José Celso Barbosa

José Celso Barbosa (1857–1921) was a Puerto Rican doctor, politician, and educator known as the father of Puerto Rican social insurance. He was the first Puerto Rican to earn a medical degree in the U.S. and advocated for healthcare reform and social justice. Barbosa promoted Puerto Rican self-governance and was a founding member of the Puerto Rican Republican Party, working towards greater political rights for Puerto Rico. His efforts helped shape the islands' social policies and fostered pride in Puerto Rican identity, making him a key historical figure in the island’s development and independence movement.