In Memoriam: Jorge Cervantes Castro, MD, Honorary FACS (1938–2021)

Abstract

Jorge Cervantes Castro, MD, FACS (Hon.2006) passed away on May 28, 2021, at the age of 83years. He graduated from medical school at the National Autonomous Mexican University (UNAM) and did his residency in general and vascular surgery at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. After completing his surgical training, he returned to Mexico City and established his practice at the American British Cowdray Medical Center (ABC Hospital). He was a professor of surgery for hundreds of surgical residents for over 50 years, author of over 240 surgical papers and 52 book chapters, and member of the editorial board of seven medical journals. He is the author of four surgical training books, one on "Iatrogenia in surgery" and the others on vanguard techniques for laparoscopic surgery. For his Juris Doctor degree obtained from UNAM in 2016, his thesis was on the "Legal implications of the professional title of medical surgeon" in which he emphasizes the legal need to change the professional degree conferred to Mexican medical graduates. A global ambassador of surgery, he was an active member of over 30 surgical societies, including the American College of Surgeons (ACS), the International Federation of Societies of Endoscopic Surgeons (IFSES), the International Society of Surgery (ISS; Hon.2009), and president of the Mexican chapter of the Latin American Federation of Surgery (FELAC), of which he also became honorary fellow. Among other accomplishments, he was one of the founding members of the Mexican Society of General Surgery, president of the Mexican Board of Surgery, distinguished member of the Mexican Academy of Surgery, and member of the editorial board of the World Journal of Surgery (1995-2004). He is survived by his one true and lifelong love Lucero, his wife of 57+ years, and by his children Jorge, Lucero, Arturo, Ignacio, and Pablo, 13 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.