The practice of medicine, the organization of health services and the start of medical education in Pará State, Brazil, are presented from a chronological perspective, from the first accounts after the arrival of Francisco Caldeira Castelo Branco in 1616 to the establishment of the Faculdade de Medicina e Cirurgia do Pará (Pará School of Medicine and Surgery), in 1919. Some historic facts are highlighted and contextualized, and certain individuals who effectively participated in the events described are mentioned. Aspects related to the teaching of medicine are also described, both at the national level and in Pará State, and its importance to the Amazon Region and part of northeastern Brazil is discussed.
