
Photograph of Professor Dr. Orlando Badinez Sepulveda. Provided by the Badinez-Villegas family.
History
INRAD, the Radio Oncological Institute of Santiago, arises from the legacy of the distinguished medical educator, Professor Dr. Orlando Badinez Sepúlveda. Originally from Valparaíso and a graduate in Medicine from the University of Chile, Badinez became a Full Professor of Embryology at the same institution. His dedication to education was evident in the upbringing of his sons, Orlando Badinez Jr. and Leonardo Badinez, who chose to follow in his footsteps in medicine and research.
In the 1970s, Leonardo Badinez Villegas embarked on a quest for opportunities to specialize in Oncological Radiotherapy, an uncommon field at the time. He secured a scholarship at the Arturo López Pérez Foundation (FALP) and trained under the guidance of Dr. Enrique Raventós Beddiges. After completing his training, he decided to travel to France to continue his specialization process, where he trained at the oncology and research center, the Bergonié Foundation in Bordeaux. Later, he was at the Gustave Roussy Institution, and then at the University Paris V René Descartes. Three years later, Dr. Badinez returned to Chile, where he would serve as the Head of Oncology for the next 10 years at the Clínica Alemana de Santiago, before becoming involved in significant projects for Chilean oncology.
In 1995, along with his brother Orlando Badinez Jr. and Drs. Hans Harbst Sr. and Jr., he founded INRAD. Thanks to the contribution of Hans Harbst Sr., the first treatment bunker with a Varian Clinac 4/100 linear electron accelerator was established. INRAD has maintained a strong commitment to continuous improvement, updating equipment in 2016 to offer more precise and less invasive treatments through three-dimensional techniques and computed tomography. Today, INRAD treats approximately 70 patients daily with intensity-modulated radiotherapy, always committed to making a positive impact in the fight against cancer and passing on the legacy of Dr. Orlando Badinez Sepúlveda to future generations of healthcare professionals.