Studying Public Health in the School of Public Health of Mexico in 1966: testimony

The School of Public Health of Mexico (SPHM) celebrated 100 years. During this long period, it has experienced curricular changes related to scientific and technological development, changing health priorities and institutional development. In 1966 the SPHM was a Latin American Center for the Formation of Public Health Specialists. The Public Health Master Program (PHMP) aimed at preparing Executive Officers capable of planning and implementing preventive programs, which, in the case of Mexico, responded to a centralized organization. As in other Latin American countries, health priorities focused on preventing and controlling maternal and infant health problems, infectious diseases preventable by immunizations and nutritional deficiencies. Adapted to this context, the curriculum included courses on administration, epidemiology, statistics and social sciences related to health and disease. Following a specialization in internal medicine, taking the PHMP meant the author a profound change in perspective.This communication describes some of the most significant experiences lived along the course.