# Manuel Martínez Maldonado

Manuel Martínez Maldonado (born 1937) is a Puerto Rican internist, nephrologist specialist, administrator, educator, poet, and author. Maldonado's roles have included Vice President for Research at Oregon Health and Sciences University (1998-2000), President and Dean of the Ponce School of Medicine (2000–2006), and executive vice president for research at the University of Louisville from 2000 to 2009.

## Early years

Martínez Maldonado was born in Yauco, Puerto Rico. He attended Holy Rosary School in Yauco, St Joseph School in San Germán, and Holy Spirit School in Hato Rey for his primary education. His secondary education was at Matienzo Cintron School in Santurce and JJ Osuna School in Hato Rey. He graduated as president of his class from University High School in 1954.
After graduating from high school, he entered the University of Puerto Rico, where he initially studied chemistry and literature. During his sophomore year, Martínez Maldonado decided to pursue medicine. He graduated magna cum laude and was accepted at Temple University School of Medicine (TUSM), in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he earned his medical degree. After residency in internal medicine at the San Juan Veterans Administration Medical Center and University Hospital, he completed his postdoctoral study on renal and electrolyte metabolism at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
Maldonado became interested in renal physiology and nephrology. He was accepted by the Dallas Southwestern Nephrology Division, where he became an investigator. He became an independent investigator at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, rising from assistant to full professor of medicine with tenure (1968–1973). Nephrology is a branch of internal medicine and pediatrics focused on the study of the function and diseases of the kidney.

## Scientific investigations

Maldonado developed a technique to measure the osmolality of nanoliter samples of proximal tubular fluids. He and his colleagues at Baylor designed a clinical treatment for hypercalcemia that was used until specific medications were developed for the condition in the early 2000s.
In 1973, Martínez Maldonado left his professorship at Baylor University to become Associate Chief of Staff for Research at the San Juan Veterans Administration Medical Center, and professor and Chair of the Department of Physiology, and Professor of Medicine at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine.

## Written works

Martínez Maldonado is married with four children. He has published five books of poetry and two novels.
He has also served as editor or co-editor of several books, including:
* Methods in Pharmacology, vol. IVA, Renal Pharmacology. New York: Plenum Publishing, 1976.
* Co-editor with N. Kurtzman. Renal Pathophysiology. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas, 1976.
* Editor, Methods in Pharmacology, IVB, Renal Pharmacology. New York: Plenum, 1978.
* Co-editor with J.L. Rodicio Diaz. Tratado de Nefrologia. Barcelona, Spain: Editorial Salvat, 1982.
* Editor. Handbook of Renal Therapeutics. New York: Plenum, March 1983.
* Co-editor with G. Eknoyan. The Physiological Basis of Diuretic Therapy in Clinical Medicine. New York: Grune & Stratton, 1986.
* Co-editor with J.F. Macias-Nuñez. Hipertension en Geriatria. Madrid: Jarpyo Editores, 1989.
* Editor, Renal Disease and Hypertension in the Elderly. Boston: Blackwell Scientific, 1992.
* Co-editor with J. Rodicio and J. Herrera Acosta. Tratado de Nefrologia (Treatise on Nephrology). Madrid: Ediciones Norma, 1993.
Poetry
* "La voz sostenida" (1984)
* "Palm Beach Blues" (1986)
* "Por amor al arte" (1989)
* "Hotel María" (1999)
* "Novela de Mediodia (2003)
* "Breve es el amor, Editorial Gaviota, (2019)
* "Toda una vida" (Unpublished) Finalist, Octavio Paz Award 2024
Novel
* "Isla Verde" (El Chevy Azul)1999, Verbum, Madrid
* "El Vuelo del Dragon" 2012, Terranova, San Juan, Puerto Rico
* "Del color de la muerte" 2014 Publicaciones Gaviota, Río Piedras, Puerto Rico
* "El Imperialista Ausente" National Novel Award of the Puerto Rican Institute of Culture, 2013
* "Solo la muerte tiene permanencia", Verbum, Madrid, 2015
* "El descubrimiento", Editorial Gaviota, 2019 Honorable Mention, Puerto Rico PEN Club 2020
* "Ausencia", Editorial Gaviota, 2021 Second Prize, Best Mystery Novel, International Latino Book Awards
* "Historias de Guerras", Editoria Gaviota, 2023
"Essay"
* Testigo: Ver y Pensar, Gaviota 2023
* Testigo 2, Gaviota 2024

## Awards

Martínez Maldonado was elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation in 1973. He is a member of the Association of American Physicians, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences (now the National Academy of Medicine), the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He was also a member of the American Board of Internal Medicine Nephrology panel, and a Master of the American College of Physicians.
He served on numerous boards of editors and was Chief Editor of The American Journal of the Medical Sciences (1994–98).
He is listed in Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World and presided over the Southern Society for Clinical Investigation and the Latin American Society of Nephrology and Hypertension.
In 1975, while a Professor of Medicine and Physiology at the University of Puerto Rico, he was appointed Chief of Medical Services at the San Juan Veterans Administration Medical Center. In 1991, he was awarded the Founders Medal of the Southern Society for Clinical Investigations. In 1990, he was appointed Chief of the Medical Services at the Atlanta VA Center, as well as Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Medicine at Emory University. Later, at OHSU in Portland, Oregon, he contributed to the creation of the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Center. In 2000, Martínez Maldonado was named president and dean of the Ponce School of Medicine, where he obtained full accreditation and improved its finances. In 2006, he was selected as the executive vice president for research at the University of Louisville, overseeing the building and completion of the Center for Predictive Medicine, a level-3 biodefense laboratory in the United States.