• Dr. Attila Csendes, a digestive surgeon and academic at the University of Chile, has nearly 600 scientific publications in Chile and abroad. 
• Recognized as one of the most influential figures in Chilean medicine, he is considered the father of early gastric cancer detection in Latin America and a key reference in the development of digestive surgery in Chile. 
• He created and consolidated upper digestive surgery as a subspecialty, promoted specialization, and trained generations of digestive surgeons in the country and the region, among other achievements. 

Dr. Attila Csendes, a digestive surgeon and academic at the University of Chile, has been awarded the 2026 National Medicine Award, the highest honor granted by the country’s medical community to professionals who have excelled in clinical excellence, scientific contribution, and human commitment.

With a career spanning more than six decades, Dr. Csendes has produced nearly 600 publications in Chile and abroad, establishing himself as one of the most influential figures in Chilean and Latin American medicine. His work has marked a turning point in digestive surgery, particularly in the study and treatment of gastric cancer.

A life marked by resilience and vocation

Born in Hungary, he arrived in Chile at the age of 8 as a refugee. His first weeks in the country were spent at the National Stadium, where he received gestures of solidarity that would deeply shape his life. In 1959, he entered the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Chile, where he trained as a physician and surgeon.

His vocation was influenced by the early death of his mother due to gastric cancer, as well as by the figure of his father, a military physician. From then on, he developed a strong interest in biology and medicine.

Seven key contributions to medicine

Throughout his career, Dr. Csendes has left a significant legacy, including:

• The introduction and development of the concept of early gastric cancer in Chile and Latin America, following training in Japan in 1969. 
• The incorporation of the scientific method into Chilean surgery, promoting prospective and randomized studies. 
• The creation and consolidation of upper digestive surgery as a subspecialty, significantly reducing surgical mortality. 
• The opening of Chilean surgery to the world through publication in international journals. 
• The training of hundreds of surgeons in Chile and Latin America. 
• The introduction of surgical endoscopy in the country. 
• His pioneering role in the development of bariatric surgery in Chile since 1992. 

Academic vocation and human commitment

Dr. Csendes chose an academic career at the University of Chile, prioritizing teaching and research over private practice. Throughout his career, he has stood out for his emphasis on ethics, the training of new generations, and the importance of the doctor-patient relationship.

“The most important thing is family,” he has stated on several occasions, also expressing deep gratitude to Chile, the country that welcomed him and where he developed his entire career.

Current challenges in medicine

The specialist warns about epidemiological changes in digestive diseases, such as the decline in gastric cancer and the increase in colon and pancreatic cancers. He also emphasizes the need for greater medical specialization and an ethical approach in areas such as bariatric surgery, highlighting the importance of multidisciplinary evaluations and long-term follow-up.

About the National Medicine Award

The National Medicine Award recognizes physicians who, with strict adherence to ethics, have excelled and serve as role models both personally and professionally due to their trajectory of excellence, creativity, mentorship, spirit of service, and contribution to the development of medicine in the country.

It has been awarded since 2002 and is granted by the Chilean Academy of Medicine, the Association of Chilean Medical Scientific Societies (ASOCIMED), the Association of Medical Schools of Chile (ASOFAMECH), and the Chilean Medical Association (COLMED).

The 2026 jury was composed of:

• Dr. José Adolfo Rodríguez, Academic Secretary of the Chilean Academy of Medicine and jury president 
• Dr. Carmen Gloria Aylwin, past president of ASOCIMED and jury secretary 
• Dr. Antonio Orellana, president of ASOFAMECH 
• Dr. Anamaria Arriagada, president of COLMED 
• Dr. Jorge Carrasco, president of the Chilean Society of Pediatrics (SOCHIPE) 
• Dr. Annalise Goecke, past president of the Medical Society of Santiago 
• Dr. Carlos Riquelme, past president of the Chilean Society of Radiology, representing the 2024 National Medicine Award