[50th anniversary of the great reform of Chilean medical education (1945)].

The author reminds the reform of medical education of 1945 in which he participated as a student. It was approved by the Decree #201 of april 2, introducing Chilean medicine into a new era of modernity. The reform was planned and conducted by professors Hernán Alessandri (1900-1980) and Alejandro Garretón (1900-1980) who proposed substantial modifications in the organization, methodology and contents of curricula. An active and formative medical teaching was imposed and scientific research was encouraged. The career lasted seven years and had 27 regular and five free courses. A Teaching Commission, with eleven professors and three students, was created to fulfill such reform during the deans-hips of Garretón and Alessandri. As a consequence of the reform, national medicine was modernized in the areas of public health and hospital assistance, since the number of professors, physicians and students increased in the new Faculties created in Valparaíso, Valdivia and Temuco. The teaching-assistance and basic-clinical relationships were consolidated, with the ensuing expansion of research and medical specialties. Bringing back this reform, we appraise its impact in the progress of Chilean medicine.