History of Latin American Dermatology

Dermatology and dermatologists in BrazilSince 1974, the Dermatology Service of the Main Hospital and the Dermatology courseof the RP Medical School offer the Medical Practice and Learning Courses for the trainingof specialists in Dermatology, as reported by Prof. Joao Roberto Antonio.Father Bento de Guarulhos Hospitals ComplexThe Adhemar de Barros Hospital was annexed in 1972 to the initial institution —which had been inaugurated on July 5, 1931 — in order to treat patients who are carriersof hanseniasis, thus giving birth to the Hospitals Complex.On August 23, 1933, the Paulista Leprology Society was founded, located at the PadreBento Sanatorium; the Revista de leprologia de Sao Paulo was created shortly afterwards,later becoming the Revista brasileira de leprologia.In 1972, the Adhemar de Barros Hospital, which treated patients with Fogo Selvagem,was moved to the facilities of the Father Bento Hospital.The first head of the Dermatology Service was Dr. Mário Luís Macca, followed by Dr.Thais Romero Gatti; in 1989, Dr. Vitor Manoel Silva dos Reis took over as head of the Service.In 1991, the authorization of the BSD was granted. In 1996, upon the creation ofthe post, Dr. Vitor was appointed Dermatology director, until September 2000.The Dermatology Service, inaugurated in 1998, carries the name of Prof. Sebastiãode Almeida Prado Sampaio and has seven consulting rooms, a surgical center, a ward forhealing procedures, a blood extraction hall, a mycology laboratory, a mycology library,dermopathology laboratories, an illustrations archive and auditorium, and counts with62 beds exclusively for Dermatology. Its director is Prof. Dr. Mario Cezar Pires.The outpatient office receives 2,500 visits a month and performs 150 surgeriesmonthly. It has outpatient offices for specialized subfields such as bullous diseases, cosmiatry,cryotherapy, dermatological allergy, pediatric dermatology and mycology.Lauro Souza Lima HospitalIn 1989, in recognition for its research work and treatment activities related to Dermatology,as well as the training of specialized staff, the Lauro Souza Lima Institute inBauru, SEP, was officially designated as a Research Center. Its Dermatology service, createdin 1977, had Prof. Milton Wladimir Araújo Opromolla as founder and first Head.Its studies concentrated mainly on hanseniasis; in this area, it constitutes the referralcenter of São Paulo State’s Health Secretariat and the WHO for Portuguese-speaking countries.Since its creation, eighty-two dermatologists have graduated there; at present, twelvephysicians graduate annually from the specialization courses. The medical residency laststhree years. The Institute maintains an agreement with the Botucatu Medical School, aswell as two full professors in the SPU and in the Paulista Medical School graduate programs.Pioneering work in BotucatuCreated in July 1962 with the name of Medical and Biological Sciences University ofBotucatu. It initiated its activities in April 1963, and currently forms part of the PaulistaState University (PSU). It initially faced difficulties that, according to the words of Prof.Sílvio Alencar Marques, Head of Service, “forged the warrior-like and persevering spiritof the School in a tradition suiting the personality of the pioneer of the Dermatology Service,Dr. Neuza Lima Dillon.”In 1966, Dr. Dillon was part of the group of faculty and doctors of the SPU that arrivedin Botucatu to teach the pioneering Dermatological Semiology course to the first class ofthe University. After settling in the city, she became responsible for the Dermatologycourse of the Medical Clinic Department. “Everything was scarce and difficult, but Dr.Neuza had the invaluable help of Professors Sebastião Sampaio, Norberto Belliboni, RaymundoMartins Castro and Dilton Opromolla in consolidating the course. She did not hesitateto take money out of her own pocket to permanently provide the necessary103