Dr. Juan Salcedo Jr. was a professor of Physiology from 1929-1936, as well as the Chair of the Department of Biochemistry from 1953-1956 of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. Considered an authority in nutrition and public health, he served as the director of the Institute of Nutrition since 1948 before he was appointed Secretary of Health during the term of President Elpidio Quirino (1950-1953). He is well known for developing “Enriched Rice”, a rice variety which helped reduce the cases of beriberi in the Philippines, and served as a model for rice enrichment programs in other countries. He has published over 200 works and researches in Philippine and foreign journals, discussing medicine, science and technology, and inculcating the need for their proper utilization in the process of shaping the nation. In May 1952, he became the first Filipino elected as President of the WHO World Health Assembly. The following year, 81 demonstration Rural Health Units were constructed after the submission of the Philippine-American Public Health Project. For his contributions to Nutrition, Public Health, and Medicine, Dr. Salcedo was conferred the title of “National Scientist” in 1978.
JUAN SALCEDO JR., MD
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