In this period of confronting the pandemic, epidemiologist Aldo Cortés González has been the most visible face in the province of Las Tunas, just as Dr. Durán is for all the Cuban people.

The small office is just a physical space where he is "anchored" right now. There he is accompanied by a couple of armchairs, the computer, and a few papers on the table; also me, who ventures to travel with Dr. Aldo Cortés González through the memories of yesteryear, those that take him to another dimension and at times make him smile or moisten his eyes.

He returns through his memories to his hometown, Puerto Padre, and by the expression on his face, it seems that he is crossing the threshold of the door of that place where it all began. He hurries to rummage in the corners that bring back to him even the smell of saltpeter, the sea breeze, and imprison his chest before the indelible imprint of difficult times.

Of very humble origin, he was the third of three siblings, and the first of his parents' "miracles", after several failed pregnancies. His father was a baker and his mother worked as a domestic in a house. They made many sacrifices to support the family. He remembers her working in the fields, "glued" to a pan, taking care of children in the evenings, or ironing to bring home a few pesos. Meanwhile, he is reminded of his father with the mud up to his chest, looking for milk for breakfast and other food.

He speaks with a mixture of emotion and pride that reveals his greatness as a human being. Amid that simplicity, he knew he was fortunate and possessed the most valuable riches, those that allowed him to become a good man and that today are an inherent part of his projection in life. Honesty, humility, righteousness, gentleness, solidarity... the legacy of his parents.

"My neighborhood was the best in the world. We kids would go out to the porch to talk and play volleyball, and the older ones to play dominoes. We shared a plate of food, and even the Special Period didn't have the same impact as in other places, because we helped each other," he says.

And it was not only history books that made him appreciate the Revolution, but its roots. He knows well how much light came with the triumph of 1959. When he was 11 years old, he taught several adults, and the satisfaction of teaching them to read and write is "tattooed" on his chest. Perhaps that is why he never completely let go of his childhood dream of becoming a teacher.

THE ROAD TO MEDICINE

He smiles and tries, in some way, to share that piece of life, and manages to capture me, I know that in there, in that place invisible to my eyes, there are feelings that words cannot express.

"Since I was a pioneer, I occupied responsibilities as a health worker, youth correspondent, announcer in a radio program and in a circle of interest that allowed me to teach adults. I always thought of opting for teaching, although I had the dilemma between that profession and Medicine because I was sickly and I had the image of those professionals who treated me in Holguín for changes in blood sugar.

"In 1972 I attended a National Congress of Monitors and in the Secondary School, I held several positions. In that period, I was selected to travel to the Soviet Union."

"I opted for the Manuel Ascunce Domenech Detachment, but I was suffering from pharyngitis and could not join. After completing the Senior High School, I applied for Medicine and began to study in Santiago de Cuba, then in Holguin and ended up here in Las Tunas."

When did Epidemiology come into your life?

"It came by chance. Because of my trajectory as a leader in the University Student Federation, I was appointed municipal director of Health in 'Colombia' and I spent two years in those functions. Later I took on other tasks in the Provincial Health Directorate, and because of the results of the collective they allowed me to travel to Sweden."

"Later on there was a process of updating the Party card, and we were informed that to be administrative cadres we could not be surgeons, which was what I wanted to study. So I had to choose between Health Administration and Epidemiology. Now I can affirm that if I were allowed to choose again, I would not think of any other branch but my own."

"My work is very close to social and community work, and I consider that there is no better epidemiologist than a family physician because he or she assesses the causes that generate health problems in the population. This specialty not only interprets the health indexes of a community but also proposes solutions and designs educational strategies to empower people regarding their responsibilities."

What have been the biggest challenges you have faced? Any particular satisfaction?

"One of the main challenges has been the lack of understanding, even within the sector itself, from colleagues who are dogmatic and do not look for alternatives to solve difficulties. And yes, we have to apply the theory that appears in books, but adapt it to our reality. An epidemiologist must be prepared to delve into the conditions and causes that generate the problem because the mistakes made by epidemiology can have long-term consequences."

"Not a few colleagues believe that those who opt for this professional field do so to do little work. And they are wrong. This branch is one of those that if the work is not there you have to look for it, and be proactive."

"My greatest satisfaction is the affection and gratitude of the people."

Epidemiology has never been as recognized as it is today. How have you experienced the pandemic and how much does it contribute to you professionally?

"It has helped us to grow and to understand how much we still have to learn. We began to tackle a practically unknown epidemic and without having the conditions, we created them with immediacy. It has been a school that has allowed us to unite the people of Las Tunas and their institutions. It has not only been an effort of Health, but the whole society."

"I have had the honor of being in the front line of this battle, and yes, that implies efforts that extend to the family, mainly my wife, who has carried on her shoulders the weight of the household. I have gained many friends, such as the cab drivers who transport samples and staff, and they deserve all the recognition."

How do you perceive the training of new medical professionals?

"It is a responsibility of ours and rather than criticize young people, we should check ourselves inside and analyze what we failed to do and teach them."

***
Very little remained of the serene atmosphere in which our dialogue began. The necessary interruptions forced us to pause the recorder again and again. They brought us back to the present, a broken thread that served to show the daily dynamics of Cortés González, those that barely offer him a breath of fresh air.

I am very grateful for that shared time and I carry with me the image of that sensitive, humble, disinterested human being... and, above all, a follower of Fidel's thought and revolutionary. "Fidel was and will be a father, guide, and inspiration," he says visibly moved while describing as one of his precious experiences the instant when the Leader of the Revolution put his hand on his shoulder.

"If I were born again, I would first ask to have the same family, and I would try, from the beginning, to study Epidemiology and learn more about Informatics to get the most out of the specialty."

This is what he said minutes before saying goodbye to this enormous fellow citizen in the right dimension of dedication and life; a good man who will always honor his colleagues with his example of consecration. It is the perpetual love to our Army in White Coats.