in Hato Rey, at stop 34 between Ponce de Leon and Muñoz Rivera Avenue.

1938

March 22, 1938

On March 22, 1938, the first meeting of the Puerto Rican League Against Cancer, sponsored by the Medical Association of Puerto Rico, was held. Through this organization, it was able to instill its mission of being able to attend cancer cases for people of scarce economic resources, making viable an education plan for the people oriented towards prevention.

1938

April 30, 1938

At the second meeting held on April 30, the Regulations were approved and Dr. Isaac González Martínez was appointed President. The organizational structure of the League had a Supreme Council and a Technical Board of Government. In addition, they had a Ladies Committee as a support body, responsible for the propaganda campaign to raise funds. With the objective of covering the entire island, they established a series of Regional Committees in different towns to give continuity to the work of the League.

1938

May 29, 1938

The first Committee was established on May 29, 1938 in the town of Guayama.

1938

June 1938

In June of that same year, campaign activities began divided into two main areas: an educational campaign by the Technical Government Board and the other focused on economics by the Ladies Committee. The results obtained had a significant impact on our society, which caused a mobilization of people to receive guidance and treatment on the condition. La Liga (The League) did not expect this mobilization and was not really prepared. Dr. González made his personal work and the facilities of his private office, which was located on Calle Tetuán in Old San Juan, available. In that same year, he was a graduate of the American Board from Radiology and was designated a "Fellow" of the American College of Radiology.

1939

September 12, 1939

The situation was critical, since his office could not cope, since in only 3 months, the anti-cancer clinic had already admitted 56 cases. Faced with this, the League signed a contract with Dr. Manuel Díaz García, who offered his facilities at his clinic, located at Parada 19 (in front of the Paramount Theater, currently Pavia Hospital), and on September 12, 1939, the first anti-cancer center in Puerto Rico was established.

1940

1940

In 1940, Dr. Díaz García died, so La Liga had to face a rate increase for hospitalization, which caused Dr. González to vacate his original office due to peremptory circumstances. By that year, cancer was already the sixth leading cause of death in Puerto Rico.

1942

1942

In 1942 he rents an old house on Ponce de Leon Avenue, Parada 23 in Santurce, moving the administration of La Liga to this new place, for which he was forced to create hospitalization facilities, where he had only 2 beds. Dr. González Martínez donates a 220 Kv. radiotherapy equipment, treating the first 31 cases.

1944
1944

1944

In May 1944, La Liga acquired a large residence owned by Mrs. Filomena Vda. de Hernandez and moved to 229 Park Street. By 1944 they were able to organize the "Cancer Institute" with room for 60 beds, where they offered surgery, radiotherapy and other services related to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, since Dr. Gonzalez Martinez firmly believed in the centralization of services. The building had 2 floors, with a men's ward, a women's ward, several private rooms, a conference room, a library, a room for outpatient consultations, an office for specialists, lodging for physicians and resident personnel. As a historical fact, it is worth mentioning that the first cobalt machine manufactured in the United States was installed in this clinic. Dr. Isaac González Martínez directed and promoted all the educational campaigns organized by La Liga, and among the topics he offered were: "What Cancer Costs in Puerto Rico", "Cancer and Women" and "The Relationship of the Dentist and Cancer". In recognition of his vast experience, he was invited to Santiago de Chile, where he gave a lecture on the subject, "The last 10 years of cancer treatment....

1944
1944

1944

Doña Felisa Rincón de Gautier, Mayor of San Juan and the First Lady, Mrs. Inés Mendoza de Muñoz Marín, followed by Dr. Isaac González Martínez. This visit to cancer patients, when the clinic was located at Calle del Parque #229 in Santurce.

1951

1951

By 1951 the hospital opened its Blood Bank.

1951

July 28, 1951

In an Extraordinary General Assembly held on July 28, 1951, an agreement was signed between the Liga Puertorriqueña and the Asociación Hospital Betances, whose merger gave way to the construction of a general hospital that would be called "Hospital Betances-Centro Médico-Quirúrgico e Instituto de Radioterapia" (Betances Hospital-Medical and Surgical Center and Radiotherapy Institute).

1952

January 1952

In January 1952, Dr. Batchhelder, representative of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), visited the Hospital de la Liga Puertorriqueña Contra el Cáncer and weeks later, this entity recognized the hospital for its technical and academic characteristics under the direction of Dr. Isaac González Martínez, for which it was accredited as one of the 12 cancer hospitals in the Western Hemisphere.

1953

1953

The Institute became the only one of its kind in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, receiving recognition from the American College of Surgeons in 1953 as one of the 12 cancer hospitals in the Western Hemisphere, including the United States and Canada.

