The Second Inter-American Congress of Radiology

Abstract

At the combined meeting of the Radiological Society of North America and the American Roentgen Ray Society held in the fall of 1944, Dr. W. Edward Chamberlain, Dr. Pedro L. Farinas, and the writer were named as a committee to represent the Radiological Society of North America in cooperating with the Cuban Society of Radiology in arranging for the Second Inter-American Congress of Radiology. Committees were also named by the American Roentgen Ray Society and American College of Radiology. Because of the overlapping personnel of these committees, they were joined into one general committee for the United States, with the writer as Chairman and Mr. Mac F. Cahal as Secretary. The First Inter-American Congress of Radiology held in Buenos Aires in 1943, under the Presidency of Dr. José F. Merlo Gómez, had chosen Havana as the site of the Second Inter-American Congress of Radiology, and this automatically made the Cuban Society of Radiology the Committee of Arrangements. The Cuban society, under the Presidency of Dr. Pedro L. Fariñas, included Dr. R. Hernández Begueríe as Secretary-General, Dr. Ernesto Fonts as Treasurer, and Dr. Armando Cabrera and Dr. C. Rodríguez Remus as vocales. The Society elected Dr. Pedro L. Fariñas as President of the Second Inter-American Congress. Honorary Presidents included the Honorable President of the Republic of Cuba, Dr. Grau San Martin; the Minister of Health and Social Assistance; the Rector of the National University; the Dean of the School of Medicine, and the President of the First Inter-American Congress of Radiology, Dr. José F. Merlo Gómez. Honorary members included the presidents of the societies of radiology of the American continents, the presidents of the medical societies of Cuba, and the Professor of Radiology and Physiotherapy at the National University of Havana, Dr. Manuel Viamonte. The opening meeting was a picturesque and festive affair, which will be long remembered by all who were present. The Congress was inaugurated by the President of the Cuban Republic, Dr. Grau, in the presence of the diplomatic corps and the delegates to the Congress. Dr. J. F. Merlo Gómez, President of the First Inter-American Congress of Radiology, inducted the new President, Dr. Pedro L. Fariñas, of Havana. Both of these physicians spoke at some length on the international character of the science of radiology and the great satisfaction felt by all at the numerous representations from all of the American countries. More than 650 delegates and members of their families were registered at the meeting. Some of the official delegates of the various countries were introduced, and the writer was then called upon for an address on “Radiology in America.”