The history of Colombian neurosurgery is a collective legacy of neurosurgeon-scientists, scholars, teachers, innovators, and researchers. Anchored in the country’s foundational values of self-determination and adaptability, these pioneers emerged from the Spanish colonial medical tradition and forged surgical alliances abroad. From the time of Colombian independence until the end of World War I, exchanges with the French medical tradition produced an emphasis on anatomical and systematic approaches to the emerging field of neurosurgery. The onset of American neurosurgical expertise in the 1930s led to a new period of exchange, wherein technological innovations were added to the Colombian neurosurgical repertoire. This diversity of influences culminated in the 1950s with the establishment of Colombia’s first in-country neurosurgery residency program. A select group of avant-garde neurosurgeons from this period expanded the domestic opportunities for patients and practitioners alike. Today, the system counts 10 recognized neurosurgery residency programs and over 500 neurosurgeons within Colombia. Although the successes of specific individuals and innovations were considered, the primary purpose of this historical survey was to glean relevant lessons from the past that can inform present challenges, inspire new opportunities, and identify professional and societal goals for the future of neurosurgical practice and specialization.

Ernesto Bustamante Zuleta (1922–2021) was an impactful Colombian neurosurgeon whose legacy is inextricably linked with the development of the neurosurgery specialty in Colombia. His detail-oriented approach to treatment complemented his reputation for mastery of the neurosciences. Never simply confined to the operating theater, this calm and considerate physician felt compelled to teach during his entire career. The result of his teaching made a lasting imprint on an entire generation of neurosurgeons who subsequently established a high standard of neurosurgical care in Colombia. A true pioneer, Bustamante comprehensively engaged in his field, from founding the country’s first residency program in neurosurgery to successfully implementing technology in his procedures, performing many of Colombia’s first neurosurgical interventions, and publishing extensively across various categories of medical science. This historical reflection highlights his enduring contributions to the field and considers his legacy through the witness testimony of many of his students and collaborators. The hope is that his contributions may be acknowledged in full, as he was a reserved person who never boasted of his own accomplishments. The authors also hope that those who did not have the opportunity to know him would be informed by the historical context of the development of Colombian neurosurgery and inspired by his conviction and altruism.

El objeto de este artículo es que agradecer a la Sociedad Neurológica de Chile la influencia que ha tenido en Antioquia y Colombiaformando nuestros lideres en neurocirugía, especialmente por haber formado al Doctor Ernesto Bustamante, fundador del Servicio de Neurocirugía de la Universidad de Antioquia que cumple 65 años de existencia. Sin embargo, este no fue el único Neurocirujano de Colombia que recibió su entrenamiento en Chile, también lo fueron los Doctores Ernesto Arango Tamayo, Alejandro Jiménez Arango, Raúl Piedrahita, Carlos Pardo, Bernardo Soto, Hans Carmona, Alveiro Morales y muchos otros cuyo nombre desconozco. Sea esta la oportunidad para retomar y fortalecer los lazos académicos entre nuestras sociedades científicas. Gracias Instituto Asenjo