José Gregorio Hernández: The Paths of Good Deeds

Abstract

The Polish French scientist Marie Curie, renowned Nobel Prize winner in the areas of Physics and Chemistry, expressed a significant phrase that I will evoke to begin this article about the Doctor, Scientist and recently Blessed José Gregorio Hernández Cisneros; Curie expressed: “The best life is not the longest, but the one richest in good actions.” If something characterized the life of José Gregorio Hernández, it was his great actions, which reveal to us the extraordinary person who, with his hands full of love, wisdom and generosity, unconditionally helped his family, friends, students, patients and all those people who at some point received the good faith of their works. José Gregorio Hernández was a man of science, research and academia, also a philosopher, psychologist, polyglot, piano virtuoso, painter and tailor.

In his life's work he used scientific reason and innovative creativity, in the noble practice of medicine and research in search of answers to the serious health problems faced by the Venezuelan population of that time. Through his home medical consultations, he dedicated himself to caring for the sick who lacked health and economic resources. This vulnerable population was assisted by Dr. José Gregorio Hernández, with dedication, humility and with a deep conviction to do good in the name of God, these medical actions converted him into the popular imagination and sentiment as the doctor of the poor.