De la higiene a la medicina social en la carrera de medicina de la Universidad de Cuenca

Abstract

In the curriculum of the School of Medicine of the University of Cuenca, throughout history, there has been little emphasis on subjects or disciplines and related contents with Social Medicine (formerly conceived as Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health). Physicians have been educated with an individualistic view of health care, mainly with a clinical-surgical vision, and motivated to private practice. A hospital-based background has been the main scenario of their training. Medical education has been based on the social structure, the prevailing health system and market requirements. However, some encouraging milestones are recorded in the history of the Faculty, framed in the practice of social medicine, such as university extension programs, community medicine, rural health and others. The work of the Professor Edgar Rodas Andrade, in line with his leadership and way of thinking, is emphasized.