Dr. Federico Antillón: Leading the Charge in Pediatric Oncology Education

Assuming deanship at Francisco Marroquín University, Dr. Federico Antillón aims to enhance medical excellence and research in pediatric cancer care.

In January 2025, Dr. Antillón will assume the deanship of the Faculty of Medicine at Francisco Marroquín University, where he aims to further enhance the institution’s commitment to medical excellence and research in pediatric cancer care.

“Students are a great challenge because, due to their high connection to social networks and the Internet, they are people who have little tolerance and want quick and immediate results. Not all of them, of course, because there are those who are resilient and patient, and learn to work hard to obtain rewards with greater value in the future. So, as a teacher, one must be one step ahead of them.

I expect a lot from our students. I know that they are much more independent than average and I believe that the role of the teacher is to encourage them to be motivated and for each one to find their passion in the field of medicine. I am confident that, once they find it, they will strive to grow and become great in their fields, as are many students and graduates of the Faculty of Medicine of the Francisco Marroquín University, who are an example for society.” – Federico Antillon

Federico Antillon

Dr. Federico Antillón graduated as a doctor from the Faculty of Medicine at Francisco Marroquín University in 1986. He began his pediatric career in 1987 at Clínica Universitaria de Navarra in Pamplona, Spain, where he developed an interest in childhood cancer. After obtaining his pediatric degree in 1990 and a Ph.D. in Cellular Biology four years later from Universidad de Navarra, he pursued a fellowship in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, USA, completing it in 1997.

Returning to Guatemala, Dr. Antillón has been the Medical Director of the National Pediatric Oncology Unit since 2000. He also holds a Master’s degree in Medical Management from Tulane University and INCAE, earned in 2004. As a dedicated professor at the Faculty of Medicine, he has served as Secretary of the Faculty Council since 2011, contributing significantly to medical education and pediatric oncology in Guatemala.

“For the university and for the faculty, it is a challenge to provide professors and students with the necessary tools to take advantage of artificial intelligence, especially to delve into advances in genetics, gene therapy and molecular biology. An immediate challenge is to help students improve their knowledge and skills in these fields.”

Dr. Federico Antillon is co-chair of Global Health Network of SIOP. He has been honored with the SIOP Award for Pediatric Oncology in developing nations during the Annual Congress of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology.

As the Fellowship Director of the Joint Program between Unidad Nacional de Oncología Pediátrica and the School of Medicine at Universidad Francisco Marroquín, Dr. Antillon plays a crucial role in training the next generation of pediatric oncologists. He is one of the founders of Fundación Ayúdame a Vivir, an essential institution that has developed a treatment program for pediatric cancer in Guatemala.

Dr. Antillon has authored numerous book chapters and over 100 medical articles, contributing significantly to the field of pediatric oncology. His dedication to improving cancer care for children in Guatemala showcases his commitment to advancing healthcare and education in underserved regions.

Dr. Federico Antillon was a speaker at Oncothon by OncoDaily. He introduced his work on global scale for improving pediatric oncology field in LMICs.

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