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This episode was inspired by the organizations that not only uplift the voices of the Hispanic and Latinx diaspora but also make meaningful contributions to society. Today, we will be highlighting the National Association of Medical Interpreters and Translators (NAMS). This organization improves Spanish communication among physicians and medical trainees who are interested in ensuring that the patients they meet are able to receive health equity by limiting linguistic barriers. This organization offers medical professionals monthly lectures on terms and medical language to assess symptoms during an appointment. If you would like to donate, take a look at our show note captions.

Transcript for the Podcast

Transcript: Welcome to Mirroring Medicine with Kodi and Isabel! In this episode of Mirroring Medicine, we will be highlighting Hispanic Heritage Month. We will review historical Latino and Hispanic contributions to scientific and medicinal advancements in healthcare, including the medical anthropology of this topic, the disenfranchisement of these communities, and the understanding of cultural boundaries when accessing medicine. If you have any medical questions about healthcare, please contact your nearest doctor. As we have stated in previous episodes, we are just touching the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this information, and this podcast does not constitute medical advice. If you would like to learn more, we encourage you to explore the rich history of Latino and Hispanic excellence and resilience. 

Isabel’s Part

Historically, ancient Latin American societies contributed and even pioneered certain medical practices, which will be explored further in this episode. The mention of historical contributions is to acknowledge how pre-Columbian Latin American societies contributed to science and medicine in their respective areas.

An example of this is in the field of neurosurgery, which is colloquially acknowledged as one of the most delicate fields of surgery. Interestingly, the first documented neurosurgery artifacts are found in Peru, which can be radiocarbon dated to as early as 1000 AD, according to the American Journal of Physical Anthropology.

I want to define the term trephination, which involves drilling and creating a hole in the skull. This technique is the oldest form of neurosurgery and has been found at archaeological sites in Peru. (https://www.osmosis.org/answers/trephination)

According to the article “Preconquest Peruvian neurosurgeons: a study of Inca and pre-Columbian trephination and the art of medicine in ancient Peru,” published in Neurosurgery, the published osteology studies, which examine bone found at sites, show that the tools used were either stone or metal. The civilization even had a term for surgeons, called “Sirkaks.” Based on osteological studies, the survival rates for these craniotomy patients were 50-70%, with a low incidence of infection found.

The article goes on to say that this is primarily due to antiseptics, hemostatic (blood-stopping) agents, and metals such as gold and silver used to perform the surgeries. 

In 1986, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons published descriptions of 34 individual skulls with evidence of trephination from South and Central America. Sixteen of these skulls are available for viewing in Mexico at the anthropological museum, according to Velasco-Suarez et al. [2]. 

Five anthropological sites in Peru have been dated from 1000-1250 AD, citing that post-mortem trephinations also occurred, which are now hypothesized to be used for practice to ensure surgical technique was perfected according to Kurin et al. [4]

These anthropological sites and skulls provide us with a historical lens through which to view the early development of Neurosurgery. To quote Dr. Plinio Prioreschi, MD, PhD, who pioneered the movement for physicians and surgeons to learn and reflect on medical history, as opposed to social historians, who often lack medical and surgical knowledge. [4]. 

Charity:

This episode was inspired by the organizations that not only uplift the voices of the Hispanic and Latinx diaspora but also make meaningful contributions to society. Today, we will be highlighting the National Association of Medical Interpreters and Translators (NAMS). This organization improves Spanish communication among physicians and medical trainees who are interested in ensuring that the patients they meet are able to receive health equity by limiting linguistic barriers. This organization offers medical professionals monthly lectures on terms and medical language to assess symptoms during an appointment.

If you would like to donate, take a look at our show note captions. [5]

Kodi’s Part

In honor of celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, which starts September 15th to October 15th, we would like to talk about the diverse and integral contributions from Hispanic and Latino peoples and understand the context of their medicinal and scientific advancements throughout history and how it shaped our viewpoint of medicine today. 

Firstly, I wanted to talk about Dr. Carlos Juan Finlay MD (he was an Epidemiologist). According to Discovery Place Science he discovered and proposed a theory that mosquitoes can spread the deadly disease of yellow fever, and was confirmed two decades later by other scientists. Dr. Finlay’s insights about yellow fever saved numerous lives through understanding this mechanism of transfer for this yellow fever. [6]

So what is yellow fever? According to the world health organization, yellow fever is an infectious disease that is transmitted to humans by the bites of infected mosquitoes usually affecting Central and South America and Africa. Yellow fever is a virus also called an arbovirus, in which the bite from mosquitoes can happen mostly during the day. Although many do not experience symptoms, some signs to look for include fever, pain, losing your appetite, and throwing up. After this incubation period, sometimes people may experience a second phase which people can develop jaundice (yellow skin/eyes), dark pee, pain. The treatment will be given to you when seen by a doctor. The prevention occurs through vaccination, avoiding areas with high amounts of mosquitos/using covering and repellents, and preparation. [7]

