Salvador Zubirán Anchondo (23 December 1898, Cusihuiriachic, Chihuahua – 10 June 1998,

Mexico City Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...

) was one of Mexico's most prominent

physicians A physician, medical practitioner (British English), medical doctor, or simply doctor is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through the study, diagnosis, prognosis ...

and

nutritionist A nutritionist is a person who advises others on matters of food and Human nutrition, nutrition and their impacts on health. Some people specialize in particular areas, such as sports nutrition, public health, or animal nutrition, among other disci ...

Biography

He received his MD from the

National University of Mexico The National Autonomous University of Mexico (, UNAM) is a public research university in Mexico. It has several campuses in Mexico City, and many others in various locations across Mexico, as well as a presence in nine countries. It also has 34 ...

(UNAM)

Faculty of Medicine A medical school is a tertiary educational institution, professional school, or forms a part of such an institution, that teaches medicine, and awards a professional degree for physicians. Such medical degrees include the Bachelor of Medicine, ...

and visited the

Peter Bent Brigham Hospital Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH or The Brigham) is a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School and the largest hospital in the Longwood Medical Area in Boston, Massachusetts. Along with Massachusetts General Hospital, it is one of the two ...

Boston, Massachusetts Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

, United States, from 1924 to 1925, where he received a diploma. Upon his return to Mexico he started the nutrition department in Mexico City's General Hospital, and later received an assignment to start the National Institute of Nutrition, one of the country's premier medical institutions. On 6 January 1945, he was appointed as its first director general. Zubirán also served as the rector of the

National Autonomous University of Mexico The National Autonomous University of Mexico (, UNAM) is a public university, public research university in Mexico. It has several campuses in Mexico City, and many others in various locations across Mexico, as well as a presence in nine countri ...

(UNAM) during the 1940s; during this appointment, he was very influential in the creation of the University City. In 1985, in Chihuahua, he married María Luisa López-Collada Márquez de Richardson, the widow of American banker William B. Richardson II. By this marriage, he became the stepfather of the American politician and one-time presidential hopeful

Bill Richardson William Blaine Richardson III (November 15, 1947 – September 1, 2023) was an American politician, author, and diplomat who served as the List of governors of New Mexico, 30th governor of New Mexico from 2003 to 2011. He was U.S. ambassador to ...

. He was a recipient of the

National Prize for Arts and Sciences The National Prize for Arts and Sciences () is awarded annually by the Government of Mexico in six categories. It is part of the Mexican Honours System and was established in 1945 by President Manuel Ávila Camacho to promote the country's artistic ...

in 1968 and of the

Belisario Domínguez Medal of Honor The Belisario Domínguez Medal of Honor () is the highest award bestowed by the Mexican Senate. It forms part of the Mexican Honors System and is currently Mexico's highest active award since there are no records of the '' Condecoración "Migu ...

, the highest honor awarded by the

Senate of Mexico The Senate of the Republic (), constitutionally the Chamber of Senators of the Honorable Congress of the Union (), is the upper house of Mexico's bicameral Congress. It currently consists of 128 members, who serve six-year terms. History A b ...

, in 1986.

Legacy

In 1981, the National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition was renamed to the National Institute of Nutrition Salvador Zubirán, and again in 2000 to the National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubirán (INCMNSZ).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zubiran 1898 births 1998 deaths 20th-century Mexican physicians Recipients of the Belisario Domínguez Medal of Honor National Autonomous University of Mexico rectors Zubiran, Salvador Nutritionists National Prize for Arts and Sciences (Mexico)