Ignacio Chávez Sánchez
Encyclopedia
Dr. Ignacio Chávez Sánchez (b. January 31, 1897 in Zirándaro
, Guerrero
– d. July 12, 1979 in Mexico City
) was a prominent Mexican
physician
.
of Morelia. He received his bachelor's degree
in medicine-surgery from the National University in 1920. He was the rector
of the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo from 1920 to 1921. He taught several subjects in the School of Medicine of Morelia
(1920) and at the National School of Medicine since 1922. He specialized in cardiology
in Paris
(1921–1927) and then he studied at clinics in Berlin
, Prague
, Vienna
, Rome
and Brussels
. He was the head of the National School of Medicine (1933–1934). He founded the first cardiology area in the General Hospital of Mexico (1924–1944). He was also the director of the General Hospital of Mexico (1936–1939). He was the founder and director of the National Institute of Cardiology, the first hospital of this kind (1944–1961 and again since 1976) in Mexico. He was the rector of the National Autonomous University of Mexico
(March 1965 to April 1966). He was instrumental in establishing international cooperation in cardiology after World War II. He founded and chaired the Mexican Society of Cardiology (1935) and the Interamerican Society of Cardiology (1946). Also in 1946, along with Paul Dudley White
and Charles Laubry
, he co-founded the International Society of Cardiology
, an organization of which he was vice-chairman (1958–1962) and honorary life chairman (after 1962). He presided over the fourth World Congress of Cardiology
held in Mexico City in 1962. He was a member of the counseling committee of the World Health Organization
(1955) and the Organization of American States
(1958–1966). He participated in 18 different cardiology societies in all America and Europe. He was appointed honorary doctor or rector of 95 universities around the world. He was a founding member of El Colegio Nacional (1943).
Among others, he received the following awards: the National Order of the Honor Legion (France: 1933, 1951, 1966); the Manuel Avila Camacho
Science Award (1945); the Mexico City Medal to the Civic Merit (1945); the General Morelos Medal (Michoacán, 1954); the Eduardo Liceaga Gold Medal (1960); the National Science Award (1961); the American College of Physicians Gold Medal (Atlantic City, 1963); and the Belisario Domínguez Medal awarded by the Senate of Mexico
(October 9, 1975).
His statue was uncovered on September 27, 1980 in the park named after him which is located in front of the National Medical Center.
, sus frescos en el Instituto Nacional de Cardiología (Diego Rivera, his murals in the National Institute of Cardiology) (1946).
Zirándaro de los Chávez
Zirándaro de los Chávez is a city and seat of the municipality of Zirándaro, in the state of Guerrero, south-western Mexico....
, Guerrero
Guerrero
Guerrero officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guerrero is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 81 municipalities and its capital city is Chilpancingo....
– d. July 12, 1979 in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
) was a prominent Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
.
Education and professional career
Dr. Chávez studied at Colegio de San Nicolás and the School of MedicineMedicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
of Morelia. He received his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in medicine-surgery from the National University in 1920. He was the rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo from 1920 to 1921. He taught several subjects in the School of Medicine of Morelia
Morelia
Morelia is a city and municipality in the north central part of the state of Michoacán in central Mexico. The city is in the Guayangareo Valley and is the capital of the state. The main pre-Hispanic cultures here were the P'urhépecha and the Matlatzinca, but no major cities were founded in the...
(1920) and at the National School of Medicine since 1922. He specialized in cardiology
Cardiology
Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart . The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
(1921–1927) and then he studied at clinics in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. He was the head of the National School of Medicine (1933–1934). He founded the first cardiology area in the General Hospital of Mexico (1924–1944). He was also the director of the General Hospital of Mexico (1936–1939). He was the founder and director of the National Institute of Cardiology, the first hospital of this kind (1944–1961 and again since 1976) in Mexico. He was the rector of the National Autonomous University of Mexico
National Autonomous University of Mexico
The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México is a university in Mexico. UNAM was founded on 22 September 1910 by Justo Sierra as a liberal alternative to the Roman Catholic-sponsored Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (National Autonomous...
(March 1965 to April 1966). He was instrumental in establishing international cooperation in cardiology after World War II. He founded and chaired the Mexican Society of Cardiology (1935) and the Interamerican Society of Cardiology (1946). Also in 1946, along with Paul Dudley White
Paul Dudley White
Paul Dudley White , American physician and cardiologist, was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, the son of Herbert Warren White and Elizabeth Abigail Dudley. White's interest in medicine was sparked early in life, when he accompanied his father, a family practitioner, on rounds and house calls in a...
and Charles Laubry
Charles Laubry
Charles Laubry was a French cardiologist best known for his work on congenital heart disease and the significance of blood pressure in cardiovascular disease. He founded the French Society of Cardiology in 1937, and served as its first president...
, he co-founded the International Society of Cardiology
World Heart Federation
The World Heart Federation is a nongovernmental organization based in Geneva, Switzerland dedicated to the prevention and control of heart disease and heart foundations from over 100 countries covering the regions of Asia-Pacific, Europe, East Mediterranean, the Americas and Africa.-History:The...
, an organization of which he was vice-chairman (1958–1962) and honorary life chairman (after 1962). He presided over the fourth World Congress of Cardiology
World Congress of Cardiology
The World Congress of Cardiology is a regular meeting of cardiologists from across the world for the purpose of promoting research, training, and treatment of diseases of the heart.-History:...
held in Mexico City in 1962. He was a member of the counseling committee of the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
(1955) and the Organization of American States
Organization of American States
The Organization of American States is a regional international organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States...
(1958–1966). He participated in 18 different cardiology societies in all America and Europe. He was appointed honorary doctor or rector of 95 universities around the world. He was a founding member of El Colegio Nacional (1943).
Among others, he received the following awards: the National Order of the Honor Legion (France: 1933, 1951, 1966); the Manuel Avila Camacho
Manuel Ávila Camacho
Manuel Ávila Camacho served as the President of Mexico from 1940 to 1946.Manuel Ávila was born in the city of Teziutlán, a small town in Puebla, to middle-class parents, Manuel Ávila Castillo and Eufrosina Camacho Bello. He had several siblings, among them sister María Jovita Ávila Camacho and...
Science Award (1945); the Mexico City Medal to the Civic Merit (1945); the General Morelos Medal (Michoacán, 1954); the Eduardo Liceaga Gold Medal (1960); the National Science Award (1961); the American College of Physicians Gold Medal (Atlantic City, 1963); and the Belisario Domínguez Medal awarded by the Senate of Mexico
Senate of Mexico
The Senate of the Republic, constitutionally Chamber of Senators of the Honorable Congress of the Union After a series of reforms during the 1990s, it is now made up of 128 senators:...
(October 9, 1975).
His statue was uncovered on September 27, 1980 in the park named after him which is located in front of the National Medical Center.
Writings
He wrote, among other works: Lecciones de clínica cardiológica (Lessons on Clinical Cardiology) (1931); Enfermedades del corazón, cirugía y embarazo (Heart diseases, surgery and pregnancy) (1945); México en la cultura médica (Mexico in Medical Culture) (1947); and Diego RiveraDiego Rivera
Diego María de la Concepción Juan Nepomuceno Estanislao de la Rivera y Barrientos Acosta y Rodríguez was a prominent Mexican painter born in Guanajuato, Guanajuato, an active communist, and husband of Frida Kahlo . His large wall works in fresco helped establish the Mexican Mural Movement in...
, sus frescos en el Instituto Nacional de Cardiología (Diego Rivera, his murals in the National Institute of Cardiology) (1946).