Social service in research: history, development and impact at the Ignacio Chávez National Institute of Cardiology

Pedro Iturralde-Torres, Subdirección de Coordinación de la Enseñanza, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Ciudad de México, México
Santiago Obregón-Rosas, Subdirección de Coordinación de la Enseñanza, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez; Facultad Mexicana de Medicina, Universidad La Salle. Ciudad de México, México

Social Service, established in Mexico in 1936, constitutes a cornerstone of medical training and the engagement between students and society. Initially conceived with a care-oriented and community-based character, it has evolved to integrate diverse modalities, including research. At the Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez (INCAR), this modality developed under an institutional model that integrates teaching, patient care, and research. In recent years, the participation of interns at INCAR has shown steady growth: between 2021 and 2024, the number of medical interns increased from 92 to 115, reaching 129 in 2025, in addition to the integration of 47 interns from allied health disciplines. In this context, the Research Conference by and for Social Service Interns, held on July 2-3, 2025, served as an academic platform for the dissemination of scientific projects and lectures, as well as a space for ethical and historical reflection on social service. A historical review and analysis of the academic productivity within the Conference demonstrate that research-based Social Service not only strengthens the clinical and academic training of interns, but also contributes to generating knowledge and addressing high-impact health needs, linking the historical legacy with the current challenges of medical education in Mexico.

Keywords: Social Service. Medical education. Health research. Human resources for health.