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Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja Birthday Composition Oct 12, 2025

by Thuppil Venkatesh The Lead Man of India.

Of course! It is an honour to help celebrate such a distinguished and beloved individual. Here is a powerful and emotional birthday song for Professor Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja,

“El Corazón de las Alturas” (The Heart of the High Altitudes)

(Music Suggestion: A melody that begins softly, like a dawn over the Andes, with traditional Bolivian charango or quena flute, then swells into a powerful, emotional chorus with full orchestra and choir. It should blend Andean folk with a universal, cinematic feel.)

Click on the link below to listen to the musical audio!!

“El Corazón de las Alturas” (The Heart of the High Altitudes)
Words: Prof. Thuppil Venkatesh
AI Music Score: Ing. William Quinajo.

(Verse 1)
From the roof of the world, in La Paz’s thin air,
A legacy was born, a mission rare.
Following the path of a Parvatha Guru’s name,
You lit your own flame, in the high-altitude frame.
Through Chronic Hypoxia, a mystery you seek,
A voice for the mountain-strong, for the gentle and the meek.

(Chorus)
Oh, Gustavo, with a heart so vast and true,
Happy Birthday to you, from skies of every hue!
From the Andes to the Himalayas, your wisdom takes its flight,
Bringing light to the darkness, making science bright.
You are a bridge of knowledge, a truly global friend,
On this day we celebrate you, may your joys have no end!

(Verse 2)
Your home is in India, a second sacred land,
With the Lead Man, Venkatesh, walking hand in hand.
A sleep association, a bond woven deep,
Promises to the scientific world you keep.
As Chancellor now, you guide with a steady hand,
Nurturing young minds across this great land.

(Chorus)
Oh, Gustavo, with a heart so vast and true,
Happy Birthday to you, from skies of every hue!
From the Andes to the Himalayas, your wisdom takes its flight,
Bringing light to the darkness, making science bright.
You are a bridge of knowledge, a truly global friend,
On this day we celebrate you, may your joys have no end!

(Bridge)
And at your side, a family, so wonderful and kind,
Lucrecia’s grace, a brilliant diplomatic mind.
One daughter Dr Natalia heals, with a PhD’s quest,
The other, Rafaïla, with a voice the heavens blessed.
A multilingual home, filled with laughter and with song,
A happy, helpful family, where you truly belong.

(Final Chorus – More Powerful and Emotional)
Oh, Gustavo, with a heart so vast and true,
Happy Birthday to you, from all of us to you!
From the Andes to the Himalayas, your legacy takes flight,
A beacon in the darkness, a resounding, brilliant light!
You are a pillar of knowledge, a brother and a friend,
On this day we celebrate you, may your happiness never end!

(Outro)
Feliz Cumpleaños, Professor, from this friend so dear,
Your impact echoes far and wide, for all the world to hear.
May your year be filled with love, and music sweet and clear.
Happy Birthday, Gustavo! We’re so glad you’re here! And Always in our heart.

MY RESPONSE :

My dear Venky, the legendary Lead Man of India:

I don’t think anyone in the history of mankind in science has had such intense privilege to receive such a musical and poetic composition that lifts his birthday celebration beyond the truly imaginable homage.
I have such great debt in my life with you my dear and admired Venky!!

I remember the 4th World Congress on High Altitude Medicine and Physiology in Arica, Chile, held from October 1st to 6th, 2000 — the moment our paths first crossed. I still recall that instant on the bus when you gently placed your hand over mine, radiating warmth and an unmistakable light that awakened something profound within me. From that moment on, you became a guiding presence, leading me toward wisdom with patience and grace. You later took my father and me to India — a journey that would forever change us. Over the years, I followed your generous invitations to return to that magnificent land six times, a place where kindness and spirituality soar above all other cultures of the world.

