Jorge Villarreal was born in Socorro, Colombia, 1927; earned his undergraduate degree at Colegio San Bartolome in Bogota, his medical degree at National University in Bogota, 1952, and did post-graduate work in obstetrics and gynecology, 1954-58, at University of Pennsylvania and Kansas University. Was professor of obstetrics and gynecology at National University of Colombia, 1958-62, and Head of Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Javeriana University, Bogota, 1963- 65. Villarreal served as Medical Director of Population Division, Colombian Association of Medical Schools, 1965-67; Chief of Programs of Teaching and Research in Population for the Pan-American Federation of Associations of Medical Schools, 1967-75; Director of Community Medicine Program at Santa Fe de Bogota Foundation in Bogota, 1973-76; and founded, and was director of, ORIENTAME, a family planning and reproductive rights advocacy organization, 1977-94. He also founded, and was director of, ESAR, an organization concerned with "training on the comprehensive management of undesired pregnancy," 1990-99. Villarreal was an expert on population issues, and devoted his professional life to furthering family planning and reproductive rights. He died in Bogota on 8 December 2001.