Many Venezuelans are called José Gregorio, and it is because of him.

Dr. José Gregorio Hernández was born in Isnotú, Trujillo state. He studied first letters in his native town and then moved to Caracas, to study at the Villegas College, graduating with a Bachelor of Philosophy in 1884. He studied Medicine, graduating in 1888. He presented his thesis in: The doctrine of Laennec and Typhoid Fever in Caracas ”, both related to bacterial diseases, a field in which he will focus his medical profession.

He is considered Founder of Bacteriology in Venezuela. Then he moved to his homeland to do rural medicine, where he received the news that he was awarded a scholarship to study Microscopy, Bacteriology, Histology and Experimental Physiology in Paris. He returned from Europe in 1991 and founded the Institute of Experimental Medicine, the Vargas Hospital Laboratory and several chairs of Medicine, among them Normal and Pathological Histology; Experimental Physiology and Bacteriology.

This was the first to be founded in America, promoting the renewal and progress of Venezuelan science. Perfect the use of the microscope. In 1904 he entered the National Academy of Medicine as one of its Founders, Sillón XXVIII.

In 1909 he resigned from his work in Venezuela and moved to Italy, to enter the monastery of the Cartuja, as Fray Marcelo. His physical condition makes him return to his professional, teaching and academic activities in Venezuela. In 1914 he returned to Rome, entered the Seminary, but had to return again, due to symptoms of tuberculosis. He continued his academic and teaching work until 1919, when he died in a traffic accident.

During the 23 years in which he effectively exerted university teaching, Dr. Hernández taught a total of 32 courses, in subjects within his competence, with the attendance of 694 students. Beautiful analytical synthesis of an exceptional personality, conceived and expressed within the most complex simplicity.