Group photo with the medical colleague the second from the left that had served as medical doctor in the indian army and who referred his adaptation to high altitude and who commented on his experience on adaptation at such high altitude

You took me—and my deeply grateful family—through countless temples across India, where, like everyone else, I walked barefoot among vast crowds of faith-filled devotees. The air was rich with incense, our hands adorned with colorful flowers offered by monks, our eyes drawn to the breathtaking artistry of immense and intricate rock and marble carvings. Each temple overflowed not only with beauty, but with a living mysticism and a quiet hope for humanity. We even marveled at the Solar Astronomical Clock in Jaipur, whose remarkable precision reaches to within a single second.

Solar clock in Jaipur
Extraordinary time measuring instruments from the past.

You showed me wondrous places where elephants, cows, and monkeys roam freely among people—creatures not merely tolerated, but deeply revered and respected as sacred companions in life. This harmony between humans and animals astonished me. Over the years, several elephants greeted me with gentle affection, resting their trunks softly upon my head as if in blessing. I still remember the day my father and I rode atop one, swaying in a thrilling, rhythmic motion that felt both powerful and serene. Once, a young elephant even offered me a tender handshake with his warm trunk. And then, you led us to ride camels—another unforgettable adventure. All of these moments, gifts of wonder and joy, were thanks to you.


Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja receiving a blessing by an Elephant in a temple.
A camel ride !!!

And the times we travelled with Dr. Varky and Dr. Prathiban

Prof. Nanjundiaha Shashidhara, Prof. Thuppil Venkatesh, Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja and Dr. Varky in a wonderful and kind visit to Kochi sponsored by Varky President of the Lions. We were invited to the Marriot Hotel for a couple of hours to clean up before our conference.
Farina Mahdi, Trustee of Lucknow Medial College, Honorable Shri Akhilesh Yadab, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja from Bolivia, during a ceremony at Era’s Lucknow Medical College

You took me to extraordinary scientific centers where India stands at the forefront of innovation and discovery. Through your generosity, you invited me to speak at countless universities and hospitals—each visit a new window into the brilliance and kindness of India’s academic spirit. You guided my family and me across many cities, traveling by plane, train, bus, and even the charming bed-buses, turning every journey into an adventure of learning and gratitude.

I remember with deep fondness the Leh Symposium in the majestic Himalayan region of Kashmir—those early mornings seated on wooden chairs in that serene hotel, sharing quiet, luminous moments with you and my father. Your ever-present, gentle smile and calm, wise gaze reflected a profound love for humankind, for the animals, and for all of nature.

Sharing with professors and students at the Hemis Monastery

The visit to King George’s Medical University at Lucknow where we met Prof. Abbas Ali!

With Prof. Abbas Ali Head of the Dept of Biochemistry of the along with Prof. Thuppil Venkatesh and Prof. Nanjundiaha Shashidhara

You likewise took me to give a couple of talks at DIPAS (Defense Institue of Physiology and Allied Sciences), where Dr. Shashi Bala Singh was the director. We subsequently held there the outstanding and successful 4th Chronic Hypoxia Symposium and the Global Hypoxia Summit.

at DiPAS in memorable moments after my talk.
AII India Institute of Advanced Sciences
At the AIIMS – Jodhpur after the conference, The Zubietas and Prof. Thuppil Venkatesh and Prof. Nanjundiaha Shashidhara


How could I ever forget the many wonderful stays in your beautiful home in Bangalore, where your gracious wife, Prabda, welcomed us with such warmth and kindness? I fondly remember our visits to your son, Abbi, his lovely wife, Varina, and their remarkably talented son, Arun—who so clearly carries forward your precious legacy, your brilliance, and your deep humanity into the future.

I cannot help but shed a tear when I recall your extraordinary rooftop garden—a living paradise in miniature. In that small space, you nurtured a lush abundance that reminded me of the Amazon itself, a sanctuary overflowing with joy, color, and life, all flourishing under your gentle and devoted care.

Venkatesh home
At Prof. Thuppil Venkatesh’s residence sharing memorable moments with his family, his wife Prabha (in green), his daughter Archana (in red), his son Abihi (in black)


Still under the warmth of your attentive gaze, I wandered through immense temples where, among your dear friends, I was honored and dressed in traditional Indian attire. Through your kindness, I was welcomed into sacred places reserved only for Indians—an extraordinary privilege that I will cherish forever. Under your guidance, I came to understand the profound depths of Indian spiritual philosophy—rooted in kindness, love, mysticism, and an enduring hope for a brighter future for all humankind.

