History of Latin American Dermatology

CÉSAR IVÁN VARELA HERNÁNDEZhead of the service, and dean, an invaluable collaborator for this text. In 1967 the groupwas joined by dermatologist and allergologist Bernardo Giraldo Neira, who studied inCleveland and Minnesota. The heads of the service have been Heriberto Gómez (1965-1980 and 1986-1994), Jairo Mesa (1980-1985); since 1994, the post has been filled byFelipe Jaramillo Ayerbe, a graduate of the National University and, as a dermatopathologist,a disciple, of Bernard Ackerman’s; as full professor since 1988, he has brought in,as teachers, Lucía Van den Enden, Ana María Hoyos, Martha Cecilia Bernal and GermánSantacoloma, brilliant former students, and John Harvey Gaviria; Josefina Danies alsotaught there. The service, with Drs. Gómez Sierra and Mesa Cock at the head, in 1965fostered the creation of the Bolivarian Federation of Dermatology. The School, which isnoted for its high scientific, humanistic and cultural level, has graduated 22 dermatologists.Figure 52. FabioLondoñoFigure 53. RafaelFalabellaFederico Lleras Acosta Dermatological Center – Javerian University of BogotáIn the 1920s, in Bogotá, Federico Lleras Acosta founded his Institute for LeprosyResearch laboratory, which as of 1934 was called Central Laboratory for LeprosyResearch and on his death, in 1938, was by national decree renamedFederico Lleras Acosta Institute. This institution, a pioneer in biomedical researchin Colombia, developed the chair of leprology. In 1965 it turned into the Instituteof Research and Special Studie on Dermatology and Leprosy. The Institute’s foundingmaster was succeeded in its leadership by his brilliant disciple Luis Patiño Camargoin 1938. Since the 1950s, the participation of Fuad Muvdi Chaín has beeninvaluable. In 1957, when Jorge Arenas Ramírez was the director, Fabio Londoñoarrived spontaneously to offer treatment in Dermatology. The teaching of the specializedfield was begun in 1967, aimed at the outset at medical undergraduates at theJaverian University and expanded later to those of the Higher School of the Rosary. OnAugust 1, 1968, the graduate course in Dermatology was created under an agreementwith the Javerian University; its founder, Fabio Londoño González (Figure 52), led itstransition from research institute to treatment center. Dr. Londoño held the top post until1989, replaced during 8 months (between 1984 and 1985) by María Mélida Durán Merchán.In those years, along with that of Dr. Muvdi, fundamental teaching cooperation wasprovided by Luis Alfredo Rueda, Rafael Uribe, Jorge Humberto Reyes and later on AlfonsoQuintero. From 1989 to 1993, the leadership was exercised by the illustrious Prof.Mariano López, followed by Luisa Porras de Quintana.What is now the Federico Lleras Acosta Dermatological Center has been a space for theteaching of undergraduate and graduate students of diverse universities. It has trained 108dermatologists, starting with the first graduate, Mariano López López, in 1970. Several ofthe graduates have been professors, founders and heads of schools of Dermatology. Fromits beginnings, the school has been concerned with promoting clinical, therapeutic and researchcapabilities among its students; since 1993, emphasis has been laid on comprehensivehuman education, with consciousness of social responsibility, in thedevelopment of pedagogical, administrative and leadership abilities.Dermatology Service of the University del Valle, Santiago de CaliIn 1956, Hernán Tobón and Jaime Betancourt launched the chair and the teachingof undergraduate Dermatology at the University del Valle. In 1970, Rafael FalabellaFalabella (Figure 53) invited Jaime Betancourt Osorio and Nelson GiraldoRestrepo to found the Dermatology Service at the “Evaristo García” University Hospitaldel Valle, where they launched the graduate studies program in 1971. HipólitoGonzález, a Panamanian, was the first to graduate, in 1973. Later the faculty wouldbe joined by Antonio Torres and Carlos Escobar, the genius of Dermatology and of living,who in 1975 was the third to graduate; it was said of him that “he simply was a140