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PRESIDENTIAL
REMINISCES

PRESIDENTIAL

REMINISCES

Jose M. Benavides, MD, F.A.C.P.

Past-Presidents of our beloved County Medical Society have been
asked to reminisce a bit to the times when they were at the helm
and try to write something that might have impacted their lives dur-
ing the time they were in office.
I am absolutely sure that everyone that occupied the top position
has a lot to remember from the hundreds of hours we were in-
volved in medical, local state or national activities related to our
presidency.
The archives of our organization have plenty of information as
to what went on during our years as president. My case is not dif-
ferent, however, what impacted me the most was our society’s in-
volvement with the tragic events that occurred in Mexico City as a
direct consequence of the earthquake in September 1985. In addi-
tion to the thousands of lives lost and the horrendous physical de-
struction, the earthquake affected two of the largest hospitals there
at one of the worst times possible. It hit at 7:20 a.m. on Sept. 20,
1985, just at the time when many physicians were making their
rounds or in the surgical or OB suites and the tragedy killed hun-
dreds of people including healthcare personnel, patients and 114
physicians as well as injuring dozens of young doctors.
Many Mexican, American and world-wide organizations imme- some of the injured young physicians and all the local hospitals of-
diately got involved to help, to rescue the injured and to recover the fered free care for the six of them that we brought.
victims. That event touched many of us here in San Antonio. I got B: I started to gather donations/funds with the purpose to de-
several calls from concerned colleagues who were trying to find a liver personally to the young widows, parents or other immediate
way to get involved in helping. I particularly remember calls from relatives of the 114 physicians killed. Lots of work and time was
Doctors Jake Meadows, Al Thaddeus and J. B. Gonzalez and we all involved and I am proud to say that I delivered into the hands of
tried to devise means to organize a plan to help our brothers and those relatives 110 checks in a very emotional event in Mexico City
sisters in Mexico City, those who were injured and to find a way to and with so many people helping us here and in Mexico City. The
get in touch with relatives of those who perished and manifest coordination worked very well.
somehow our deep condolences. Needless to say, that with each I’m proud to say that our medical society and the presidents in
phone call we all cried and perhaps my colleagues might have turn for 1985 and 1986 assisted me and Ms. Carole Ancelin from
thought that I was a graduate from Mexico City Medical School. our society and it was a great help. Anyone who wishes additional
My good fortune was to receive another information in regards to the above, I suggest to check the annals
call, this one from my beloved friend and col- of our society or to give me a call. I am very happy that our society
league Dr. Albert Sanders (left). He helped by got involved and that we were able to provide a little help to our
making the connections with an orthopedic brothers and sisters to the south.
specialist as himself who was very familiar Thank you, Al Sanders.
with the organizations of the hospitals in-
volved and we developed a two-prong plan: Dr. Jose M. Benavides was president of the Bexar County Medical Society
A: We were able to bring to San Antonio in 1984.

visit us at www.bcms.org 29