I will never forget Ganesha and Shiva, nor the awe I felt upon seeing the perfectly preserved body of your distant ancestor—a symbol of reverence that transcends time. I also treasure the beautiful journeys with my family to Agra, where we stood before the magnificent marble wonder, the Taj Mahal, a timeless monument to love and devotion.

Taj Majal with Lucrecia
Lucretia De Urioste on our visit to the fabulous Taj Mahal.

And the notable Mahatma Ghandi Tomb Memorial and gardens where an inner peace is achieved by just lying in the grass. And the fabulous Ghandi and followers statue in New Dehli!! I want to go back and visit it sometime if life allows me!

Ghandi tomb memorial
Mahatma Ghandi’s beautiful, peaceful Tomb memorial in Dehli
Ganshi statue in Dehli
Ghandi statue in Dehli and Agra

I can only begin to touch upon the joy of meeting our dear friends—Shashi, Govind Babu, Praveen Sharma, Kusal Das, the much-remembered Biradar, Elango and Rajashekar Nanjappa, as well as Virupaksha Hosur, Shivaram, Madhan, Malali Gouda, Dr. Parthiban, and Dr. Srikrishna. Each encounter remains etched in my heart as a thread in the tapestry of unforgettable experiences that you made possible.

I still treasure the many Indian jackets you so generously gave me over the years, garments I proudly wear from time to time as symbols of friendship and respect. I will never forget the beautiful yellow jacket that Satish Jain wore to the wonderful lunch you arranged for me at the exclusive Century Club in Bangalore. When I told him how magnificent it was, he smiled, removed it without hesitation, and gifted it to me—a gesture so spontaneous and kind that it remains forever in my memory.
The inauguration of the Fertility center at the Maharaja Agrasen Hospital was a very special moment!
Also the talk I gave at the exclusive Bangalore Century Club invited by the late Tagore!

Visiting temples with distinguished colleagues Dr. Parthiban, Dr. T.A. Varkey, Dr. Thuppil Venkatesh at Chenai, India
Tagore
Mr. K>V> Tagore introducing the speaker Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja at the Century Club in Bangalore, India
1st Talk in the Maharaha Agrasen Hospital in Bangalore India. From Left: Dr, Satish Kumar Jain, Hopsital Direcor, Member of the Trustees, Lucrecia De Urioste, Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja, Bipin Ram Agarwal, Prof. Thuppil Venkatesh “The Lead Man of India”.


I cannot, and never will, forget the day you took me to that ancient temple—its walls darkened by time and carbon, adorned with beautifully carved sculptures that seemed to breathe with life. It was there that I first heard the soft, resonant chant of AUMMMM—the primordial sound of the universe. Its deep, tenor tone flowed through the air with a sacred rhythm, stirring a profound sense of peace within me. That vibration awakened calmness and harmony in body, mind, and spirit—wisdom born thousands of years before the word neuroscience ever existed. Hear it below.


You then taught me the sacred art of Pranayama—the yogic science of breath—during your unforgettable talk at Chacaltaya, 5,300 meters above sea level, at our 3rd Chronic Hypoxia Symposium. There, within our glass pyramid—the highest laboratory in the world—you revealed the profound connection between breath, life, and consciousness. The powerful techniques of Pranayama, born from India’s ancient wisdom thousands of years ago—perhaps even before the creation of the fundamental mathematical symbol “zero”—embody a timeless understanding of the harmony between the body, the mind, and the universe itself.

The visit to Huayna Potosi and Chacaltaya
Chacaltaya Pyramid
Our Chacaltaya pyramid laboratory

This is just a small sample of all our joint endeavors! And you came to Bolivia so many times to attend our Chronic Hypoxia Symposiums!


