He finished his studies at the "University of the Philippines" College of Medicine, in 192. He became the assistant Professor in Biochemistry.

He went to United States to continue his studies, he took his Master's Degree in Biochemistry at Columbia University, then Endocrinology at the University of Chicago and he proceeded at Johns Hopkins University, where he took his course in Nutrition and Public Health.

When he came back to the Philippines, he launches the biggest and most unbelievable project in the History of Medicine in the Philippines. This Bataan project was called "Enriched Rice," prevented for Beriberi and this made him world famous.

Enrich Rice is fortified with VitaminB1, he discovered that milled rice mixed with Vitamin B1 was a good cure for Beriberi.

He encouraged to plant more brown rice for this could be very helpful as he mixed the rice with vitamins before distributing it to the people. Because of his discovery, Beriberi was no longer a deadly killer and he was praised by Nutritionists all over the Philippines and all over the World.

Other well-known program launched by Dr. Salcedo:

• The extensive drive to combat mosquitoes, which carry malaria germs.
• The vaccination of BCG combat tuberculosis, which was the number one killer disease in the country during his time.

Dr. Juan Salcedo was among the first batch of Scientist and Technologists who were given recognition by the Academy as National Scientists.