[Leonardo de la Peña Díaz (1875-1957) and the founding of the first chair of urology in Spain].
The creation of the first chair of Urology in Spain and, consequently, the official recognition of the specialty in the urinary tract as a subject in the university curriculum was not an easy task for the urologists early in the last century. The curriculum of 1886 and 1902 included some medical specialties in the licentiate (ORL, Ophthalmology, Dermatology and Venereal Disease, and Neuropathy) as complementary and subsequently compulsory subjects, but not Urology. Perhaps this was due to the lack of representative or influential urologists that could exert pressure on the ministers of Public Education at that time. Although the Spanish Society of Urology was founded in 1911 and some urologists like Rafael Mollá and Rodrigo and Leonardo de la Peña Díaz, professors of the Central University, exerted pressure on the university faculty, Royal Academy of Medicine and the Ministry of Public Education, Urology was not included in the curriculum until 1920, although, in my view, its category was again devaluated since it was only an optional subject in the licentiate or doctorate. Apart from the procedures and processes, convoking the chair required political and administrative maneuvers that are shown in a broad review of newspaper articles and documents of that period. The controversial result of the competition based on merits that some considered should have been competition for a position according to the convocation, is no discredit to Leonardo de la Peña Díaz (1875-1957), the first professor of Urology in the history of Spanish Medicine. An unbiased historical and discerning evaluation clearly shows that his merits, accomplishments, tenacity and competence in teaching made him the most appropriate for the position. His merits were finally recognized not only by the board but also by his opponents.
Maganto Pavón
Emilio
E
Servicio de Urología, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, España.
D000047:Academies and Institutes / Q000266:history; D000715:Anatomy / Q000266:history; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000266:history*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000266:history; D013030:Spain; D014495:Universities / Q000266:history; D014572:Urology / Q000266:history*