Perhaps it was destiny that brought Dr. Teodoro Álvarez to the forefront of Argentine medicine. Today we stand before the Hospital General de Agudos Doctor Teodoro Álvarez. It stands as a testament to his legacy and the evolution of healthcare in Buenos Aires.
The story of this hospital begins not with its namesake but as the Hospital Vecinal de Flores. It was January 1897 when Dr. Telémaco Susini. He was the Director General of Public Assistance. He inaugurated it in a building on San Pedrito Street. Dr. Arturo Balbastro became its first Medical Director. After his death, Dr. Juan Felipe Aranguren took over. He also served as a physician at the Naval Asylum.
From its humble beginnings, the Hospital General de Agudos Doctor Teodoro Álvarez relied on the generosity of its neighbors. It featured two patient rooms, a dental office, and an external clinic. Here doctors delivered babies, handled home emergencies and administered vaccines. Demand soon outgrew the original location. The need for ambulance parking forced a move to Camacuá Street in 1900. Later, it moved to its current location among San Eduardo, Bolivia, Condarco and Morón streets. A block surrounded by Morón, Condarco, Terrada, and San Eduardo streets was added.
On June 17, 1901, the institution received its current name. The City Council honored the brilliant Argentine surgeon Dr. Teodoro Álvarez. The Hospital General de Agudos Doctor Teodoro Álvarez modernized steadily. By 1910, it could house three hundred beds. It also boasted a children’s protection clinic called Gota de Leche. This clinic aimed to prevent infant malnutrition. The radiology service opened in 1917.
The hospital expanded its care capacity as the area developed. The Association of Physicians formed in 1930. Three years later, the Cooperating Association emerged. In 1962, the Hospital Teaching Unit began. It operated under the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Buenos Aires. In 2015, the emergency room began treating drug-dependent patients. It also addressed post-traumatic stress and family violence. This service was in a pavilion connected to operating rooms and the Intensive Care Unit. The Hospital General de Agudos Doctor Teodoro Álvarez stands today as a source of pride for Flores. It excels in teaching, research and patient care.
Who was the man behind the name? Dr. Teodoro Álvarez was born in Buenos Aires on November 8, 1818. He initially studied Canon Law. He earned his doctorate in 1839. Later, he pursued medicine. He graduated in 1843. He became a renowned surgeon. Dr. Teodoro Álvarez gained fame for removing a large bladder stone from Juan Manuel de Rosas. He also operated on General Emilio Mitre’s aneurysm. He taught Surgical Nosography. He led surgery at the General Hospital for Men from 1843 to 1852. Then he moved to the Women’s Hospital. There he directed surgery, obstetrics, and dermatosyphilography services until 1875. He belonged to the Third Order of Saint Francis. Dr. Teodoro Álvarez died in Buenos Aires on August 25, 1889.
The Hospital General de Agudos Doctor Teodoro Álvarez continues his commitment to healing. It provides care to all who need it. The hospital stands as a beacon of hope and health in the community.