(L-R) Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., president of the Health Science Center; Juan Ramón de la Fuente, M.D., rector of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM); and community leaders Tom Frost and Red McCombs celebrate UNAM's San Antonio campus' 60th anniversary.
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Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., president of the Health Science Center, presented Juan Ramón de la Fuente, M.D., rector of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Leadership during a luncheon Oct. 22. The luncheon commemorated the 60th anniversary of UNAM’s San Antonio campus.

UNAM is the oldest university in the Western Hemisphere and UNAM’s San Antonio campus was the first one the university established outside of Mexico.

“It is significant that you are here today and what cultural contributions you have made here in San Antonio,” Dr. Cigarroa said. “Together we are building the bridges of understanding to keep the proud heritage of San Antonio and UNAM alive.”

Dr. Cigarroa also presented Dr. de la Fuente with art glass from Garcia Art Glass. Dr. de la Fuente then presented Dr. Cigarroa with a replica of the sculpture unveiled at UNAM’s San Antonio campus’ 60th anniversary celebration.

“These have been a productive 60 years,” said Dr. de la Fuente. “An effort has been made here to better understand one another and I always feel like I am coming home when I come to San Antonio. San Antonio is the best example of a bicultural city.”

Dr. de la Fuente presented “Genomics: Ethics and Society” which discussed the role of genes in behavior, the complications that genetic therapy could create and the positive and negative aspects of genetic therapy.