Juan Abraham Bermúdez

Juan Abraham Bermúdez

Pioneer Award: ISN Latin America region

The ISN Pioneer Awards honor the ‘unsung heroes’ of nephrology: doctors who have made extraordinary efforts to advance nephrology in a specific country or region. Without their dedication, nephrology would be far behind its current state in their home country.

Dr. Juan Abraham Bermúdez graduated as an M.D. from the School of Medicine of the Michoacán University of San Nicolás de Hidalgo (UMSNH), in Mexico, in 1961. He completed his internal medicine and nephrology specialties at the then-Hospital of Nutritional Diseases, now known as the Salvador Zubirán National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition.

Assigned to the Internal Medicine service of the M.D. Miguel Silva General Hospital, Dr. Bermúdez pioneered dialysis and transplant procedures there, co-founding the medical specialty residencies and subspecialty nephrology residencies. He was chair of the propaedeutic clinic at UMSNH from 1966-2006. He founded the chair of nephrology and professor of nephrology roles at UMSNH.

Dr. Bermúdez is the author of multiple books, publications, and courses. More than 5,000 students have trained under his tutelage, and approximately 15% of nephrologists certified by the Mexican Board of Nephrology have been mentored by him at some point in their academic training. He is the former president of the Institute of Nephrological Research and the Mexican Council of Nephrology and is a member of ten scientific societies.

Commenting on this award, Dr. Bermúdez shared his personal formula that has guided his career: “Love medicine, have passion for teaching and an unlimited desire to serve, have science in your brain and kindness in your heart.”