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Awesome Filipino History Drop #2: Fe del Mundo

angelica736

Updated: Sep 6, 2023

Meet Fe del Mundo, the trailblazer who waltzed into Harvard Medical School in 1936 when the idea of women becoming doctors was probably as rare as a unicorn sighting. But Fe wasn't just about smashing stereotypes and breaking barriers; she had a knack for turning everyday objects into life-saving gizmos.


Picture this: It's 1941, the world is in turmoil, and Fe is thinking, "How can I help rural families without electricity?" So, what does she do? She MacGyvers a bamboo incubator out of native laundry baskets, like she's auditioning for "Survivor: Medical Edition." Hot water bottles, a dash of bamboo, a sprinkle of ingenuity, and voilà! A baby incubator is born. Unfortunately, we can't show you a picture of this bamboo masterpiece because it's probably hanging out in the "Lost Treasures of the Medical World" section.


After her Harvard adventure, Fe heads back to the Philippines during a not-so-great time - Japanese occupation. But instead of sunbathing on the beach, she joins the International Red Cross and becomes the guardian angel of kiddos stuck in the University of Santo Tomas internment camp. They call her the "Angel of Santo Tomas," which sounds pretty fancy.


Fast forward a bit, and the Japanese decide to shut down her makeshift heaven for kids. Manila's Mayor pops the question, "Fe, can you set up a government hospital?" So, she does, but bureaucracy isn't her jam. She ditches the government gig, sells everything, and opens the Philippines' first pediatric hospital, The Children's Medical Center. She even sold her houses – because why not?


This woman was so committed to her hospital expansion dreams that she moved in, lived on the second floor, and never left. She's like the real-life version of "Hotel California," but instead of checking out anytime, she chose to stay in.


Now, that hospital is named the "Dr. Fe del Mundo Children's Medical Center Foundation" – a fitting tribute to someone who achieved more than most of us can even dream of. The Harvard thing? Just the tip of the iceberg. She became a certified pediatrician, founded medical associations, and broke glass (and bamboo) 😉 ceilings all over the place.


But when asked about her impressive list of accomplishments, she'd just shrug and say, "Why should I be proud? It does not make me feel different. I have remained the same in my daily life." Oh, Fe, you humble altruistic overachiever.


In between all of this, she even wrote a textbook that's still making med school students sweat today. So, there you have it – Fe del Mundo, the woman who made saving lives look like a walk in the park, even if that park was filled with bamboo incubators and medical breakthroughs.




References


ThoughtCo - "Dr. Fe del Mundo: The First Woman to Attend Harvard Medical School"

  • Source Link: https://www.thoughtco.com/filipino-doctor-fe-del-mundo-1991718

  • Author: Mary Bellis

  • Date Published: June 6, 2021

Harvard's Countway Library - "Dr. Fe del Mundo: Honoring a Legacy of Pediatric Excellence"

  • Source Link: https://countway.harvard.edu/news/dr-fe-del-mundo

  • Author: Harvard University, Countway Library

  • Date Published: November 15, 2020

My Hero Project - "Fe del Mundo: Doctor to Heroes"

  • Source Link: https://myhero.com/fe-del-mundo

  • Author: The My Hero Project

  • Date Published: N/A





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