UNAM
The National Autonomous University of Mexico ( es, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM) is a public research university in Mexico. It is consistently ranked as one of the best universities in Latin America, where it's also the bigges ...
's School of Medicine (Spanish: Facultad de Medicina de la UNAM) is the
medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution, or part of such an institution, that teaches medicine, and awards a professional degree for physicians. Such medical degrees include the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS, M ...
of the
National Autonomous University of Mexico
The National Autonomous University of Mexico ( es, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM) is a public research university in Mexico. It is consistently ranked as one of the best universities in Latin America, where it's also the bigges ...
(UNAM), located at the university's main campus of
Ciudad Universitaria. Established in 1553 as part of the
Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico
The Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico (in es, Real y Pontificia Universidad de México) was founded on 21 September 1551 by Royal Decree signed by Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, Charles I of Spain, in Valladolid, Spain. It is generally co ...
, it is one of the oldest medical schools in the Americas. The school has undergraduate and graduate studies departments. It does joint teaching with some other schools, e.g., the
School of Science
The Medway School of Science is one of the schools of the University of Greenwich in South East England. The School of Science is based on the university's Medway campus in Chatham Maritime in the county of Kent. The School of Science has act ...
. It also has many grants involving
UNAM's Engineering School, in areas such as smart and connected health. It is one of the most recognized schools in the university and in Mexico. The latest three rectors of the university, including the
current one, are former deans from this school.
History
The origin of the School of Medicine of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, known by the acronym UNAM) dates back to the 16th century, with the foundation of the Royal and Pontifical Mexico University ( es, Real y Pontificia Universidad de México). In fact, the first decree that authorizes their creation was promulgated by
Philip II Philip II may refer to:
* Philip II of Macedon (382–336 BC)
* Philip II (emperor) (238–249), Roman emperor
* Philip II, Prince of Taranto (1329–1374)
* Philip II, Duke of Burgundy (1342–1404)
* Philip II, Duke of Savoy (1438-1497)
* Philip ...
in 1547 and endorsed in 1551. Nevertheless, the compliance of procedures and the liberation of the corresponding funds postponed the start of their activities until January 1553. By some years, in the area of the medicine, the University was limited to offer incorporation of degrees of other universities that needed it.
The first degree of doctor in medicine was offered August 10, 1553 to Juan Blanco Alcázar.
The first course of medicine given in The Royal and Pontifical Mexico University initiated its activities January 7, 1579.
The program of studies was adjusted to the one used in the
University of Salamanca
The University of Salamanca ( es, Universidad de Salamanca) is a Spanish higher education institution, located in the city of Salamanca, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. It was founded in 1218 by King Alfonso IX. It is th ...
, just like the remainder of the regulatory activities of The Royal and Pontifical Mexico University. Such program consisted of four years of studies. Subsequently, the students carried out a practice of two years next to a recognized doctor and only after finishing this requirement they would be able to opt for the degrees of licentiate, master and doctor.
In the middle of the 16th century a theoretical-practical model was imposed that included the
dissection
Dissection (from Latin ' "to cut to pieces"; also called anatomization) is the dismembering of the body of a deceased animal or plant to study its anatomical structure. Autopsy is used in pathology and forensic medicine to determine the cause o ...
in corpse.
Following the closing of the university by
ValentÃn Gómez FarÃas
ValentÃn Gómez FarÃas (; 14 February 1781 – 5 July 1858) was a Mexican physician and liberal politician who became president of Mexico twice, first in 1833, during the period of the First Mexican Republic, and again in 1846, during the ...
in 1883 the school survived in the form of several departments in charge of teaching medicine. Graduating in 1887 the first female doctor
Matilde Montoya. It existed that way until 1902 when the university was reopened by
Justo Sierra
Justo Sierra Méndez (January 26, 1848 – September 13, 1912), was a Mexican prominent liberal writer, historian, journalist, poet and political figure during the Porfiriato, in the second half of the nineteenth century and early twentieth ...
. The School open the door to graduate studies in 1960.
Staff and organization
The school is run by the dean, currently Germán Fajardo Dolci. The school is divided into departments, each with a head who reports to the school dean. The secretary of medical education also has several departments which are responsible for one or more subjects.
*Department of Anatomy: responsible for the anatomy courses.
*Department of Embryology: responsible for the embryology and clinical genetics courses.
*Department of Cell and Histological Biology: responsible for the Histology course.
*Department of Biochemistry: responsible for the Biochemistry and Immunology courses.
*Department of Public Health: responsible for the Public Health courses.
*Department of Pharmacology: responsible for the Pharmacology courses.
*Department of Physiology: responsible for the Physiology courses.
*Department of Surgery: responsible for the Surgery courses.
*Department of Microbiology and Parasitology: responsible for the Microbiology and Parasitology courses.
*Department of Biomedical Informatics: responsible for the Biomedical Informatics courses.
*Department of Amphitheater: responsible of the postgraduate surgery courses and investigation on corpses.
Location & Facilities
The School is located in
Ciudad Universitaria in
Mexico City
Mexico City ( es, link=no, Ciudad de México, ; abbr.: CDMX; Nahuatl: ''Altepetl Mexico'') is the capital and largest city of Mexico, and the most populous city in North America. One of the world's alpha cities, it is located in the Valley o ...
