The human being is a complex, adaptable, highly developed organism, not only biologically but also socially. The skills which we, as humans, have displayed to develop tools that allow us to modify our environment, make it safer, more inhabitable and comfortable, is remarkable.
As a species, the ability to think and communicate is what sets us apart from other species. The development of writing has become the hinge and turning point in the development of mankind since the time of the Phoenicians.
Nonetheless, the biological, cognitive and communicative evolution of human beings would not be as interesting if it wasn’t for our affective ability, which helps to maintain ties between societies around the world. In this sense, a distinct feature of our social organization, since the beginning, has been the recognition of leaders and the acknowledgement of those members who have stood out above everybody else for their physical, intellectual, artistic and/or sporting prowess and abilities.
Now, in 2015, we wish to acknowledge a great teacher of our School of Medicine of the Autonomous University of Nuevo León (UANL). It is thanks to him that we have the fortune to celebrate the 45th anniversary of our journal “Medicina Universitaria”, which was first published in January, 1970.
This great professor to whom we are referring is Dr. Alvaro Gómez Leal. It was thanks to his vision, effort and hard work that he became the founder of our journal in the early 70s of the last century.
We are certain that he envisioned the need, reach, suitability and relevance of this publication to be aimed at healthcare professionals. But above all, we are confident that he did it knowing he was planting a seed in fertile soil, a seed which would bear great and invaluable yields as the years went by.
These first 45 years of “Medicina Universitaria” have gone through a demanding path, since its publication has been regular only in the last 17 years. The people who have kept this project, started by Professor Gomez Leal, alive, are numerous and of great value; our acknowledgment and gratitude for their excellent and selfless work in the interest of the spread and creation of new medical knowledge goes out to each and every one of them.
Furthermore, we extend a special greeting and thanks to the group of national and international health scientists who have believed in us and trusted us with the publication of their medical articles, which we are certain, are a product of great effort and teamwork.
The consolidation of “Medicina Universitaria”, which is already in multiple world-class bibliographic repositories, will allow its indexation in September 2016. Thus, we will have a first-class, world-renowned journal. This will be another step in its development as a scientific journal, but it will also be a new challenge, so that new and future generations of scientists can continue the work started by Dr. Gómez Leal back in 1970.
To complete the celebrations, we want this first issue of “Medicina Universitaria” of 2015 to be even more special; thus we have included a reprint of the first front cover, the original editorial and the scientific articles which composed the first issue of our journal back in January of the inaugural year, that is, issue 1, volume 1.
Our greetings and congratulations to all of you for these 45 years of the project, which truly reflects the ability, perseverance, quality and teamwork which sets us apart as a group of university professionals of the UANL.
Happy 45th Anniversary!