A desire to provide medical care for the impoverished, sparked by the death of her sister Elisa, guided Fe del Mundo into a lifelong career in pediatrics. Spanning eight decades, her work significantly altered the child healthcare landscape in the Philippines, establishing the nation's first pediatric hospital and creating institutions that trained generations of medical professionals in maternal and infant care.
Early Education and Professional Training
Born in 1911 in the Intramuros district of Manila, del Mundo attended Manila High School before enrolling at the University of the Philippines Manila in 1926. She earned her medical degree in 1933, graduating as class valedictorian and placing third in the national medical board examinations. Following her graduation, she pursued extensive postgraduate training in the United States, which included appointments at Boston Children's Hospital and earning a Master's degree in bacteriology from the Boston University School of Medicine in 1940.
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Upon returning to the Philippines in 1941, she joined the International Red Cross to assist children detained at the University of Santo Tomas internment camp. Her efforts there earned her the moniker The Angel of Santo Tomas. In 1943, she assumed the role of director at the city-run children's hospital, which later became the North General Hospital. She maintained this leadership position until 1948, focusing on child healthcare amid the turbulent conditions of the Battle of Manila.
Founding the Children's Medical Center
Seeking to operate free from government bureaucratic constraints, del Mundo liquidated her personal assets and secured a loan from the Government Service Insurance System to construct her own facility. In 1957, she inaugurated the Children's Medical Center in Quezon City, the first pediatric hospital in the Philippines. She later expanded this facility in 1966 by adding the Institute of Maternal and Child Health, a pioneering institution for training medical staff.
Professional Recognition and Legacy
Over her career, del Mundo held several prominent roles, including head of the Department of Pediatrics at the Far Eastern University - Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation. She was the first woman to be named a National Scientist of the Philippines and received accolades such as the Elizabeth Blackwell Award in 1966 and the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 1977. She remained active in medicine well into her later years, residing within the Children's Medical Center and continuing her clinical rounds until age 99. She died in Quezon City in 2011 and was buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
Fast facts
- Born: 1911, Manila, Philippines
- Died: 6 August 2011, Quezon City
- Education: University of the Philippines Manila
- Professional Role: Pediatrician and Scientist
- Key Achievement: Founded the first pediatric hospital in the Philippines
- Elizabeth Blackwell Award: 1966
- Ramon Magsaysay Award: 1977
- Burial Site: Libingan ng mga Bayani
Questions readers ask
What inspired Fe del Mundo to pursue medicine?
She was inspired by the death of her younger sister, Elisa, who had expressed a wish to become a doctor for the poor.
Where did she receive her medical training?
She graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Medicine and later completed postgraduate studies at Boston Children's Hospital and Boston University School of Medicine.
