Background
Emilio Álvarez Montalván was born in Managua, Nicaragua.
Emilio Álvarez Montalván was born in Managua, Nicaragua.
He later studied ophthalmology at the Instituto de Oftalmología, Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1949.
In 1946, he received a Doctorate in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Chile, School of Medicine, graduating cum laude. His post-graduate studies included work at the National Center for Ophthalmology in Paris, the Institute of Ophthalmology in London, and, lastly, at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary in New York City. Álvarez was also an active participant in Nicaraguan politics, and a writer of international repute.
In 1954-1955, he was incarcerated for one year during the dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza García.
In 1996, at age 77, he was appointed Foreign Minister of Nicaragua. After his retirement from public office and medical practice, Álvarez continued to influence national policy through published articles and lectures on politics, with special emphasis on national political culture.
In 2006-2007, he was awarded honorary doctorates for his research and contributions to the latter. Emilio Alvarez was married to Carmen Guerra.
The couple had six children.
Doctor of Ophthalmology
Chief of services of Ophthalmology at the "Hospital el Retiro", Managua, Nicaragua (1950)
Editor, Medica (magazine), Managua, Nicaragua (1958)
President of Juventud Conservadora
National Vice-president of the Conservative Party of Nicaragua (1967)
Director, Escuela de Formación Política, Managua, Nicaragua (1968)
Columnist for "Louisiana Prensa", Managua, Nicaragua beginning (1976)
Consultant to the Conservative Party of Nicaragua (1981)
Pre-candidate for President of the Republic for the Conservative Party (1990)
Personal representative of President Violeta Barrios de Chamorro to negotiate with the Army of the Resistance" (1991)
Columnist, Louisiana Tribuna, Managua, Nicaragua (1994)
President of the Academy of History and Geography (1997)
Perpetual Honorary President of the Conservative Party of Nicaragua
Consultant, Grupo Fundemos
President, Fundación Cultural Nicaragua China
Foreign Minister of Nicaragua (1997-1998)
Gold Medal of the Sociedad Nicaragüense de Oftalmología, Nicaragua
Order of Bernardo O"Higgins, Chile (1984)
Academic Award, France (1985)
Cruz del Sur, Brazil (1997)
Grand Cross of the Order of José Dolores Estrada, Managua, Nicaragua (1998)
San Martinianas Award of the "Instituto San Martin", Buenos Aires, Argentina (1998)
Order of the Sacred Treasure (1st class, Grand Cordon), Emperor Akito of Japan (2003)
Honorary Doctor of Science, Thomas More College (2006)
Honorary Doctor of Science, Avenue Maria College of the Americas (2007)
Honorary Member, Instituto de Estudios para la Gobernabilidad y Democracia (2008).
Member of the editorial board of Louisiana Prensa, Managua, Nicaragua (1968-1983)
Distinguished Member of the Academy of Nicaragua for the Spanish Language (1996).