Tribute to Guillermo Tortolero-Luna
GUILLERMO TORTOLERO-LUNA
1953-2024
1953-2024
| Dr. Guillermo Tortolero-Luna was a scientist with over 30 years of experience in cancer prevention and control. He completed medical studies at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and then completed his master's and doctoral studies in epidemiology at the University of Houston, Texas, USA. He then joined the MD Anderson Cancer Center at Houston, where he was Assistant Director of Clinical Research, as well as the faculty of the University of Texas in the Department of Gynecology Oncology. He was also a Professor of Epidemiology, Occupational Health, and Behavioral Sciences and Health Promotion at the University of Houston, School of Public Health. In 2006, Dr. Tortolero-Luna moved to Puerto Rico where he was appointed Director of the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences of the University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center (UPRCCC). For 17 years, Dr. Tortolero-Luna was key for the expansion of the UPRCCC as a research and service institution. Among his roles, he was the Director of institutional programs funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including the Puerto Rico Central Cancer Registry, the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, and the Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Control Program. He also helped lead efforts funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), including the Puerto Rico Community Cancer Research Program (NCORP) and the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Training Program (CAPAC). Dr. Guillermo Tortolero-Luna was a renowned researcher in the area of HPV and related cancers. In 2012 he was the leader of the Organizing Committee of the International HPV Conference, which was held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was also a supporter and collaborator of organizations focused on cancer prevention and control, including the American Cancer Society and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). With the latter, he had the opportunity to collaborate in the development of the First Latin American and Caribbean Code against Cancer led by IARC and the World Health Organization. He was also part of the HPV Expert Advisory Panel and contributed greatly to the cervical cancer elimination plan for Puerto Rico. Dr. Tortolero-Luna had over 140 scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals and mentored many researchers and practitioners in the field of public health. He was respected and admired by his work teams. With his dedication, he supported the development and implementation of research, training, and service programs for Puerto Rico and other world regions in the area of cancer prevention and control. Dr. Tortolero-Luna left an indelible mark on all of us. We will always remember with gratitude his valuable contributions and will continue to carry on his legacy. May our dear colleague and friend rest in peace! Download pdf Written by Dr. Ana Patricia Ortiz, PhD, MPH Lead Investigator, University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Center (UPRCCC) and Associate Director, Office of Cancer Research Training and Education Coordination, UPRCCC. |
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