Chilean Public Health School Honors Legacy of Social Medicine Pioneer Gilda Gnecco on September 11
Santiago, Chile – The University of Chile’s School of Public Health held a commemorative event on september 11th, focusing on the enduring legacy of Dr. Gilda Gnecco and the ancient disruption of social medicine in Chile. The event featured a conversation and documentary screening, highlighting dr. gnecco’s dedication to community-based healthcare and the impact of political upheaval on the field.
The commemoration served as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by social medicine practitioners, particularly in the wake of the 1973 coup. Speakers emphasized how Dr. Gnecco’s principles and actions continue to resonate within the school and the broader public health landscape decades later.
“Everything she did is reflected in each action that it performs, even today, after so many decades,” a speaker noted, underscoring the lasting influence of Dr. Gnecco’s work.
Dr. Gnecco’s commitment to public health extended beyond clinical practice, deeply rooted in her values and relationships. A touching anecdote recalled how, “She when she deposits her vote at the urn remembers her Carolina Wiff,” demonstrating a personal connection to the foundational figures of Chilean social medicine.
Dr. Nelly Alvarado, School Academic, highlighted Dr. Gnecco’s pivotal role in establishing primary care in Chiloé, stating, “Gilda has never stopped doing public health. His legacy is in social workers and in community medicine that she helped build since the begining of the school.” Dr. Alvarado also stressed the importance of recognizing the collective effort behind these initiatives, emphasizing that “public health is built wiht collective commitment.”
The event also featured Jossette Iribarne-Wiff,Carolina Wiff’s daughter,who expressed the profound emotional impact of the commemoration. “it is indeed particularly very exciting as it is a day in the history of my family and it is the history of my school… Listening to Gilda in this space with colleagues with students is very strong, but it is also a very special moment.” Iribarne-Wiff emphasized the need to revisit history, stating, “This activity invites us to return to our history and recognize the work of Gilda, Carola and all those who built social and community medicine in Chile.”
Furthermore, Iribarne-Wiff announced the publication of a new article in the Social Medical Notebooks detailing the life and work of Ismael Valdés Valdés, a key figure mentored by dr. Viel, who also taught Dr. Gnecco. the article, titled “The Ismael Valdés Valdés Integral Center (1967 to 1973). maternal Maternal Child Integral Care Model in times of change“, co-authored by Jorge Lastra Torres and Jossette Iribarne-Wiff, aims to preserve and share the history of social medicine in chile.
The event underscored the importance of remembering the past to inform present challenges and maintain the legacy of those who championed accessible, community-focused healthcare in Chile. The conversation and documentary serve as a powerful reminder of the enduring principles of social medicine and the need to continue striving for a more just and equitable healthcare system.
