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Bicentenary of Faculdade de Medicina do Rio de Janeiro
Two important occurrences in Brazilian history join the bicentenary celebration of Portuguese court's arrival. The first - the foundation of the first Brazilian medical school in Salvador (BA) - was already emphasized in the last edition of Jornal Brasileiro de Patologia e Medicina Laboratorial (JBPML). This time, honors are directed to the second medical course created in the country, in the city of Rio de Janeiro: the anatomical, surgical and medical school of Rio de Janeiro (1808), which along the years received several denominations. Initially, the school functioned within the Royal Military Hospital, a former Jesuit College in Morro do Castelo. In 1813, after reorganizing medical teaching, the institution was denominated Medical-Surgical Academy of Rio de Janeiro. It was not until 1965 that it came to be known as Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (FM/UFRJ).
The older document of that period is the students' registry book, dated from 1815, which indicates the presence of several students of African origin and a slave of the prince regent, besides many Portuguese.
Historical signs suggest that some of those students were barbers/bleeders and surgeons licensed by the proper organ. In the beginning of the 19th century, activities related to health were practiced by barbers, bleeders, pharmacists, licensed surgeons and also by some professionals graduated in medical-surgical academies.
During his reign, according to the history of the institution, Emperor Pedro II frequently visited the Medicine College, what included participation in practical laboratory classes.
Graduations, when presided by the Emperor, took place in Colégio Pedro II. There, in 1888, Ermelinda Vasconcellos was the first woman to graduate in medicine by the institution of Rio de Janeiro.
In September 7th, 1920, the creation of a university in Rio de Janeiro is finally decreed, uniting the medical school, the polytechnic school and the law college. The first chancellor of the new university was a professor at the medical school: Benjamim Franklin Ramiz Galvão.
Publication Dates
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Publication in this collection
07 July 2008 -
Date of issue
Apr 2008
