Mario R. García Palmieri

Dr. Mario R. García Palmieri
Born	August 2, 1927 Adjuntas, Puerto Rico
Nationality	Puerto Rican
Occupation	Cardiologist
Notes García Palmieri is the first Hispanic to have the distinction of being designated a "Master" by the American College of Cardiology

Dr. Mario Rubén García Palmieri ^{[note 1]} Phd; MACC; (born August 2, 1927) is a cardiologist and the first Hispanic to have the distinction of being designated a "Master" by the American College of Cardiology (MACC) in recognition of his contributions to the field of cardiology. Among the many societies which he has resided are the Puerto Rican Society of Cardiology and the PR Medical Association.

Early years

García Palmieri was born in the town of Adjuntas, Puerto Rico, and received his secondary education in the town of Aguadilla. He was accepted by the University of Puerto Rico where he earned his Bachelor in Science degree. His family was very humble and could not afford to pay for his continued education, however García Palmieri because of his grades (he was a Magna Cum Laude student) was the recipient of a scholarship program offered by the University of Puerto Rico for outstanding students. He graduated from the Magna Cum Laude from the UPR in 1949.^[1] After he graduated from UPR, he applied and was accepted in the School of Medicine of the University of Maryland and earned his medical degree in 1951. He returned to Puerto Rico where he completed his residency. He then went to the School of Medicine at the University of Puerto Rico where he continued his professional training in internal medicine and cardiology thus, becoming the first cardiologist to be trained in Puerto Rico.^[2][3][4]

School of Medicine at the University of Puerto Rico

In 1960, García Palmieri was named Director of Internal Medicine of the School of Medicine at the University of Puerto Rico (RCM), position which he held until 1995, and in 1961 Director of the institutions cardiology program. During this period (1966 - 1967), he was named by Roberto Sánchez Vilella, the governor of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico’s Secretary of Heath. He resigned from the position because of heath problems and returned to the RCM.^[2][3][4]

García Palmieri has published 178 medicine articles, 6 books, and more than 80 newspapers columns geared to orient the people concerning medical problems. He participated in two presidential medical commissions, one under the presidency of Richard Nixon and the other under the presidency of Jimmy Carter. The commissions published nine books on their investigations of which five were co-authored by Garcia Palmieri.^[2][3][4]

Memberships

García Palmieri holds Fellowships in the Royal Society of Health, the American College of Chest Physicians, the European Society of Cardiology, and the American Heart Association. He is also the only person to serve twice as president of the International Society of Cardiology.^[2][3][4] In 1956 he was president of Fi Sigma Alfa fraternity.^[1]

Honors

García Palmieri is the first person on whom the University of Puerto Rico bestowed the title of "Distinguished Professor." In 1980, he received the International Achievement Award of the American Heart Association. His many honors include the title of Master of the College of Physicians (1984), and the Honor and Gold Key Award (1989) for most distinguished alumnus in the University of Maryland. In 1996, the University of Puerto Rico established the Mario Garcia Palmieri endowed chair, and the main bi-annual lecture of the Interamerican Congress of Cardiology bears his name.^[5]

In 2001, he was awarded the ACP Laureate Award. The award honors those members of the ACP in Puerto Rico who have demonstrated, by their example and conduct, an abiding commitment to excellence in medical care, education or research, and in service to their community and the ACP. Recipients of the award bear the title "Laureate of the Puerto Rico Chapter."^[6] He has the distinction of being the first Hispanic designated a "Master" by the American College of Cardiology.^[2][3][4] The cardiologists achieving highest distinction in the field are awarded the title Master of the American College of Cardiology (M.A.C.C.). This honor is bestowed upon a maximum of three cardiologists in practice each year.^[7] He has also been decorated by the governments of the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Spain. In 1999 he was given the "Medalla de Honor" of Fi Sigma Alfa Fraternity.^[1]

Written works

Among his written works are the following:

• Lo Que Debes Saber Sobre Tu Salud; Publisher: La Editorial Universidad de Puerto Rico (January 1, 2000); ISBN 0847701077; ISBN 978-0847701070
• The Electrocardiogram and Vectorcardiogram in Congenital Heart Disease; Publisher: Grune & Stratton (1965); ASIN: B000IRBWY8
• The International Society and Federation of Cardiology and its components: historical data, 1950-1990; Publisher M.R. Garcia-Palmieri, 1990
• Historia Grafica De La Sociedad Interamericana De Cardiologia 1944-1999; Publisher s.n.; ISBN 0965010805 / 9780965010801 / 0-9650108-0-5

See also

	Puerto Rico portal
	Biography portal

• List of Puerto Ricans
• Puerto Rican scientists and inventors

Notes

1. ^
   This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is García and the second or maternal family name is Palmieri.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Luis Bartolomé Rivera, ed (October 2003). 75 Años de Hermandad. Puerto Rico: Fi Sigma Alfa. p. 11. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Dr. Mario R. García Palmieri recibe distinción prestigiosa"; Por: Rosa Rivera Medina; Especial para ESCENARIO
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} ACCPR News
4. ^ ^{a b c d e} Primer Cardiologo Entrenado en PR
5. ^ Profiles in Cardiology by JORGEORTEGA-GIL, M.D., ANDALBERT L. WALDO, M.D.
6. ^ American Colleg e of Physicians
7. ^ American College of Cardiology

Persondata
Name
Alternative names	Garcia Palmieri, Mario R.
Short description	Cardiologist
Date of birth	August 2, 1927
Place of birth	Adjuntas, Puerto Rico
Date of death
Place of death