50-year old anesthesiologist Luis Peña Núñez was chosen to preside the Dominican Medical Association (CMD) as of 12 December 2025. He replaces Dr. Waldo Ariel Suero who has for the most times held the position. Reportedly, he had the backing of Suero.
Diario Libre highlights that while Dr. Pena Nunez is a seasoned anesthesiologist, he is also known for his successes in the arts. He has credits as an actor and composer for films like “El Sistema” and “Yo Soy Bernabé.”
In an interview with Diario Libre, the incoming medical guild president highlighted his top priority: drastically reducing the rate of medical unemployment, especially among general practitioners.
According to Dr. Peña Núñez, of the over 45,000 doctors registered with the CMD, fewer than 20,000 are currently employed in the public hospital system.
He attributes this growing gap to several factors, including:
A reduction in available positions within private clinics.
The prioritization of specialists, displacing general doctors.
A surge in graduates from private universities.
A general lack of job opportunities in crucial medical areas.
To address this critical situation, Dr. Peña Núñez plans to propose a structural plan for new vacancies to the Executive Branch. Crucially, this initiative will include a completely reformed and transparent hiring process.
Modernization and transparency
Beyond job creation, the new CMD administration will also prioritize internal reforms, including:
Digitalization: Modernizing the guild by digitizing administrative processes.
Oversight: Supervising medical hiring competitions to ensure fairness.
Coordination: Working closely with Health Risk Administrators (ARS) and universities to guarantee greater transparency and efficiency across the medical sector.
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Diario Libre
27 November 2025