San Juan Bautista School of Medicine hosts first Puerto Rico Medicine Hall of Fame Museum
By THE STAR STAFF
The Puerto Rico Medicine Hall of Fame Museum is a space dedicated to honoring and celebrating the contributions of individuals who have left an indelible mark on the field of medicine. The museum was designed to inspire new generations of healthcare professionals, providing an educational environment that highlights the importance of history and the work of iconic figures in the medical field.
Through texts, photographs and historical documents, students, medical faculty and other visitors can learn about and understand the stories of the inductees and their contributions to the scientific, social and educational spheres. Its humanistic approach offers a space rich in stories, anecdotes, and emotions, an ideal setting for enjoyment, education and, above all, reflection.
“About 10 months ago, I was told about a project to create a Puerto Rico Medicine Hall of Fame Museum at each of the four medical schools in Puerto Rico. Our response was immediate: let’s start at San Juan Bautista,” stated Dr. Yocasta Brugal, president of the San Juan Bautista School of Medicine in Caguas. “Today, that conversation has become a reality. It fills me with pride that our medical school is the place where this effort begins, an effort to preserve the history of these great men and women in medicine, to share their legacy, and to connect them with new generations of physicians.”
The Puerto Rico Medicine Hall of Fame Museum -- salonfamamedicina.com -- currently includes 35 inductees. Its vision encompasses the preservation of the scientific, humanistic and moral legacy of those honored, ensuring that this legacy can be effectively passed on to future generations. The museum was conceived with this goal as a guiding principle.
The museum will feature a digital version, accessible through an educational platform customized for each medical school – museomedicinapr.com – which will allow students, faculty and medical professionals access information about the distinguished physicians and hospital institutions inducted into the Hall of Fame, as well as explore articles of medical significance, photographs, biographical videos and historical news. It serves as a valuable resource that will contribute to education, the expansion of knowledge, and the dissemination of the history of medicine in the Caguas region.
“May this museum allow us to remember where we come from, recognize those who made our present possible, and, above all, inspire those who bear the responsibility of shaping the future of medicine,” Brugal added.
The project was made possible through the support of prominent organizations including MCS of Puerto Rico; the Manatí, Bayamón, and Mayagüez Medical Center hospital group; SIMED; and Laboratorios Borinquen, all of which are part of the region’s healthcare history and are committed to preserving this historical legacy.
Information regarding the programs offered by the San Juan Bautista School of Medicine -- Doctor of Medicine (MD), Master of Public Health (MPH), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with a specialization as an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and the LPN-to-BSN Bridge program -- can be obtained by visiting sanjuanbautista.edu or calling 787-743-3038.