1953

1953

Since 1953, the LPCC Hospital has had a Cancer Registry. Dr. Issac Gonzalez Martinez continued the scientific research on cancer; he prepared courses, lectures, conferences, etc. He supported the research of others and stimulated academic work among professionals in the field of cancer, based on his philosophy, "We increase our knowledge, when we share it". His great interest was to have his own hospital with all the technological advances, so La Liga Puertorriqueña Contra el Cáncer directed its efforts towards this task.

1953
1953

1953

While the Puerto Rican League focused on its fundraising campaign to complete the establishment of the Betances Hospital, it was also considering applying for federal funds through the HillBurton proposal for the construction of hospitals for the care of chronic conditions. On the other hand, the appointment of the Secretary of Health, Dr. Guillermo Arbona Irrizarry, considered to be the architect of the island's health system, was also being considered. Among his great contributions was the creation, planning and operation of a model for the provision of shared services among hospital institutions, which today is known as the Medical Center, protected by law in 1957. During the presidency of Dr. César Toro, successor of Dr. Isaac González Martínez on the Board of Directors of the Liga Puertorriqueña, conversations began with the new Secretary of Health with the proposal that the dream hospital would be part of the Medical Center. In the photo we can only identify Dr. Guillermo Arbona, the fourth from left to right, in the sixth position is Dr. Toro and the last one is the Mayor of San Juan, Felisa Rincón de Gautier.

1953
June 27, 1953

June 27, 1953

Plans for the construction of the Betances Hospital continued and on June 27, 1953, architect Rafael Carmoega submitted the plans for the new hospital at a cost of US$1 million, for approval by the Department of Health and the Planning Board.

1954

1954

On March 11, 1954, the protocol ceremony was held for the laying of the first stone for the construction of the new hospital, which would be established on a piece of land in Hato Rey that was acquired by La Liga. Dr. González Martínez was in delicate health and hospitalized for the second time, which was represented by the First Lady of the Country, Mrs. Inés Mendoza. Dr. González Martínez passed away on April 20, 1954, so Governor Luis Muñoz Marín proclaimed Dr. Isaac González Martínez Day every April 20 of each year.

1954
1954

1954

Director and screenwriter Fernando Cortés and his wife, María del Pilar Cordero, niece of Paquito Cordero, better known artistically as Mapy Cortés, both of Puerto Rican origin, whose fame through their film career transcended to Spain, Argentina, Cuba, Hollywood, Venezuela and especially in Mexico. During one of her visits to the island, she is pictured here with Dr. Isaac González Martínez.

1954
March 11, 1954

March 11, 1954

On March 11, 1954, the ceremonial ceremony for the laying of the first stone for the construction of the Betances Hospital took place.

1954
March 11, 1954

March 11, 1954

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.

1954

April 20, 1954

On April 20, 1954, Dr. Isaac Gonzalez Martinez died in a deep sleep, with his glasses on, the lamp lit and in his hands he was holding an open science book, "Luminiscence and the Scintillation Counters". His life is noted for his research career and medical wisdom locally and internationally. He created a concept of comprehensive cancer patient care by providing specialized 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 written press, to the point that there was mourning in the Senate and the House of Representatives. Below are copies of reviews.

1955

1955

By 1955, the hospital was already being considered for federal funds (HillBurton) allocated to the construction of hospitals for the care of chronic conditions. Conversations with the University of Puerto Rico began, and after much effort, the dream became a reality.

1962
December 29, 1962

December 29, 1962

On December 29, 1962, the cancer institute that fought so hard was inaugurated, but on the premises of the Rio Piedras Medical Center, honoring its name as Dr. Isaac Gonzalez Martinez Oncology Hospital. Around Dr. Isaac Gonzalez Martinez is his Medical Faculty mentioning some of them: Dr. Pedro Malaret Tió, Dr. A. Oliveras Guerra, Dr. Busquets, Dr. Hamlet Hazin, Dr. J. L. Picó, Dr. Julio E. Colón, Dr. Honorato Estella, Dr. Rivera Lugo, Dr. Miguel Angel Mariani, Dr. Frank Lopez Curet, Dr. Frank Lopez Curet, Dr. Frank Lopez Curet, Dr. Frank Lopez Curet, Dr. Frank Lopez Curet, Dr. Frank Lopez Curet, Dr. Miguel Angel Mariani and Dr. Miguel Angel Mariani. Frank López Curet, Dr. Taveras, Dr. Enrique Koppish, Dr. Jorge del Toro, Dr. Noya Benítez, Dr. José Rodríguez Pérez, Dr. Manuel A. Astor, Dr. Muñoz McCormick, Dr. Juan Higinio Font, Dr. M. Alonso Curbelo, Dr. José C. Ferrer, Dr. Pablo Curbelo, Dr. Fernández; in the background, the specialized nurses.

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