Jürg Niederbacher Velásquez took office on Monday as dean of the Faculty of Health for a two-year term.
The professor has more than 30 years of teaching experience and has excelled in areas such as pediatrics, as well as pulmonology and pediatric infectious diseases. Throughout his career, he has had an outstanding academic record, as well as awards and recognitions for his medical role in society.
“I am grateful for the trust placed in me to take on this position. It is a welcome challenge to continue the growth of the Faculty of Health, which has been setting milestones in the region and the country. We must maintain some lines and grow others in order to move forward as a team, because the team is everything,” said Niederbacher Velásquez.
He began his career 30 years ago at the Santander University Hospital, which at that time was known as the Ramón González Valencia Hospital. From there, he went on to become a professor at the UIS and later earned the right to become a tenured professor.
He recently served as director of the Department of Pediatrics and throughout his career has had private practice as a pediatrician, including serving as president of the Colombian Association of Pediatric Pulmonology and president of the Santander Regional Colombian Society of Pediatrics, among other positions that have given him a broad overview of the field.
“The UIS has given me so much during my life, and I want to give back what it has given me. The University opened paths and doors for me, and provided me with growth and opportunities in life,” added the new dean.
Jürg Niederbacher Velásquez is affiliated with the Pediatrics Department of the School of Medicine of the Faculty of Health, and once he completes his term as dean, he will return to his position as a faculty member at the Industrial University of Santander.