It is all this wisdom that is in your mind Venkatesh, and I have been blessed to be your friend and become your brother with time.
We have traveled together in the train of life, feeling the periodic pulse waves of the shaking tracks like heartbeats, filling us with joy and the pleasure of life. And now you present me with the most fantastic gift of Birthday wishes, above, that is a music and poetry symphony that will become, through AI, a tune to be remembered by me always with the deepest gratitude.


Prof. Thuppil Venkatesh you fill me with pride as the President of our International Society of Chronic Hypoxia. I stand next to you as Vice-President and we both stare firmly into the promising future of chronic hypoxia not only on planet Earth but also spreading into space ships and space habitats on the Moon and Mars.

Featured, Medical news

CoVid-19 Pandemia Essential Suggestions

In these trying times, ideas on dealing with CoVid-19 in the medical field are mandatory, from any part of the planet. This Pandemia will change, without doubt, the way we scientists deal with population emergency situations in the near future. As a physician working at high altitude, several novel ideas arise, that may aid in the life-saving management of such critical situations. As such, allow me to propose the following:

1) On Jan 30, 2019, in a Radio-TV in TVU La Paz, Bolivia interview in Spanish.

I suggested that patients with Coronavirus detected at airports or other points of entry should be taken to isolated areas outside cities where vacant buildings ought to be adapted for intensive care (or containers with sunroofs). They should not at all be taken to city or town hospitals as, particularly in a country with limited resources, as they would overwhelm existing intensive care units and thereby displace all work with routine critically ill patients. In addition, it would become a nucleus that spreads the disease to the otherwise healthy population. The areas should be surrounded by open space, with security and the sterilization techniques mentioned in the 3rd point should be applied.

Furthermore, In the city of La Paz, Bolivia (3100-4100m) establishing these modified buildings in the Altiplano (High Plateau) at 4,100 meters above sea level would indeed be beneficial as ultraviolet radiation is relatively high and can help as a natural bio-sterilization resource. Furthermore, the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) should have roofs to let sunlight come through.

The recent good news is that Dr. Augusto Ittig an intensive care specialist in Jujuy, Argentina has established his Coronavirus isolation and intensive care treatment, following theses guidelines.

2) I originally mentioned that there was an exponential growth of this Pandemia. Actually, it is a Hyper-Exponential, since it does not follow the regular exponential progression (y = A *  Bx) but rather, in CoVid-19,  1 patient in a closed environment full of people can infect 50 or more in one shot from the very beginning.

3) The management of intensive care units has to be modified. As mentioned in the above interview, the Covid-19 is like a nuclear attack. It could actually be termed a BIO-NUCLEUS ATTACK. Viruses are targeting our nuclear cell areas, in search of self-reproduction, as is well known. Hence, the protection suits for the medical personnel should be full-body impermeable overalls leaving only the face exposed. Goggles, face masks and gloves should, of course, be worn.  Upon exiting the Intensive Care Unit, the personnel should pass through a mandatory shower with plenty of soap or other disinfectants, followed by hot drying air for the whole body. This can help reduce significantly the viral transmission. This is similar to radioactive contamination, and it could be termed BIO-ACTIVE CONTAMINATION and we physicians need to evolve urgently to these new 21st-century health safeguarding strategies. After all, we all have the obligation of saving the lives of the courageous intensive care physicians and para-medical personnel that can end up giving their lives in order to save others.

4) Finally, those that actually survive the severe complications with lung (and heart tissue) sequelae will have pulmonary (and perhaps myocardial) fibrosis that will give rise to a pulmonary (and perhaps to some degree, cardiac) insufficiency with resulting complications at a later date. If those patients remain at high altitude, they will present Chronic Mountain Sickness (Poli-erythro-cythemia), as a compensatory mechanism in order to provide sufficient oxygen transport to the tissues. At high altitude, if properly understood, it can be adequately managed.

We have also published these other ideas of the CoVid-19 Prevention Strategy.

Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja High Altitude Pulmonary and Pathology Institute IPPA La Paz, Bolivia March 17th, 2019

 

Submitted to the BLDE Journal.

