Dr. Alfonso Ortiz Tirado

Biographical sketch

Ortiz Tirado was born in Alamos, Sonora, on January 24th, 1893. He spent his first years in Culiacan, Sinaloa and moved to Mexico City with his mother and siblings after his father passed away. He studied elementary and junior high at Colegio de Mascarones where his ability for singing was set in evidence.
Afterwards he entry to the Escuela Nacional Preparatoria and after that he entry to the School of Medicine, received his professional title in 1919 and practice with dedication, humanism and ability. As a surgeon was member of the American Academy of Surgery, of the Indo-Latin Academy of Medicine, professor of UNAM’s School of Medicine and member of several medical organizations from Mexico and abroad.
Ortiz Tirado had many satisfactions because of his interesting contribution to science. His first tendency was for gynecology, but at last he decided for orthopedic with specialization in plastic surgery.
He was Frida Kahlo’s bedside doctor to whom he practiced several surgeries, and he also operated the cheek of musician and composer Agustin Lara; due to his negotiations Mexico got the first Olby table for spinal surgery.
In his artistic career he improved his natural voice of tenor and dedicated to travel to Center and South-America, United States and some European countries, without putting aside his medicine practice. He was recognized like a great artist who placed on high the name of Mexico, his country and the name of Sonora, his native land.
His personal appearances made possible the construction of the building where the children hospital was established on Niños Heroes Street, Doctores neighborhood in Mexico City. Later, this same building sheltered the Cardiology Unit of the Social Security, the institution who bought the building. On the patio of the building was a bronze plate with the words: “I elevate with my singing this temple to relieve pain”, and the names of the countries were “Chino” (his nick name) Ortiz Tirado performed successfully. Unfortunately that plate disappeared when the hospital change owners.
Doctor Alfonso Ortiz Tirado died in Mexico City on September 7th, 1960; he was buried in Panteón Francés de la Piedad in the capital.