José Humberto Ocariz

José Humberto Ocariz Espinel (October 1, 1919 – March 8, 2016) was a Venezuelan physician, university professor, writer, and musical composer. He was an early figure in the development of gastroenterology in Venezuela and introduced the use of laparoscopy techniques in the country. In 1956, he published a Spanish language manual on the subject.

Early life

Ocariz was born at the "La Argelia" estate, near Las Dantas, in what is now the Bolívar Municipality of Táchira State. He completed his primary education in Rubio, and graduated from the Liceo Fermín Toro in Caracas in 1937. He studied medicine at the University of the Andes (ULA) and the Central University of Venezuela (UCV). At UCV, he earned his Doctorate in Medical Sciences in 1943, presenting the thesis "Obstetric Shock."

Career He began his career as a rural doctor in the town of La Azulita, Mérida, where he founded the "Tulio Febres Cordero" hospital. He later worked in Zea and Tovar. In 1945, he joined the Faculty of Medicine at the University of the Andes in Mérida as a professor of medical pathology and worked at the University Hospital of the Andes.

In 1953, he traveled to Europe for postgraduate studies, earning a diploma in 1955 from the School of Digestive Pathology at the Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau in Barcelona, Spain. In 1957, Ocariz established the Chair of Gastroenterology at the University Hospital of Mérida. In the early 1960s, he conducted further specialized studies in digestive pathology at institutions in Germany and the United Kingdom. He spent his entire academic career at ULA, reaching the rank of Full Professor, until his retirement.

Writing and music Ocariz wrote medicine, poetry, chronicles, and oratory. He has been described to be the originator of the term tachiraneidad to describe the cultural identity of the people of Táchira.

He published scientific papers in specialized journals. His published books include: As a musical composer, his work includes bambucos, pasodobles, pasillos, and joropos. His music is part of the traditional Andean Venezuelan repertoire and has been recorded on several albums. His song "Entre tu mata de pelo" is featured in the film Candelas en la Niebla by director Alberto Arvelo.