Here stands a testament to a life dedicated to medicine. This is the Monumento al Doctor Federico Rubio y Galí. Federico Rubio y Galí was more than just a physician. He was a pioneer who left an indelible mark on Spain and beyond.
Federico Rubio y Galí wasn’t only known for his medical discoveries. He also actively participated in politics and literature. In 1896, he established Spain’s first Professional School of Nursing. He was also a member of the Royal College of Surgery in London. Moreover, he belonged to the Royal Spanish Academy of Medicine.
The Monumento al Doctor Federico Rubio y Galí is located in Parque del Oeste. Catalan sculptor Miguel Blay Fábregas created it using white limestone and bronze. King Alfonso XIII inaugurated it four years after the doctor’s death in 1906.
Now look closely at the statue. Notice anything unusual? These are not mere blemishes. They are scars. They tell a story of conflict. During the Spanish Civil War, this monument became a casualty of intense crossfire. The area between Parque del Oeste and the Ciudad Universitaria campus was a fierce battleground. A cannon projectile decapitated the Monumento al Doctor Federico Rubio y Galí. Hundreds of bullets pierced it.
After the war, an unexpected act of clemency spared the monument. Despite Dr. Rubio’s Republican background, it was rebuilt. But the decision was made to preserve its battle scars. Today the bullet holes and shrapnel marks remain. They stand as a reminder of a turbulent past.
Federico Rubio y Galí studied medicine in Cádiz. In 1850, he secured a position at the Hospital Central de Sevilla. Political reasons forced him into exile in London. There, he learned from Sir William Fergusson. Fergusson was a prominent surgeon. Upon his return, Rubio introduced advanced surgical techniques to Spain. He performed groundbreaking surgeries. These included the first ovariectomy in 1860. He also performed a hysterectomy in 1861. Furthermore, he performed a nephrectomy in 1874 and a total laryngectomy in 1878.
Rubio cared about medical education. He privately organized practical courses in histology and microbiology. After the Glorious Revolution, he was elected to the Cortes in 1869. As a deputy, he advocated for state funding of the Catholic Church. The Republic appointed him ambassador to the United Kingdom in 1873. After the Republican regime collapsed, he left politics. From 1875 until his death in 1902, he dedicated himself to medicine.
Federico Rubio y Galí performed the first nephrectomy in Spain in 1874. He also performed the first laryngectomy in 1878. He was a pioneer. Before him, Gustav Simon and Theodor Billroth had performed these surgeries. Rubio also pioneered surgical treatments for ovarian tumors and cysts.
Monumento al Doctor Federico Rubio y Galí is more than stone and bronze. It embodies resilience. It honors a man who transformed medicine in Spain. It is a reminder that even in times of conflict, knowledge and healing endure.