06 Feb MEDICC Celebrates Life of Dr Miguel Márquez
February 5, 2014—Dr Miguel Márquez, one of this hemisphere’s public health luminaries and a member of MEDICC Review’s Editorial Board, passed away on February 3. Born in Ecuador in 1934, he studied medicine at the University of Cuenca, went on to earn a master’s degree in the University del Valle in Colombia, and to work for many years in the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in human resources for health and other key fields.
He served as PAHO/WHO country representative in both Nicaragua and Cuba, the latter through 1996, during the economic crisis faced by the island nation.
He was a founding member of MEDICC Review’s Editorial Board, actively assisting editors to position the journal in the arenas of population health and global health equity, 
generously contributing his extensive and profound experience. His interview in the documentary ¡SALUD! brought into sharper focus Cuba’s experience in community and global health.
He authored or co-authored over 80 major publications, including the UNDP’s Human Development in Cuba (Spanish, three editions); a book on the Cuban health system (Salud para todos, sí es posible); PAHO/WHO Cooperation in Cuba (Spanish, 1989/1996) and Medicina General-Medicina Familiar. Experiencia Internacional y Enfoque Cubano.
His honorary titles and memberships in Latin American medical and public health societies were legion, and he received Cuba’s Carlos J. Finlay decoration, the highest honor conferred by the country in public health, as well as the Hero of Public Health Award from the government of Ecuador and PAHO’s Medal of Honor.
At the time of his death, he was Distinguished Professor at the Medical University of Havana and Honorary Professor at the University of Cuenca, Ecuador. He was also a distinguished member of Rotary International.
The hemisphere has lost a great man, a defender of vulnerable populations and the importance of strengthening health systems to serve them. Our condolences to his wife, Libia Victoria Cerezo, his children and grandchildren. We will continue to be inspired by his example.