Julio Meneghello Rivera (1911 – 15 August 2009) was a Chilean physician, scientist, academic, and researcher, considered the initiator of social pediatrics in his country.
[3] In 1950 he assisted in the establishment of the Pediatric Research Laboratory, which gave rise in 1977 to the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology of the University of Chile [es].
[3][4] He is considered the father of modern pediatrics in the country, among other things, because he was the first in the world – around 1955 – to put into practice the systematized use of oral serums to treat acute diarrhea with great dehydration in malnourished children.
[1][2][3][4] In addition, he and his team found the ideal composition of these hydrating serums, which (with certain modifications) would be recommended by entities such as the World Health Organization and UNICEF for the management of these minors.
[5] In 1995 Meneghello received the Rector Juvenal Hernández Jaque Medal, awarded by the University of Chile to those members of their community who, in the exercise of their professions, have rendered distinguished services.