The Aesclepio award in pediatric surgery: history, meaning, and a personal reflection

doi:10.15406/hpmij.2025.08.00276

eISSN: 2576-4497

Hospice & Palliative Medicine International Journal

Letter to Editor Volume 8 Issue 3

The Aesclepio award in pediatric surgery: history, meaning, and a personal reflection

Guillermo Yanowsky Reyes

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Pediatric Surgeon, University of Guadalajara University Center for Health Sciences, Mexico

Correspondence: Guillermo Yanowsky Reyes, Pediatric Surgeon, University of Guadalajara University Center for Health Sciences, Mexico, Tel + 3331572737

Received: October 13, 2025 | Published: October 24, 2025

Citation: Reyes GY. The Aesclepio award in pediatric surgery: history, meaning, and a personal reflection. Hos Pal Med Int Jnl. 2025;8(3):71. DOI: 10.15406/hpmij.2025.08.00276

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Origins and nature of the award

The Aesclepio Award in Pediatric Surgery stands as one of the most prestigious honors in the national surgical community. Established by the Aesculap Academy Foundation Mexico A.C., in collaboration with the Mexican Society of Pediatric Surgery this annual award recognizes a healthcare professional whose career exemplifies clinical excellence, committed teaching, academic contribution, and social outreach. Inspired by the Greek god of medicine, Aesclepius, the award embodies the core values of healing: ethics, compassion, education, and scientific advancement. Since its creation in 2006, the Aesclepio Prize has recognized 17 pediatric surgeons who not only master surgical techniques but also serve as educators of new generations, leaders in clinical research, and promoters of equitable surgical care for Mexican children. Each recipient exemplifies a model of medical practice that transcends the operating room

An honor that inspires: my gratitude for the 2025 recognition

This year, on September 15th in Santa Maria Huatulco, Oaxaca, as part of our 52nd National Congress of Pediatric Surgery, I had the privilege of being selected as the winner of the 2025 Aesclepio Award in Pediatric Surgery, an award I receive with profound humility and sincere gratitude. The news was not only a source of personal and professional joy, but also an opportunity to reflect on the path I have taken and the people who have made it possible. I am sincerely grateful to the selection committee, the Aesculap Academy Foundation, and my peers at the Mexican Society of Pediatric Surgery for deeming my career worthy of this esteemed distinction. This award belongs equally to my family, mentors, students, colleagues, institutions, and most of all, to the patients and families who have entrusted me with their lives throughout the years

The professional significance of the Aesclepio award

Receiving the Aesclepio Award represents a milestone in the career of a pediatric surgeon. Beyond public recognition, it affirms a lifelong commitment to medical education, surgical excellence, professional ethics, and service to society. The impact of this distinction manifests in multiple dimensions:

Academic: Strengthens one’s role as an educator and creates opportunities to mentor the next generation of specialists.
Professional: Enhances clinical and academic credibility within the surgical community.
Institutional: Positions affiliated medical centers as leaders in pediatric care and training.
Personal: Reinforces the fundamental purpose that unites us as physicians: to heal, to teach, to accompany.

Rather than a culmination, this award serves as a renewed commitment to growth-to continue learning, innovating, teaching, and serving with humility

Recipient of the Aesclepio Award 2025.

Conclusion

In a country that continues to face significant challenges in child health, recognitions like the Aesclepio Award in Pediatric Surgery do more than honor individual achievements-they spotlight pediatric surgery as a critical pillar of social justice and healthcare equity. May this recognition serve as encouragement to those who, every day, devote their lives to the surgical care and wellbeing of children. Thank you for your trust. Thank you for this honor.