Featured, Medical news

CoVid-19 Hydroxychloroquine urgency prevention strategy for Medical Personnel

from: https://www.keckmedicine.org/coronavirus/
from: https://www.keckmedicine.org/coronavirus/

It has been observed by several groups that Hydroxychloroquine has some effectiveness in the treatment of severe CoVid-19 cases. In-vitro, it has been shown to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 virus[1,2,3]. The American government has announced that Hydroxychloroquine will be approved by the FDA, ASAP today (March 19, 2020).

We are aware that full studies have to be carried out but, there is no time.

The hospitals are being overflowed, the intensive care units are insufficient, medical resources are running out, even in the first-world countries!  People are losing their lives at an alarming rate and the crucial ones turn out to be those of the medical personnel, doctors, nurses, and all those working in the hospitals. The whole planet is shutting down. The world economy is suffering the consequences and above all, it is taking away thousands of human lives.

When you board a plane, prior to departure, you are always told that if there is an emergency related to cabin decompression in-flight, one fundamental advice is:
If you are with a child, please put on the oxygen mask yourself first before putting the child’s mask on. This is a fundamental life-saving procedure since if the loss of consciousness hits the mother or father first then, for certain, not only will the parents lose their lives but also the child.
In a similar manner, if the doctors, nurses and medical personnel fall sick with the Coronavirus, then the patients will also succumb (thousands and maybe tens or hundreds of thousands).

Due to the emergency situation that the whole planet is suffering and particularly the medical and paramedical personnel with this extreme Pandemia, it is essential to consider prevention strategies.

Consequently, we suggest that all medical staff and support teams in hospitals consider start taking Hydroxychloroquine as a preventive strategy, once per week, while studies are being carried out. This is based on the effect of hydroxychloroquine taken to reduce malaria-risk significantly. It is not a perfect solution but it is what is available. The dosage, side-effects, contraindications are available from IAMAT[4]. The long term use of this drug in several other pathologies is well known and apparently well tolerated. We are aware of the criticism that can arise from this. However, today, this world is in a critical emergency situation and the Coronavirus is implacable, unmerciful, selfish and cruel. And we, as physicians from all around the world, have the obligation to help with innovative ideas born from our extensive experience.

The recommended initial dose could be 2 tablets orally for a total of 300mg or 400mg depending on the pharmaceutical presentation STAT, to be repeated every week if no symptoms appear provided there are no contraindications. If SARS-CoV-2 symptoms appear, a full daily dose will probably need to be administered along with the other medication. We cannot wait for full statistically proven studies. Nevertheless, the dosage and methods of administration can be modified with time. What is undeniable is that time is running out !!

The medical personnel should be prioritized. Particularly in a low resource country.

It is highly probable that this emergency life-saving strategy that we propose be considered for immediate execution in all medical personnel treating CoVid-19 hospitals around the world !!!

  1.  Yao X, Ye F, Zhang M, Cui C, Huang B, Niu P, Liu X, Zhao L, Dong E, Song C, Zhan S, Lu R, Li H, Tan W, Liu D. In Vitro Antiviral Activity and Projection of Optimized Dosing Design of Hydroxychloroquine for the Treatment of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Clin Infect Dis. 2020 Mar 9. pii: ciaa23
  2. Jia Liu, Ruiyuan Cao, Mingyue Xu, Xi Wang, Huanyu Zhang, Hengrui Hu, Yufeng Li, Zhihong Hu, Wu Zhong & Manli Wang.  Hydroxychloroquine, a less toxic derivative of chloroquine, is effective in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro. Cell Discovery volume 6, Article number: 16 (2020)
  3. Devaux CA, Rolain JM, Colson P, Raoult D.  New insights on the antiviral effects of chloroquine against coronavirus: what to expect for COVID-19? Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2020 Mar 11:105938
  4. IAMAT. How to protect yourself against Malaria. 2019.

Other ideas have previously been expressed on March 17, 2020, in relation to the original ideas on Jan 30, 2020. Click here to read them.

Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja
Dr. Natalia Zubieta-Calleja
High Altitude Pulmonary and Pathology Institute (IPPA)

La Paz, Bolivia

March 19, 2020

___________________________________________________________________________

Español

ESTRATEGIA URGENTE PREVENTIVA CON HIDROXICLOROQUINA PARA EL PERSONAL MEDICO ANTE EL COVID-19.

 

from: https://www.keckmedicine.org/coronavirus/
from: https://www.keckmedicine.org/coronavirus/

Queridos colegas:

Varios grupos han observado que la Hidroxicloroquina tiene cierta efectividad en el tratamiento de casos graves de CoVid-19. In vitro, se ha demostrado que inhibe el virus SARS-CoV-2 [1, 2, 3]. Hoy, 19 de Marzo de 2020, el gobierno estadounidense ha anunciado que la hidroxicloroquina será aprobada por la FDA lo antes posible.

Somos conscientes de que se deben realizar estudios completos, pero no hay tiempo.

Los hospitales se están desbordando, las unidades de cuidados intensivos son insuficientes, los recursos médicos se están agotando, ¡incluso en los países del primer mundo! Las personas están perdiendo la vida a un ritmo alarmante y los que están sufriendo contagios de manera preocupante resultan ser el personal médico, para-médico, enfermeras y todos los que trabajan en los hospitales. Todo el planeta se está paralizando. La economía mundial está sufriendo las consecuencias y sobre todo miles de vidas humanas se están perdiendo.

Cuando Ud. aborda un avión, antes del despegue, siempre le informan que si hay una descompresión de emergencia de la cabina en vuelo, un consejo fundamental es el siguiente:
Si Ud. está con un niño, póngase primero la máscara de oxígeno antes de ponersela al/la niño/a. Este procedimiento es fundamental para salvar vidas, ya que si la pérdida de conciencia golpea primero a la madre o al padre, entonces, con certeza, no solo perderán ellos la vida sino también el/la niño/a.
De manera similar, si los médicos, las enfermeras y el personal médico se enferman con el coronavirus, los pacientes también sucumbirán (miles y quizás decenas o cientos de miles).

Debido a la situación de emergencia que sufre todo el planeta y, en particular, el personal médico y paramédico de esta pandemia extrema, es esencial considerar estrategias de prevención.

En consecuencia, sugerimos que todo el personal médico y los equipos de apoyo en los hospitales consideren comenzar a tomar hidroxicloroquina como estrategia preventiva, una vez por semana,  mientras se realizen estudios completos. Esto está basado en la metodología para reducir el riesgo de malaria significativamente. No es una solución perfecta, pero es lo que está disponible. La dosis, los efectos secundarios y las contraindicaciones están disponibles en IAMAT [4]. Tratamientos prolongados para otras patologías con este medicamento, aparentemente son bien tolerados. Somos conscientes de las críticas que pueden surgir de esto. Sin embargo, hoy, este mundo se encuentra en una situación crítica de emergencia y el Coronavirus es implacable, despiadado, egoísta y cruel.

La dosis inicial recomendada podría ser 2 tabletas de 300 mg por vía oral STAT, que se repetirá cada semana si no aparecen los síntomas. siempre que no hayan contraindicaciones. Si aparecieran los síntomas de SARS-CoV-2, probablemente será necesario administrar una dosis diaria completa junto con los otros medicamentos. No podemos esperar a estudios científicos completos estadísticamente comprobados sin embargo, las dosis e indicaciones se podrán mejorar a través del tiempo. Lo irrefutable es que el tiempo se acaba …

Se debe priorizar al personal médico. El tiempo dirá si esta estrategia deba expandirse a toda la población.

¡Es muy probable que esta estrategia de emergencia para salvar vidas que proponemos hoy, sea considerada para su ejecución inmediata en todo el personal médico que trata el Co-Vid-19 en los hospitales de todo el mundo!

 

Otras ideas fueron expresadas el 30 de Enero de 2020 y luego modificados el 17 de Marzo 2020. Para leerlas haga click aqui.

Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja
Dr. Natalia Zubieta-Calleja
High Altitude Pulmonary and Pathology Institute (IPPA)

La Paz, Bolivia

March 19, 2020

Featured

Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Castillo’s last breath in his beloved high altitude La Paz, Bolivia

“Spending the 90s”, as he used to affirm, Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Castillo,

Imágenes integradas 1
has left this physical world on Sep17, 2015 leaving behind: everything he used, personally created, his thoughts, his questioning attitude, his severe criticism of what he considered wrong or misleading, his inquisitive mind, his courage and tenacity, his kind and generous attitude, his extraordinary teaching abilities, his visionary inteliigence, his defense of life at high altitude, his poems, his capturing literary production, his paintings in oleo, his discipline, his tolerance with arrogance, and even his own organism.
A member of the Bolivian Academy of Sciences, Bolivian Literature Academy, yet simple and friendly. He was the organizer of the First World Congress on High Altitude Medicine and Physiology that started in La Paz, Bolivia and moved on to Cusco, Peru – Matsumoto, Japan – Arica, Chile, Barcelona, Spain, Xining, China & Lhasa, Tibet and many other cities – countries that we lost track of.
Inline image 1
In Bangalore, India he was named with the generous sponsor of Dr. Thuppil Venkatesh, the “lead man of India” at the Saint John’s University the Parvatha Guru (Mountain Guru) a unique distinction that he was proud of.
Image result for chacaltaya pyramid
We constructed the Chacaltaya Pyramid (glass) Laboratory at 5300m (the highest in the world).
Natalia Zubieta, his granddaughter created and founded the High Altitude Museum in Oct 20, 2010 (the first in the world). He strongly supported it and felt very proud of her being the director.
He was the leader that crystallized the highest soccer (football) game played on the summit of Mount Sajama (6542m) proving that sports at that high altitude was possible, denoting the extraordinary capacity of the Aymaras, thereby defending Bolivia to play the world cups in its own grounds in La Paz (3600m).
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His original and unique views on what was called Chronic Mountain Sickness, a term he proposed be discarded and be rather expressed as PolyErythroCythemia (as a more precise symptomatic description of multiple pathologies in the hypoxic environment of high altitude, was a subject of controversy but of his absolute certainty based on his over 50 years of physician at high altitude. He opposed the obsolete concept of reducing the red blood cells with archaic treatments such as phlebotomy or the use of toxic drugs such as Phenylhydrazine, an OMS proscribed drug. He interrupted its use saving thousands of Polycythemia patients from a guaranteed fatal outcome. He often considered this his most outstanding feat.
He created the “Triple Hypoxia Syndrome” an essential description to explain momentary decrease of PaO2 in Polyerythrocythemic patients.
His concepts of hypoxia gave rise to the formulation of the High Altitude Adaptation Formula.
Upon arrival to La Paz, from a sea level trip, in spite of the fatigue, he would insist that tests be performed on ourselves to observe adaptation. This gave rise to the paper “Adaptation to high altitude through hematocrit changes”.
As a young professor of physiology at Universidad Mayor de San Andres, in La Paz, he performed isolated heart perfusions in dogs and proved that heart surgery could be successfully carried out at high altitude.
Isolated dog heart perfusion at high altitude by Zubieta-Castillo
He also affirmed back in 1964 that the hearts at high altitude were more resistant than at sea level. This visionary observation is currently subject of innumerable papers of the favorable effects of hypoxic exposure on heart function.
Pub1964
Following the observation of the low levels of PaO2 in patients with PolyErythrocythemia at high altitude, the soccer game on Mount Sajama (6542m), the fetal PaO2, he formulated the theory that man can adapt to live at the summit of Mount Everest. His last conference on this was given this February 2015 at the Conference Internacional de Medicina de Altura (CIMA) in Puno, Peru in a joint effort of the Peruvian Medical and  Bolivian Medical Colleges. He was awarded distinctions that he much enjoyed. Thank you to all those that recognized his talents.

