José Fabella

José Fernández Fabella (October 26, 1888 – January 16, 1945) was a Filipino physician and a public health advocate described in a biography as the "father of public health and social welfare in the Philippines."

Early life and education Historical marker of Jose Fabella in Rizal Ave., Santa Cruz, Manila issued in 2002.

Jose Fabella was born in Pagsanjan, Laguna to Juan Lavadia Fabella and Damiana Cabarrubias Fernandez. He finished his primary education at Liceo de Manila in Intramuros and his secondary education at Ateneo de Manila. Then, he enrolled at the Philippine Normal College for a preparatory course in medicine. He went to the United States and studied at Rush Medical College, formerly affiliated with the University of Chicago, where he obtained his medical degree in 1912. During his stint in government, he initiated the coordination and regulations of various welfare services including operation of puericulture centers. In 1922, he opened a midwifery training school in Sta. Cruz, Manila which was the progenitor of Maternity and Children's Hospital which is now the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital. He also initiated the development of a children's village called Welfareville in Mandaluyong, Province of Rizal where the government's child-caring institutions were established. The first child health surveys and studies of Filipino diet were conducted under his leadership.

Personal life Fabella was married to Esperanza Barcelo of Jaro, Iloilo, with whom he had six children: Jose Jr., Juan, Esperanza, Evelyn, Jaime and Erlinda.

He was the brother of Vicente F. Fabella, considered as the first Filipino certified public accountant, and founder of Jose Rizal University.

Legacy In honor of Fabella and his contributions in the field of public health and social welfare, various government institutions and a public road were named after him: Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, the National Maternity Hospital, a tertiary newborn hospital in Santa Cruz, Manila recognized by the World Health Organization-Western Pacific Region Office as a role model "for its newborn care programs which have been proven to reduce infant morbidity and mortality." Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital School of Midwifery, a training school for midwifery in Santa Cruz, Manila established in 1922. Jose Fabella Memorial School, a public special school located in Welfareville Compound, Mandaluyong established in 1925 Jose Fabella Center, an institutional care facility located in Correctional Road, Mandaluyong that provides temporary shelter to strandees, transients, vagrants and mendicants. Dr. Jose Fabella Road, a two-lane undivided street circumventing portions of the Welfareville Compound, Mandaluyong.