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Advocate Christ Medical Center was a fledgling institution when Dr. Hugo Cuadros began his career.
"In the early years, Christ was truly a community hospital in the middle of nowhere," the Palos Park resident says.
"Beyond Central and 95th Street there was nothing. But the location was good. I recognized that this institution had a great future."
As the first heart specialist to join the staff in 1972, Cuadros pioneered the cardiology program and helped launch the critical care unit three years later.
He served as the Oak Lawn hospital's section of cardiology chief in the department of medicine for 25 years.
Recently, the institution recognized his long-term efforts by naming him Outstanding Physician Leader.
"What was very, very important to me was that they recognized my concern for patients, and I felt very gratified," he says.
For Cuadros, who heads a group of 17 specialists in the MidAmerica Cardiology Group, being a physician is a dream come true.
"I always wanted to be a doctor even though there were no doctors in my family," the Bolivia native says.
"So I plowed through, but it was not easy coming from a different culture and language."
Cuadros obtained his medical education in the U.S. and served as a Chicago White Sox doctor for 20 years.
He credits his wife, Linda, with being instrumental in everything he's ever done.
The father of four, who is a first time grandpa, made his biggest professional contribution to the hospital.
"That was my dream," he says, "for Christ Hospital to become recognized as a very important care center for the heart patient."
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