Cayetano Heredia University
| Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia | |
 |
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| Motto | Spiritus ubi vult spirat (The spirit spreads wherever it wants) |
|---|---|
| Type | Private University |
| Established | 1961 |
| Rector | Dra. Fabiola Leon Velarde |
| Location | Lima, Peru |
| Website | www.upch.edu.pe |
Cayetano Heredia University (Spanish: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, UPCH; or simply Cayetano Heredia) is a private university located in Lima, Peru. It was named in honor of Cayetano Heredia, one of the eminent Peruvian physicians of the 19th century. The university is overseen by a Board of Trustees (patronato) and is not actually property of any private or state entity. It is considered one of the top medical schools (along the of National University of San Marcos) in Peru, and is currently the major publisher of scientific articles in the country.
It was founded in 1961 by a group of professors and students from the school of medicine of the four-century-old National University of San Marcos also in Lima. This group of students and professors expressed their strong disagreement with legislation, inspired by the APRA, a political party interested in the absolute control of the university system in the country. The legislation advocated the "co-government" of all the state universities by the so-called "student one-third" which would clearly politicize the academic enterprise. The dissenting group was led by Drs.Honorio Delgado and Alberto Hurtado, dean of the medical school at San Marcos. As their campaign to preserve academics failed, the 400 plus faculty members had no other option but to resign "en masse", and found the new medical school as a private non-profit academic institution. This happened in 1961 and the first classes commenced in April 1962. Some individuals have suggested that these events were the subject of "prior arrangements/agreements" which, in the political context of the time, would have been practically impossible. Forty-seven years later, Cayetano Heredia and San Marcos are the most prestigious medical schools in Peru.
The rectors of the university, since its foundation, are:
Soon after its founding and during the next following forty plus years Cayetano Heredia University became a significant center of higher learning and scientific research in Peru. UPCH is credited to be responsible for most of the world-quality research production in the area of health sciences in Peru.Vilchez 2009Cuevas 2005.
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