Unsung Heroes: The Pobletes Celebrate a Long History with RWJ Hamilton

Taken from "ON CALL", the Medical News From RobertWood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton

Honesto Poblete, MD and his wife, Estrella Poblete MD, are part of the history of RWJ Hamilton. This dynamic couple - Honesto, a general surgeon and Estrella, an OB/GYN - have been seeing patients in this building for over 30 years. As Honesto notes, "Estrella and I have seen this hospital grow from infancy to teenage years to adulthood."

When asked to reminisce about their lives together, Honesto explains, "We got married in 1966, in Brooklyn, NY where we both trained. Estrella finished her residency in OB/GYN at Brooklyn Hospital and I finished my residency in General Surgery at Wyckoff Heights Hospital in Brooklyn."

Over the course of the next several years, the couple had three sons. Fredrick and Honesto, Jr., were both born in Brooklyn and then the family moved briefly to the Philippines, where their youngest son, Gerald was born. Honesto explains, "After we finished our residency, we went back to the Philippines in 1970 - we were both born there and we had family there. We stayed for a few years and we tried to practice there, but there was a lot of political turmoil. Seven days after we left to return to Brooklyn, President Marcos declared martial law."

After moving back to Brooklyn, Honesto worked in Holy Family Hospital as a surgical assistant and Estrellal stayed home to care for their three sons. Both spent time reviewing for state licensure. Once Honesto passed the state licensure in New Jersey, he joined his uncle in practice in Trenton.

Honesto recalls, "So that we could practice medicine, Estrella and I moved our family to Trenton and Estrella's parents helped with childcare. In 1974, I joined the practice of my uncle, Dr.Catalino arenias, in Trenton." The majority of Honesto's practice was at Hamilton Hospital (now RWJ Hamilton).

By 1977, Estrella earned her specialty board in OB/GYN and began to practice in the area. "For awhile," Estrella recalls, "I was the only female OB/GYN in Trenton. I had previleges at Hamilton, but since they had no delivery room at that time, I delivered my patients at Mercer Medical Center."

Today, Honesto actively practices at RWJ Hamilton, Estrella is the oldest OB/GYN still delivering babies and when asked about her feeling toward the hospital, she notes, "I felt like I belonged to a family from the first day I joined RWJ Hamilton."

As for their own family, it's obvious that the Poblete children have inherited their parents' drive to succeed. Honesto, with a touch of pride in his voice, notes, "Fredrick finished his general surgery in Brooklyn Hospital where he was born and he's applying for priveleges at RWJ Hamilton to be a member of the surgical staff. Honesto Jr. is a 4th year surgical resident at Hahnemann Hospital in Philadelphia and Gerald is a lawyer practicing in New York City. All three of our sons are married."

It's wonderful to know that the Poblete tradition will continue. Congratulations to Dr.Honesto and Dr. Estrella Poblete on their long time service to RWJ Hospital.