Abstract

Objectives

The Iglesias resectoscope is used around the world as an important tool in the urologist’s surgical armamentarium. The biography of Iglesias himself, and how the resectoscope came to be, is less well known. We aimed to elucidate the background of the Iglesias instrument, its inventor, and his role in the development of modern transurethral resection techniques

Methods

We conducted interviews with surviving colleagues and students of Jose Iglesius, referenced secondary texts, and contemporary medical publications.

Results

Jose Iglesius was already a well-regarded urologist born in Havana Cuba having invented the instrument that bears his name in the 1950s. He was briefly imprisoned by the Castro regime after the Batista government was overthrown in 1959. His release through private funds brought him safely to the United States where he continued a long academic career at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ).

Conclusions

Jose Iglesius was a Cuban urologist who invented the resectoscope that bears his name, After his paid release from a Castro-regime jail, Iglesius had a successful career at UMDNJ teaching decades of grateful residents