History of Latin American Dermatology

PAULO R. CUNHAThe Jundiaí ServiceIts current Head, Prof. Paulo Rowilson Cunha, recalls: “The first years of the JundiaíMedical School’s (JMS) Dermatology Service were wonderful and difficult, opening activitiesand working fronts (residents, laboratories, clinic, patients and community).”Under the leadership of Prof. Fernando Augusto de Almeida, who summoned brilliantpersonalities to work with him, such as Carlos Machado, Vítor Reis, Célia Riscalla,Agenor Silveira, all from São Paulo University, Benedito Corrêa (mycology) and CâmaraLopes (pathologist), a perfect trial project was initiated, with the clear goals of medicaleducation, research and treatment.The Dermatology Service of the JMS grew on the basis of those goals, and some of itsearly residents became competent professors: Célia Antonia Xavier, Iza Maria Bottene,Jacqueline Calvo, Mônica Bulizani, Otávio Moraes, together with new members whojoined the team, such as Profs. Lucía Helena Arruda and Dense Steiner. In 2002, in itstwenty-fifth year, the Service celebrated the training of 50 residents, most of them graduadesof the SDD and some of them joining the faculty of their own unit.Prof. Dr. Paulo R. Cunha is Full Professor of Dermatology at the Jundiaí MedicalSchool. In 1997, he obtained the unchaired faculty member degree from the SPU MedicalSchool with the thesis “Comparative Study on the Sensitivity of Indirect Immunofluorescenceand Immunoblotting or Western Blotting Tests for the Detection of IntercellularAntibodies in the Different Forms and Evolutionary Phases of the Pemphigus Foliaceousor Fogo Selvagem Disease.” In 1988, with the thesis “Study of Epidemiological Serum inFocus of Endemic Pemphigus Foliaceous (Fogo Selvagem) in the State of São Paulo,” heobtained his PhD in Dermatology at MSSPU. He completed a post-PhD at New York University.He was head of the Jundiaí Medical School during the years 1996-2000.The Dermatology service of the Jundiaí Medical School stands out in the researchfield, mainly in relation to Fogo Selvagem. Its members consider it significant to haveparticipated in the progress and in the national prestige that the service attained.The Rio Preto exampleHow many specialists and graduates of the Master’s program can say, like ProfessorDr. João Roberto Antônio, that all the graduated doctors who received training and arespecialists in Dermatology, from 1971 to 2004, were and are his students?The Dermatology Service of São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo State, began with his appointmentas Regent Professor of the Medical School. Born in Catanduva and settled inRio Preto from the age of two, Prof. João Roberto Antônio graduated from the NationalMedical School in 1964, completing his residency in Dermatology at Rio de Janeiro’s HolyHouse of Mercy, in Professor Sylvio Fraga’s Service, followed by various specializationcourses in Brazil and abroad.After obtaining the degree of specialist in Dermatology from the BSD course in 1967,he returned to Rio Preto to dedicate himself to the University and to specialize in Dermatology;in 1971, he taught the first course on the specialized field in the fourth year ofthe syllabus. Practical classes were initially held at the outpatient office of the local HolyHouse, but were later shifted to the Main Hospital. With the passing of time, various studentsof the institution specialized in Dermatology, thus shaping the faculty that graduallyattained the level it currently enjoys.Its members include Drs. João Roberto Antonio, Eurides Pozetti, Vânia Rodrigues,Ana Maria Nogueira, Tânia Regina Barbon, Margareth Lima, Rosa Maria Soubhia andCarlos Alberto Antonio. They are authors of countless scientific articles in national andinternational medical journals, written individually or in groups, have received awardsfor papers presented at congresses, have collaborated with chapters in Dermatologybooks nationally and abroad, and give conferences at congresses, sessions and coursesin Brazil and other countries.102