In Memoriam

Abstract

at the age of 61. A highly regarded Colombian Orthopedist-Traumatologist and Spine Surgeon, he has left a wealth of achievements in the field of medicine, and a deep void in the heart of his family, his circle of friends, and the scientific and academic community worldwide. His extensive career in medicine began in the classrooms of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, where he earned his degree with honors, for the title of Surgeon, in 1977. From that time, his life was marked by an enormous capacity for work, a deep respect for human beings, and an immense sensitivity towards his patients, and the needs and suffering of the society as a whole. Germán, or rather, "prof." Ochoa as many of his students used to call him, was a warm, friendly man, despite the seriousness of his voice, which carried a hint of severity that lent a profound solemnity to his opinions and utterances. In his day-today activities, he was an easygoing man, tolerant, and respectful of all those with whom he came into contact. Always willing to help, generous in his dedication, and totally committed to his work. He was a perfectionist, even to the point of going beyond what would be physically tolerable for most human beings; in short, he was a special being, a passionate man endowed with many talents, including the ability to bring order, the lucidity of his thought, and the clarity and eloquence of his voice, characteristics that led him to become a man who transcended; a leader in every sense of the word. His first steps during his pre-university years were devoted to social communication, through radio Santafé, a local radio station of Bogotá, where he served as announcer and presenter, tasks that he would later combine with his other passions, medicine and football. He was always devoted to Millionarios, the team of the capital city, and to the national Colombian team, which he had the opportunity to follow during several campaigns in the 1980s as a commentator for the then new television program, el Gol Caracol-which still exists today-and which he followed as a faithful supporter, to its most glorious moment in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The 1980s defined his career, which was oriented toward social service through another of his great passions, medicine. He became a specialist in Orthopedics and Traumatology on the program of the Universidad Militar Nueva Granada at the Hospital Militar Central, in 1986. Between 1984 and 1988, while still a resident, and in his early years as a specialist, he shaped his profile as an enthusiast and expert in pathology of the spinal column, performing corrective surgeries as a fellow in Vertebral Scoliosis