Kumate Rodríguez, Jesús (1924–)

Mexican health official and medical researcher Jesús Kumate Rodríguez was born November 12, 1924, in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, the son of a small businessman and a school teacher. He graduated from Mexico's Military Medical School in 1946 and in 1963 received a PhD in biochemistry from the National Polytechnic Institute. He also completed advanced studies in the United States. Kumate taught at both the Military Medical School and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) for many years, and served as research coordinator of the Children's Hospital, Mexico City, an institution he later directed (1979–1980). A member of the National Academy of Medicine, he received the Carnot Prize for his early research. In 1974 he was invited to become a member of the prestigious National College, and in 1983 the secretary of public health appointed him coordinator of the National Institute of Public Health for the entire country. He became assistant secretary of health in 1985, and in 1988, president Carlos Salinas (1988–1994) selected Kumate as his secretary of health, a position he held until 1994. He is recognized for his work on pediatric medicine, and for policy issues related to children's health generally. Kumate has authored numerous books and articles in his specialty.

See alsoPublic Health; Salinas de Gortari, Carlos.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Kumate, Jesús. Los niños de México, 1943–2003. México: El Colegio Nacional, 2004.

                                         Roderic Ai Camp