Faculty of Medicine (UNAM)

Infobox_University
name = Faculty of Medicine (UNAM)


caption = Seal of the UNAM's Faculty of Medicine
established = 1553
type = Faculty
president = PhD. Enrique Luis Graue Wiechers
colors = Blue & Gold color box|Bluecolor box|Gold
city = Mexico City
country = flagcountry|Mexico
students =
undergrad =
postgrad =
website = [http://www.facmed.unam.mx/]

The UNAM Faculty of Medicine (Spanish:Facultad de Medicina) is the responsible of imparting studies of medicine in the UNAM, it holds Undergraduate and Graduate studies, the later ones being some of them joint teaching with some other faculties, most commonly the Faculty of Science. Is one of the most recognized faculties in the University and in the country, and the 2 latest rectors of the university have been former deans from this faculty.

History

The origins of the Faculty of Medicine of the UNAM date back to the XVI century, with the foundation of the 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 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 of 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 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, just like the remainder of the regulatory activities of the 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 XVI century a theoretical-practical model was imposed that included the dissection in corpse.

Following the closing of the university by Valentín Gómez Farías in 1883 the school survived in the form of several departments in charge of teaching medicine. It existed that way until 1902 when the university was reopened by Justo Sierra. The School acquired its Faculty status in 1960.

taff & Organization

The faculty is run by the Faculty dean, currently Enrique Luis Graue Wiechers.

Is divided in secretaries each with a secretary that responds to the faculty 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 Embriology: responsible for the embriology 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 Farmacology courses.
*Department of Physioplogy: responsioble for the physiology courses.
*Department of Surgery: responsible for the Surgery courses.
*Department of Microbiology and Parasitology: responsible for the Microbiology and Parasitology courses.

Location & Facilities

The Faculty is located in Ciudad Universitaria in Mexico City, nearby the Faculty of Chemistry and the Faculty of Odontology.

It consists in one main complex, divided in seven buildings, built when University City was open and some anexus found in sveral hospitals in Mexico City's metropolitan area, most notably an anexus found in the Hospital General de Mexico, where the Department of Experimental Medicine is found.

It has 1 main library and several others used mostly for postgraduate studies.

Graduate Studies

It holds the Graduate program in medicine (MD) called "Medico Cirujano" (Medical surgeon). this title however, is misleading, since a graduate from the faculty of medicine is not a real surgeon, only a general practitioner.

Importance

In Mexico, the Faculty is generally regarded as one of the most importants 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.

The Faculty also is in charge of the National Exam of Medical Residencies, which means that if any MD in Mexico wants to apply for a residency, they should apply in this faculty, 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. [http://bine.org.mx/node/612 Imparte La Unam Curso Para Ingresar A Residencias Médicas Del Sector Salud | Biné ] ]

The school currently has two Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholars and endowment from the NIH extramural research program.

Alumni

It is notable to say that a number of rectors of the University.

* Carlos Fernández del Castillo, M.D. (pancreatic diseases, pancreatobiliary surgery, gastrointestinal surgery) (Massachusetts General Hospital, USA) [ [http://www.massgeneral.org/gensurg/page.asp?id=fernandez MGH Surgeons- Weight Loss Surgeons, Gastric Bypass Surgeons and more- MGH ] ] [ [http://www.dfhcc.harvard.edu/membership/member-profile/member/9068/0/ Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center: Member Profile: Carlos Fernandez-del Castillo, M.D ] ] [ [http://web.mit.edu/medical/staff/s-fernandezdelcastillo.html MIT Medical - Clinical Staff - Carlos Fernandez del Castillo ] ]
* Guillermo Soberón Acevedo, biochemist and a member of El Colegio Nacional.
* Ruy Pérez Tamayo, pathologist.

References

External links

* [http://www.facmed.unam.mx Official Website (Spanish)]