, near the
School of Chemistry and the
School of Odontology.
It consists of one main complex, divided into seven buildings, built when University City was opened. The School also has annexes at several hospitals in Mexico City's metropolitan area, most notably an annex at the General Hospital of Mexico, where the Department of Experimental Medicine is located.
It has one main library and several others used mostly for postgraduate studies.
Graduate Studies
It holds the Graduate program in medicine (MD) called "Titulo de Medico Cirujano" (Physician-Surgeon Diploma).
Importance
In Mexico, the School of Medicine UNAM is generally regarded as one of the most important, if not the most important of the country; it has several links with hospitals and communities, and its students are usually in communities for their
social service
Social services are a range of public services intended to provide support and assistance towards particular groups, which commonly include the disadvantaged. They may be provided by individuals, private and independent organisations, or administe ...
.
The school also is in charge of the National Exam of Medical Residencies (ENARM), which means that if any MD in Mexico wants to apply for a residency, they should apply to this school, it is regarded to be very hard, and students some times take a full year of study in order to pass it. Approximately 22,000 students present the exam and only 4,000 pass it every year.
The school has two Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholars and endowment from the NIH extramural research program.
Alumni
Rectors of the National Autonomous University of Mexico
*
Enrique Graue Wiechers
Enrique Luis Graue Wiechers (born January 9, 1951) is a Mexican academic and ophthalmologist. He is the rector of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, effective November 17, 2015.
Biography
Graue Wiechers entered Preparatory School No. ...
, (2015 - to date)
*
José Narro Robles
José Narro Robles (born December 5, 1948 in Saltillo, Coahuila) is a Mexican researcher, academic, and politician. He is a former director of the Faculty of Medicine of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and was elected it ...
(2007 - 2015)
*
Juan Ramón de la Fuente
Juan Ramón de la Fuente RamÃrez (born 5 September 1951 in Mexico City) is a Mexican psychiatrist, academician and politician who served as Secretary of Health in the cabinet of President Ernesto Zedillo (1994–1999) and as rector of the Nat ...
(1999 - 2007)
*
Octavio Rivero Serrano (1981 - 1984)
*
Guillermo Soberón Acevedo
Guillermo () is the Spanish form of the male given name William. The name is also commonly shortened to 'Guille' or, in Latin America, to nickname 'Memo'. People
*Guillermo Amor (born 1967), Spanish football manager and former player
*Guillermo Arà ...
(1973 - 1981)
*
Ignacio Chávez Sánchez
Ignacio Chávez Sánchez, M.D., F.A.C.P. (born 31 January 1897 in Zirándaro, Guerrero – d. 13 July 1979 in Mexico City) was a prominent Mexican educator, cardiologist, and founding member of El Colegio Nacional.
Education and professi ...
(1961 - 1966)
*
Salvador Zubirán Anchondo (1946 -1948)
Prominent physicians
*
Carlos Fernández del Castillo, M.D. (pancreatic diseases, pancreatobiliary surgery, gastrointestinal surgery) (Massachusetts General Hospital, USA)
*
Manuel IsaÃas López
Manuel IsaÃas López (May 20, 1941 - November 29, 2017) was a prominent child Psychiatry, psychiatrist, trained in Philadelphia. Many consider Manuel IsaÃas López to be the father of Mexican Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. In 1972, he founde ...
, child and adolescent psychiatrist, founder of AMPI (Asociación Mexicana de PsiquiatrÃa Infantil), Numerary Member of the Academia Mexicana de PediatrÃa, Secretary General of Consejo Mexicano de PsiquiatrÃa.
*
Guillermo Soberón Acevedo
Guillermo () is the Spanish form of the male given name William. The name is also commonly shortened to 'Guille' or, in Latin America, to nickname 'Memo'. People
*Guillermo Amor (born 1967), Spanish football manager and former player
*Guillermo Arà ...
, biochemist and a member of
El Colegio Nacional.
*
Ruy Pérez Tamayo
Ruy Pérez Tamayo (8 November 1924 – 26 January 2022) was a Mexican medical pathologist, immunologist, researcher, science communicator and academic.
Life and career
Born in Tampico, Pérez Tamayo graduated in medicine and specialised in pa ...
, pathologist and a member of
El Colegio Nacional and the
Academia Mexicana de la Lengua.
*
Antonio Peña DÃaz
Antonio Peña DÃaz (born in 1936) is a Mexican biochemist who received the Carlos J. Finlay Prize for Microbiology (UNESCO, 2003) and chaired both the Mexican Academy of Sciences (1992–93) and the Mexican Society of Biochemistry (1981–83). ...
, biochemist founder of the Institute of Cellular Physiology.
*
Daniel Velazquez Villanueva, OB-GYN.
*
Fernando Ortiz Monasterio, Plastic Surgeon.
*
Gerardo Gamba Ayala, Nephrologist, National Prize for Arts and Sciences (Mexico) 2010 .
*
Adam M Sonabend Worthalter, Neurosurgeon.
*
Alan Zajarias Rabchinskey, Interventional Cardiology.
References
External links
Official Website (Spanish)
{{DEFAULTSORT:School of Medicine (Unam)
National Autonomous University of Mexico