History of Latin American Dermatology

Historical sketch of Chilean DermatologyDermatology, through some professors (for example, Puyó, Jaramillo and Prunés) andwith Argentine Dermatology (for example, Prats and Brieva), the first fruitful institutionalcontacts were made by the physicians connected with STDs, mainly Isidoro Pasmanikand Daniel Villalobos. Dr. Pasmanik, as head in Chile of the PAHO pilot programfor the control of STDs since 1960, participated in diverse joint activities with representativesof other Latin American countries; he was also an untiring traveler to many congressesof Dermatology and STDs and until 1975 almost always the only Chileanpresence. Along with Drs. Villalobos and Fich he actively participated in internationalgatherings on STDs and AIDS, including the ULACETS congresses. Félix Fich was vicepresidentof ULACETS in the 1995-1999 period.Between 1976 and 1990, Juan Honeyman’s role was crucial in the participation ofChilean dermatologists, both to attend and to present papers at international medicalgatherings, which can be summarized as follows: (1) as of his dermatological training inOregon, he was the main promoter of the participation of young dermatologists in themeetings of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and their membership in it; (2)he furthered the affiliation of the SCDV to the International League of Dermatological Societies;(3) as of his first attendance at a RADLA in Guarujá (1976), he stimulated the incorporationand participation with papers of a great number of Chilean dermatologistsin the main annual event of South American Dermatology, the Annual Gathering of LatinAmerican Dermatologists of the Southern Cone (RADLA); lastly, (4) he did the sameboosting work for the carrying out of the congresses of the Ibero-Latin American Associationof Dermatology (CILAD).Since 1977 Chilean dermatologists have been very active as participants, speakers andofficials of the RADLAs of the Southern Cone. Juan Honeyman, Carlos Vera and RubénGuarda have been presidents of the organization, and, therefore, permanent delegates toits council. Participating as renewable delegates have been Isidoro Pasmanik, GonzaloEguiguren, Julia Oroz, Leonardo Sánchez, Iván Jara, Raúl Cabrera, Félix Fich, MontserratMolgó and Orietta Gómez. Chile’s participation in the coordination of scientific and speakeractivities is already a tradition, particularly in immunodermatology and skin oncology. TheChilean presence in CILAD and its congresses has been somewhat less numerous. JuanHoneyman was national delegate to CILAD for Chile from 1975 to 1999, area vice-presidentof CILAD between 1995 and 1999 and first vice-president from 1999 to 2003. Since 2000Rubén Guarda has been national delegate to CILAD for Chile, re-elected by a vote in 2003.In sum, the presence of Chilean dermatologists is constant and sometimes very numerousat the meetings of the AAD, the world congresses of Dermatology and PediatricDermatology, at the CILAD, the RADLAs and a varying number of events in the Americasand Europe. This has contributed to improving and updating Chilean dermatological science.Juan Honeyman, Rubén Guarda, Raúl Cabrera, Iván Jara, María Isabel Herane andmany others have frequently been invited to the national dermatological congresses ofdiverse Latin American countries. Dr. Honeyman is a member of numerous national societiesof Dermatology; he has been, like Pasmanik before him, an untiring traveler andlecturer at medical gatherings in many countries. Dr. Guarda has also been a constantinvited speaker at the allergy and immunology congresses of neighboring countries.There is a successful institutional exchange of young physicians between the AAD andthe SCDV for their respective congresses, owing to the mutually advantageous terms offeredfor stays and registrations.Principal international dermatological events in ChileChile has been the very successful venue of the following international dermatologicalevents: (1) RADLA of the Southern Cone 1985, the first to be held in Santiago (president,Juan Honeyman; secretary-general, Gonzalo Eguiguren), with 400 participating185