History of Latin American Dermatology

RUBÉN GUARDA TATÍNundergraduate syllabus (at an unknown date) until 1989. In March 1954 PUC created theformal Dermatology chair and appointed Hernán Hevia Parga as professor; he taught atthe same Aguirre Hospital where he worked. Around 1975 PUC formed a small teachingfaculty associated with the Aguirre Hospital to teach its students and interns, to collaboratewith Dr. Hevia; it included Drs. Honeyman, Eguiguren and Guarda.In 1980 Dr. Hevia was appointed PUC’s first full professor of Dermatology. After his retirementfrom this role in 1983, the chair was turned over to Juan Honeyman Mauro,named full professor in 1990. In 1983 PUC created the Associated Dermatology TeachingUnit with an autonomous physical venue, located at the PUC outpatient offices at its southernuniversity campus, with its own staff of dermatologists; at the outset only treatmentwas offered, and the first dermatologist hired was Dr. Mirtha Cifuentes; later, teachingwork was also undertaken for its undergraduate students. Other teaching dermatologistsat PUC have been María Luisa Pérez-Cotapos, Montserrat Molgó, María Soledad Zegpi,Rosamary Soto, Ariel Hasson and Sergio Silva, among others. In the year 2000 the post ofhead of the service and of the chair was taken over by Dr. Pérez-Cotapos.Undergraduate education at provincial universitiesWe shall only mention undergraduate education at those medical schools in theprovinces that belong to ASOFAMECH. At the University of Concepción, the first doctorlinked to Dermatology was Raúl Puga, who did treatment work and apparently collaboratedin teaching, although further information on him is unavailable. Around 1950 theautonomous chair of Dermatology was created, Alberto Brieva Durán being appointed asthe first professor; he held the post until 1964. He was succeeded by Juan González Martin(1964-1972), Ezio Olivari (1972-1987), Lidia Medina (1987-2003) and Rosario Alarcón(2004-).Until 1973, the Medical School of the Southern University of Valdivia sent its studentsto Santiago for very brief courses in Dermatology and other specialized medical fields; in1974 and 1975 it invited Ignacio González Díaz of UCH to give courses in Valdivia, lastingfive days annually, to teach some cutaneous pathologies. Between 1976 and 1979,Daniel Villalobos (as guest professor in charge of the chair), Manuel Melis and Félix Fich(as collaborators), dermatologists at the St. Borja-Arriarán hospital complex in Santiago,were invited to develop the first formal course of Dermatology in Valdivia. In parallelfashion, in Santiago they trained Isabel Moreno and Mónica Hering as dermatologists inorder to later take on teaching responsibilities. In consequence, from 1980 to date, thechair has been headed by Dr. Moreno, with Dr. Hering’s collaboration since 1984.At the Medical School of the Frontier University of Temuco, Patricio Rifo has been incharge of the chair from its creation in 1975 to date. At the University of Valparaíso thefirst doctor in charge of the chair was Ramón Staforelli (1974-1990); he was succeededby Jorge Testart (1990-1991) and Antonio Guglielmetti from 1992 to date.Undergraduate education at the new medical schoolsat traditional or private universitiesAt the University of Santiago, the first course on Dermatology was taught in 1998. AlfredoCardemil and Héctor Fuenzalida have been successively in charge. At the Universityof the Andes – the first private university to open a medical school – the firstDermatology course was given in 1995; the professor in charge of the chair, up to thistime, has been Walter Gübelin. At the Higher University, the first course on Dermatologywas given in 1991 and Lilian Pérez has been in charge of the chair. At the Catholic Universityof Concepción, Dermatology is not taught as an autonomous discipline but as partof a unified medical course. At St. Sebastian University of Concepción, the Dermatology172