Dr. Antonio Fernós-Isern (May 10, 1885 – January 19, 1974) born in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico was the first Puerto Rican cardiologist and longest serving "Resident Commissioner".

Biography

Fernos-Isern attended primary and secondary school in his hometown, San Lorenzo. After graduating from high school, he moved to Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania where he attended the "Pennsylvania State Normal School". On May 1915, Fernos-Isern earned his Degree in Medicine upon graduating from the "College of Physicians and Surgeons and School of Medicine" of the University of Maryland.

Fernos-Isern settled in the city of Caguas upon his return to Puerto Rico, where he practiced medicine for two years. From 1919-1933, he held various administrative positions in the health services of Puerto Rico.

In 1933, Fernos-Isern resigned from his position as health commissioner and went to New York. In New York he completed his residency in cardiology at Columbia University, thus becoming the "first" Puerto Rican cardiologist. Upon his return to Puerto Rico, he became a professor at the "Public School of Tropical Medicine of Puerto Rico".

In 1937, Fernos-Isern helped Luis Muñoz Marin organize the "Liberal Party", which later was renamed the "Popular Democratic Party" (Partido Popular Democratico). In 1942, he served as director of civilian defense for the metropolitan area of Puerto Rico. At various times, Fernos-Isern was the acting governor of Puerto Rico, during the Governorship of Rexford G. Tugwell .

In 1945, the appointed governor of Puerto Rico, Jesus T. Piñero, selected Fernos-Isern as his replacement for Resident Commissioner to the U.S. Congress. Fernos-Isern was reelected for six consecutive years for a total of nineteen years. As Resident Commissioner, Fernos-Isern played a very important role in convincing the Government of the United States to give Puerto Ricans the right to govern their island. In 1947, the "Crawford Project", allowing Puerto Ricans to elect their governor was approved by Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman.

On June 8, 1950, the Senate approved the "Public Law 600", allowing Puerto Rico to establish its own constitutional government. Fernos-Isern served as president of the "Constitutional Convention", which formulated the status of "Commonwealth" {Estado Libre Asociado).

Fernos-Isern did not seek reelection in 1964. He returned to Puerto Rico from Washington, D.C. the following year where he was elected to the Puerto Rican Senate, serving from 1965-1969.

Antonio Fernos-Isern died in San Juan, Puerto Rico on January 19, 1974.

See also

• List of famous Puerto Ricans