The second person that I wanted to talk about is Dr. Helen Rodriguez Trias. According to Discover magazine and the National Center for Biotechnology Information in the NIH, she studied medicine in San Juan and started the first infant clinic in PR, dropping the infant mortality rate by 50% after approximately 3 years. She then fought for women of color who were subjected to sterilization practices, which were permanently preventing women of color from becoming pregnant and giving birth. Noticing this inequality for women of color, she founded the Committee to End Sterilization Abuse and the Committee for Abortion Rights and Against Sterilization Abuse while working to advocate for women and children with HIV [8,9,10]

The third Hispanic or Latina scientist and medical doctor I wanted to talk about Dr. Antonia Novello MD who attended UChicago and uchicago medicine and advent health state, “Born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Dr. Antonia Novello was the first woman and person of Hispanic heritage to become Surgeon General of the United States. As Surgeon General, Dr. Novello was among the first to recognize the need to focus on women with AIDS and neonatal transmission of HIV. Dr. Novello found new opportunities for Hispanic/Latinx Americans to participate in health issues, convening national and regional meetings to discuss community health needs. She raised national awareness in the medical profession about the domestic violence epidemic in America and worked to elevate public consciousness about underage drinking and alcohol abuse.”  [11]

Conclusion:

Thank you for joining us today on Mirroring Medicine, we hope that you enjoyed our discussion on the ways in which historical contributions of Hispanic and latine civilizations, scientists and physicians have contributed to our modern understanding. If you are interested, learn more about the National Association of Medical Spanish to further support the medical profession and their quest for language health equity. We hope you enjoyed it!

Citations

Citations:

1. Marino R Jr, Gonzales-Portillo M. Preconquest Peruvian neurosurgeons: a study of Inca and pre-Columbian trephination and the art of medicine in ancient Peru. Neurosurgery. 2000 Oct;47(4):940-50. doi: 10.1097/00006123-200010000-00028. PMID: 11014434.

2. Velasco-Suarez M, Bautista Martinez J, Garcia Oliveros R, Weinstein PR. Archaeological origins of cranial surgery: trephination in Mexico. Neurosurgery. 1992 Aug;31(2):313-8; discussion 318-9. doi: 10.1227/00006123-199208000-00017. PMID: 1513436.

3. Kurin DS. Trepanation in South-Central Peru during the early late intermediate period (ca. AD 1000-1250). Am J Phys Anthropol. 2013 Dec;152(4):484-94. doi: 10.1002/ajpa.22383. Epub 2013 Oct 21. PMID: 24142537.

4. Faria MA. Neolithic trepanation decoded- A unifying hypothesis: Has the mystery as to why primitive surgeons performed cranial surgery been solved? Surg Neurol Int. 2015 May 7;6:72. doi: 10.4103/2152-7806.156634. PMID: 25984386; PMCID: PMC4427816.

5. https://www.osmosis.org/answers/trephination

6. National Association of Medical Spanish. “Donate to NAMS.” NAMSpanish, https://namspanish.memberclicks.net/donate-to-nams. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025. (NamSpanish)

7. “Celebrating Influential Hispanic and Latinx Scientists.” Discovery Place Science – Stay at Home Science, 5 Oct. 2022, https://discoveryplace.org/stay-at-home-science/celebrating-influential-hispanic-and-latinx-scientists/. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025. (Discovery Place Science Museum)

8. World Health Organization. “Yellow Fever.” WHO Fact Sheets, 20 Oct. 2025, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/yellow-fever. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025. (World Health Organization)

9. Cull, Monica. “5 Hispanic Scientists That Made Amazing Contributions to Science.” Discover Magazine, 22 Sept. 2022, https://www.discovermagazine.com/5-hispanic-scientists-that-made-amazing-contributions-to-science-44109. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025. (Discover Magazine)

10. “Dr. Helen Rodríguez Trías.” National Park Service, U.S. Dept. of the Interior, https://www.nps.gov/people/dr-helen-rodr%C3%ADguez-tr%C3%ADas.htm. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025. (National Park Service) “Credit: By National Center for Biotechnology Information – Public Domain.” Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=70643318. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.

11. “Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month: Latino Health Care Contributions, Achievements and Awareness.” UChicago Medicine AdventHealth Blog, 10 Aug. 2023, UChicago Medicine AdventHealth, https://www.uchicagomedicineadventhealth.org/blog/celebrating-hispanic-heritage-month-latino-health-care-contributions-achievements-and-awareness. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025. (uchicagomedicineadventhealth.org)