Emmy Award-winning actor Hector Elizondo paid a visit to San Antonio last week, speaking about his successful 40-year career and his particular interest in medicine.
The well-known actor, musician and social activist was invited by Abraham Verghese, M.D., D.Sc. (Hon.), director of the Center for Medical Humanities and Ethics at the Health Science Center, to discuss his role in the CBS television series
Chicago Hope. Tuesday evening, community members and leaders joined Elizondo and Dr. Verghese for a dinner and conversation at the Alameda Theater. The event was hosted by Henry Muñoz, III.
Dr. Verghese said that of the many roles Elizondo has played, it was his role as Dr. Phillip Watters on
Chicago Hope that tracks most closely with the goals of the Center for Medical Humanities and Ethics. "In that show, Hector played the role of a busy chief of staff of the hospital. Over time, almost every ethical dilemma we want our students to learn and think about was portrayed in that show."
The
San Antonio Express-News reported that the actor “shared his love for healing.”
“I've always been interested in anything that heals, whether it's laughter or a good play, and certainly with my association with the program
Chicago Hope over six seasons gave me a view of medicine and doctors and their work," the Express News reported. "I have empathy for their (doctors') work and the difficulty they face."
The event, complete with a delicious meal, began with a bowl of tortilla soup for each guest in honor of Elizondo’s star role in the award-winning movie “Tortilla Soup.” In the movie he portrayed a Mexican-American master chef who discovers that the recipe for happiness requires a series of ingredients he never imagined.
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| Elizondo talked with students and signed autographs while he was on campus last Tuesday. | |
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While in San Antonio, Elizondo also took time on Tuesday afternoon to talk to faculty, staff and students in a question and answer session on campus.
"I felt Hector Elizondo could bring home to our students in a memorable way some of the very hard decisions they will need to make in their lives as physicians,” Dr. Verghese said. “It was very rewarding that he was excited about visiting with them.”
Elizondo has appeared in more than 80 films and television shows, for which he earned five Emmy Award nominations. A few of his film credits include “Pretty Woman,” “The Princess Diaries” and “Runaway Bride.” He serves on the board of The Creative Coalition, a nonprofit organization whose primary goal is to retain the arts in education as part of the core curriculum.
