President Luis Abinader was in attendance. But the focus on Wednesday, 18 Septembrer 2024 was on Cardinal Nicolas Lopez Rodríguez who was present for the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Advanced Medical and Telemedicine Diagnostic Center (Cedimat). Cedimat is a public hospital with private administration. It is the leading hospital that offers quality care and has been incidental in reducing the number of Dominicans traveling abroad for medical services.
The hospital was the brainchild of the late physician Juan Manuel Taveras Rodríguez who worked at Massachusetts General Hospital and convinced then President Joaquin Balaguer of the importance of installing the medical center with its division of Plaza de la Salud and Cedimat. Cedimat opened in 1999.
The significant contributions of Cardinal Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez to the sustained success of Cedimat were celebrated on Wednesday, 18 September 2024 during the institution’s 25th anniversary.
A special mass presided over by Bishop Jesús Castro Marte kicked off the event, highlighting Cedimat’s decades of service to the Dominican community.
During the ceremony, José Luis Corripio Estrada, first vice president of Cedimat’s board of trustees, emphasized the pivotal role played by Cardinal López Rodríguez in the institution’s growth and achievements. To honor the cardinal’s enduring legacy, Cedimat’s Cardiovascular Center was officially renamed after him. “None of Dr. Juan Manuel Taveras Rodríguez’s dreams for Cedimat would have been possible without the invaluable presence and leadership of His Eminence, Cardinal Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez,” Corripio stated.
Despite suffering from Alzheimers, reports are that the cardinal was visibly moved by the tribute.
Cardinal López Rodríguez served as Archbishop of Santo Domingo for 36 years until his retirement in 2016. He was a steadfast supporter of Cedimat since its inception.
Cedimat has provided care to over 3.9 million patients, representing a significant portion of the Dominican population. The center has also been at the forefront of medical innovation and technology, offering specialized clinics and training programs.
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El Dia
19 September 2024