El uso instintivo de Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra de la curva normal de Gauss
El uso instintivo de Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra de la curva normal de Gauss

He wrote a unique article entitled “The mathematics in the structure of Literature”, showing how Miguel De Cervantes description of Don Quijote and Sancho Panza were extremes in a Gauss curve. Several of his books on essays are a delight to read (in Spanish).
We jointly created the First High Altitude Pathology course in La Paz, Bolivia. We then went on to create the Congress on the Effect of Hypoxia on Diseases at high altitude that later evolved to be, held every two years, uo to the V Chronic Hypoxia Symposium. We then went on to create the International Society of Chronic Hypoxia (ISCH) with several colleagues attending the II Chronic Hypoxia Symposium. The Wilderness and Environmental Medicine Journal kindly published our abstracts, for which we are most profoundly grateful.
One of the most interesting achievements, was his concept that in regards to Chronic Mountain Sickness, it was unacceptable to talk about loss of adaptation. He strongly affirmed: “there is no loss of adaptation!!”.
Consequently he wrote:
” The organic systems of human beings and all other species tend to adapt to any environmental change and circumstance within an optimal period of time, and  never tend towards regression which would inevitably lead to death”.
In fact we had a dissenting point of view in the International Consensus for the Definition of High Altitude Diseases, that eventually stopped the use of the term “loss of adaptation”.
We created the “Science, Honor and Truth” award and a medal which says “defeating hypoxia”. The most distinguished scientists that truly follow these forgotten concepts are awarded every two years
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We wrote the first book published in English in Bolivia called “High Altitude Pathology at 12000 ft”. It was dedicated to: “Those of short breath at high altitude”.
Our research and publications, never received one sole grant (being them nonexistent in Bolivia), and all science was produced with our own funds acquired at the High Altitude Pulmonary and Pathology Institute (the first altitude clinic in the world, founded 45 years ago), from treating our patients. This became his contribution to the well-being of the residents of high altitude. In order to carry out such feats, we constructed our own equipment using very basic and inexpensive materials, writing our own software, and giving all our time and effort with satisfaction thereby having “the Joy of seeing the light” as our dear friend and outstanding physiologist Poul-Erik Paulev affirmed. We jointly created the Poul-Erik High Altitude Diving Laboratory in his honor and we developed high altitude diving tables.
His publications are cited in many papers around the globe and have recently shot up in the number of downloads and views are available at ResearchGate. Don’t miss them, they are historic.
See part of his lifetime achievements at:
He had an absolute certainty that after he left, he would receive recognition for his work and for his theories of which he never doubted. That is left to be seen if he was right!
Thank you father, mentor, professor, wise mountain Guru for having left us a legacy, and a school of thought that Natalia, Rafaela, (my two daughters), Lucrecia my wife, Nancy. Luis and Rosayda (my brother and sisters), Clotilde (my mother, his attentive and unconditional supporter and lifetime companion), Joyce, Andrei, Gustavo, Katia, Luis Andres and Sebastian, (his other grandchildren) and even his first grandson Thomas Andrew Jenkins will spread and continue.
Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Calleja
High Altitude Pulmonary and Pathology Institute IPPA

www.Altitudeclinic.com

Rio Soqueri 55
Final Av.Saavedra,Prologanciòn Av. Copacabana

La Paz, Bolivia

Featured, Xtreme hypoxia

Life is possible at the hypoxic levels of the summit of Mt. Everest

Photo from Wikipedia
Revisiting the original theory by Prof. Dr. Gustavo Zubieta-Castillo that it is possible for man to adapt to live even on the highest mountain on planet Earth: Mt. Everest, please find below links to:

1) The original paper as published in the Fiziol. Journal 2003, 49:3, pg. 110-117

2) A Chapter of the book: Adaptation Biology and Medicine (Volume 5:Health Potentials).

3) An attempt by three bold and extraordinary Nepalese brothers to remain atop Everest for 24 hours:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7892588.stm

It is a first step in the proof of these bold theories, in spite of incomplete or rather “insufficient” time for full adaptation.

http://www.altitudeclinic.com