INSP Honors Dr. Guillermo Soberón's Legacy

The Mexican National Public Health Institute (INSP) organized an event to commemorate the centenary of the birth of one of the greatest promoters of scientific research in Mexico, Dr. Guillermo Soberón Acevedo. The ceremony began with a tribute to Dr. Soberón, presented by the current director of INSP, Dr. Eduardo C. Lazcano Ponce, and featured Dr. Julio Frenk and Dr. Jaime Sepúlveda, both former directors of the INSP. The event was live-streamed through the official social media channels of the INSP, allowing a wider audience to join the celebration. Guillermo Soberón was born on December 29, 1925, in Iguala, Guerrero. The INSP and other institutions paid tribute to his impact on public health. Subsequently, the book "Spaces and Environments. The INSP Headquarters Building in Cuernavaca" was presented. The event concluded with a conversation moderated by Dr. Jaime Sepúlveda. Throughout his career, Soberón held important positions in public administration and academia. He was the rector of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) (1973-1981), Secretary of Health and Assistance (1982-1986), and Secretary of Health (1986-1988). He published over 164 research papers, authored or co-authored 25 books, and collaborated on 145. He was a member of the Mexican Academy of Sciences and The Biochemical Society in England, an honorary doctor of eleven institutions, and received multiple recognitions. He was awarded the National Prize for Sciences and Arts in 1980 and the Abraham Horwitz Award in 1991 from the PAHO. He graduated as a surgeon from the National School of Medicine of UNAM and obtained his doctorate in Physiological Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin, USA. His career was marked by pioneering research on malnutrition and the metabolic regulation of nitrogen. This tribute was part of a series of recognitions held in August 2025 by various institutions, such as the National Academy of Medicine of Mexico and the National Institute of Genomic Medicine (Inmegen), to celebrate the legacy of Guillermo Soberón, who passed away on October 12, 2020, in Cuernavaca, leaving an indelible mark on health, research, and education in Mexico.