Institute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health of Semmelweis University was founded 150 years ago, in 1874, so this year we shall celebrate a very significant anniversary. In this chapter, I present the immediate antecedents of the Institute?s establishment in 1874, its creation abd the difficulties of its initial operation. First department head József Fodor held his position for 27 years and laid the foundation for the theoretical and practical education of modern public health.  Kulcsszavak: orvostörténet, járványok, államorvostan, egyetemi oktatás, közegészségtan