The oath taken on November 14, 1965, by the group of physicians and dentists during the first graduation of professionals completely trained by the Revolution during a ceremony held at Turquino Peak 14, in the Sierra Maestra Mountains, on the eastern side of the island, was repeated in Havana 45 years later.

A group of 400 doctors and 26 dentists representing those who took part in that  ceremony, inspired by the ideas of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro, met at Havana’s Latin American Medical School (ELAM), where they recalled the moment when  they received their certificates as medical doctors, signed by the leader of the Revolution.

The physicians ratified the commitment they made that day, the commitment of boosting, as much as they could, preventive medicine and dentistry, the objective of which is the well-being of man and being more useful to society.

The group, which gave up the private exercise of these health professions and expanded rural medical service to two years or more, also expressed the high principles of proletarian internationalism and their willingness to provide aid to other peoples.

At present, 50,000 youngsters from 118 nations are studying in Cuba, by way of the ELAM project, devised by Fidel Castro.

On behalf of graduates, Dr. Ángel Fernández stressed the hope that, “with the Commander in Chief, as well as with the wholehearted incorporation of all of us in this struggle against wars, destruction and aggressions to the environment, in the end life will triumph and the human race will continue to exist.”

Juan Carrizo, rector of the ELAM, which celebrated the 11th anniversary of its foundation on November 15, underlined Fidel's dream come true of conquering other peaks like the Turquino, of achieving many other victories, and now 8,000 physicians from 30 countries and six graduations are currently offering their services all over the world demonstrating that ideas are stronger than trenches of stone.

He informed that there are 105 ELAM graduates from 17 countries in Haiti, 57 of which are in the frontline of the battle against cholera.


Baron Hidrovo, an Ecuadorian student, considered the great significance of the ELAM’s work, which weaves in all of its students a rose rooted in humanist awareness, justice and in the need of uniting America and achieving a new world  based on the principles of internationalism, as well as the liberation  and self-determination of the peoples.


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