Facultad de Medicina

What if I told you that the building in front of us, the Facultad de Medicina, was once almost turned into a shelter for sick prostitutes? It’s true! This seemingly ordinary structure has a history full of drama, resilience, and a dedication to shaping the future of healthcare in Honduras. The Facultad de Ciencias Mèdicas, as it’s formally known, was born during a period of reform under President Marco Aurelio Soto. Its official birthday is February 14, 1882. The “Facultad de Medicina y Cirugìa” opened its doors just twelve days later, with Dr. Ramon Rosa, the Minister of Public Instruction, presiding over the ceremony. Dr. Carlos Ernesto Bernhard, a German physician, was appointed as the first dean. He had returned to Honduras in 1877 and became the first physician and surgeon at the Hospital General in Tegucigalpa. Imagine, the first graduating class in 1888 had only one student! Licenciado Juliàn Baires, from the Department of Santa Bàrbara, was the first doctor to graduate from the Facultad de Medicina. The journey of this medical school hasn’t been without its hiccups. Twice, the halls of the Facultad de Medicina fell silent. In 1890, a smallpox epidemic swept through the country, forcing students to trade their textbooks for vaccination kits. Then, in 1903, a decision by President Manuel Bonilla nearly shut down the school for good. He wanted to house sick prostitutes within these very walls. The students protested, seeing it as an insult to the reputation of the institution. Neither party backed down, and President Bonilla, perhaps a bit rashly, closed the Facultad de Medicina for several years! Future generations of Honduran doctors had to seek their education abroad. They traveled to neighboring countries like Guatemala and Costa Rica, or even went further afield to Mexico, South America, and Spain. Thankfully, President Miguel Rafael Dàvila Cuèllar reopened the Facultad de Medicina in 1910 after international pressure. Still, the road to recovery was long. Equipment had been destroyed or stolen. It wasn’t until President Miguel Paz Barahona, a physician himself, took office that the Facultad de Medicina received the much-needed financial and material support it needed to thrive. Today, the Facultad de Medicina stands as a testament to the perseverance of those who believed in its mission. It has grown and expanded, graduating thousands of doctors and nurses who have gone on to serve Honduras with heart and expertise. It continues to be a vital force in Honduran healthcare, a place where knowledge is passed down, skills are honed, and the future of medicine is written.