The University's School of Medicine has trained 11,477 students since 1954.

The School School of Medicine of the University of Navarra has trained 11,477 students since its inception in 1954. The University of Navarra held an event to commemorate and celebrate the 70th anniversary of this center, which reunited about 800 alumni of all promotions, professors and students. 

The event, which took place at sports center of the University of Navarra, began with a welcome from president, María Iraburu: "When I thought of the 70th anniversary of School , the memory of our pioneers, such as Luis María Santiago, Álvaro del Amo, Eduardo Ortiz de Landázuri and others, came to mind. Of course, also Juan Jiménez Vargas," he pointed out. The president underlined "the authenticity of these pioneers, who saw medicine with maximum professionalism, maximum humanity and always thinking of the patients", characteristics of the School. She also affirmed that the more than 11,400 students who have passed through its classrooms are "the invisible footprint of this School. It is the best heritage because you provide a service to society," added María Iraburu. 

Also speaking at the meeting was Secundino Fernández, Vice President of Office of Academic Affairs and former Dean of the School of Medicine. During his speech, he reviewed the seven decades of history of the School, which began with a class given on October 8, 1954 in the Chamber of Comptos of Navarra, with 25 students. "From Juan Jiménez Vargas, pioneer of the School, I discovered how the research should be done, how the professor should be. I also learned the fundamental instructions of the profession and of university spirit", explained Secundino Fernández, remembering his teacher during his training.

This was followed by a colloquium featuring Ramón Díaz and Inés Dorronsoro, married couple and students of the first and fifth graduating class, respectively, together with Santiago Martínez, a student of the current integrated curriculum. This new method was introduced in 2020 at partnership with Harvard University and with it students learn "without medicine becoming a watertight compartment, it is a whole", explained Santiago Martínez.

"An intangible that makes students unique."

"Today I want to pay tribute to all the people who made this Schoolpossible," began Ramón Díaz. Together with his wife, they recalled anecdotes from their university days. "I have to give thanks because the University passed through me and not me through it. It helped form me as a person," explained Inés Dorronsoro. "Although now you study with the integrated curriculum," she addressed Santiago Martínez, "there is one thing that must not change, and that is that this is a University that defends life and the dignity of the person," said Inés Dorronsoro. 

The event concluded with a conversation between Marta Ferrer, dean of the School of Medicine, and Joseba Campos, director general of the Clínica Universidad de NavarraJoseba Campos said, quoting Eduardo Ortiz de Landázuri, promoter of the internship clinical at School. 

"I remember meeting a patient admitted to phase 3 of the Clinic, who saw from his window the building Hexagon Building, where classes are held. He left a drawing dedicated to his doctor. The dedication read: 'For this factory of angels'. This anecdote perfectly reflects the identity of the School of Medicine: that people wonder where the doctor who is treating them has studied. That intangible, that identity, is what makes our students unique," concluded Marta Ferrer at the end of the event.