Ceremony for National Medicine Award conferred to Dr. Marta Colombo

The most important prize conferred to doctors in Chile was given to Dr. Marta Colombo, pediatric neurologist with over 54 years of experience in public health. On Thursday, April 28, the solemn ceremony was held, an occasion in which members from the four medical institutions that created the National Medicine Award, presented the recognition.

“It is with great surprise, honor, and humility that I receive this award. I do not consider this recognition to be only mine for it is a privilege to represent the women who dedicate their lives to medicine and those who are currently studying to become doctors in Chile. I sincerely and affectionately share this distinction with all these women”, were the first words of Dr. Marta Colombo upon receiving the award in an emotional ceremony, that included the Minister of the Interior, Dr. Izkia Siches; the Minister of Health, Dr. María Begoña Yarza; and the dean of the University of Chile, Dr. Ennio Vivaldi.

The four presidents of the medical institutions that created this award attended and led the ceremony: Dr. Emilio Roessler, President of the Chilean Academy of Medicine; Dr. Carmen Gloria Aylwin, President of the Association of Scientific-Medical Societies of Chile (ASOCIMED); Dr. Patricio Meza, President of the Medical Association of Chile; Dr. Antonio Orellana, President of the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Chile (ASOFAMECH); and Dr. Eghon Guzmán, President of the Jury of the 2022 National Prize for Medicine and Former President of ASOCIMED.

In addition, three National Medicine Awards were present: Dr. Rodolfo Armas (2010), Dr. Fernando Monckeberg (2012) and Dr. Vicente Valdivieso (2020).

On this occasion, Dr. Carmen Gloria Aylwin acknowledged the institutions that created the National Prize for Medicine, which was created two decades ago and awarded every two years. “Its purpose is to recognize the work of doctors who strictly adhere to medical ethics, have excelled among their peers and are role models in human and professional matters, performing with excellence and creativity, providing relevant contributions to the development and prestige of national medicine, the formation of disciples and the spirit of service”, she highlighted.

In addition, she emphasized that this award is the most important one in Chilean medicine because it is a recognition bestowed by the medical community and its institutions on one of its peers, with an educational, scientific, professional and labor union perspective.

Additionally, Dr. Eghon Guzmán, President of the 2022 Jury, read the 2022 Award Act and added that this recognition is not contemplated by Law 19,179, in which the Government of Chile grants National Awards in other disciplines, such as Literature, Journalism, and Exact Sciences, among others. “Unfortunately, this law does not consider the National Prize for Medicine,” he pointed out.

During the ceremony, Dr. Colombo was given a Diploma, a commemorative sculpture and a cash prize funded by the sponsoring entities.

 

 

Career

Throughout her brilliant career, Dr. Colombo has worked incessantly to achieve the implementation of the Neonatal Screening Program for Phenylketonuria and Congenital Hypothyroidism, which is considered her most visible and impactful contribution. This milestone was achieved in 1992, when the Ministry of Health implemented the program after 20 years of work. This public health program has helped to prevent the consequences that intellectual disability produces if not treated early. It has been in place for 30 years and prevented thousands of children from suffering intellectual limitations.