History of Latin American Dermatology

M. MADERO, F. MADERO, G. MONTENEGRO, M. COELLO, C. ARIASperiodically traveled around different regions of Ecuador to conduct research on cutaneouspathologies specific to those areas and, at the same time, to spread knowledge andthe specialized field.The initiative, mediation and direct intervention of Dr. Ollague made possible thegathering of a group of dermatologists of the city of Quito to found the Ecuadorian Societyof Dermatology-Quito Nucleus, in June 1978. The founders were Raúl MurgueytioStacey, Jorge Ruiz Espinoza, Magdalena Vanoni Martínez, Galo Montenegro López andErnesto Caviedes López. The first board of directors of the Quito Nucleus had Dr. RaúlMurgueytio as president, Dra. Magdalena Vanoni as vice-president, and Dr. Galo Montenegroas secretary.THE TRIANGULARS OF DERMATOLOGYAnother important event in Ecuadorian Dermatology was thought up and effectedduring the administration of Dr. Gonzalo Calero H.; in 1978, with the desire to exchangeknowledge and experiences and to tighten personal bonds among Ecuadorian dermatologists,the events that were initially called “Triangulars of Dermatology” were created,their name due to their being planned as three annual meetings taking place alternativelyin Guayaquil, Quito and Cuenca, with the joint attendance of the specialists of thosecities. From their beginnings, the Triangulars became one of the most appreciated andattended meetings of Ecuadorian dermatologists, since, in addition to the exchange andupdating of knowledge, they included the presentation of special dermatological cases,widely discussed and commented on by the attendants.The Triangulars of Dermatology have to this day maintained the same spirit and motivationwith which they were created; however, starting in 1980, due to changes in theirsponsoring, they became known as “Regional Sessions of Dermatology.” Subsequently,from 1991 to the present, they have been called “National Sessions of Dermatology,” becausethe broad spread of the specialized field across the country led to the inclusion ofother cities in the organization and in active participation. In more recent years, theseSessions have been held every other year, to avoid coinciding with the National Congresses;they have been held already on 34 occasions.ECUADORIAN CONGRESSES OF DERMATOLOGYThe Ecuadorian Sessions of Dermatology held in the 1970s were the basis for the subsequentorganization of the Ecuadorian Congresses of Dermatology, which were startedin the city of Guayaquil, in July 1981, under the presidency of Dr. Wilson Correa Bustamante.Since then, eleven National Congresses have been held, usually every two years,constituting the event garnering the most attention and recognition by Ecuadorian specialists.A chronological listing of the Congresses of Dermatology held in Ecuador is presentedbelow:• First Ecuadorian Congress of Dermatology, Guayaquil, July 22-25, 1981.• Second Ecuadorian Congress of Dermatology, Quito, November 9-12, 1983.• Third Ecuadorian Congress of Dermatology, Cuenca, October 9-12, 1985.• Fourth Ecuadorian Congress of Dermatology, Guayaquil, October 8-11, 1987.• Fifth Ecuadorian Congress of Dermatology and Ninth Bolivarian Congress of Dermatology,Quito, October 7-12, 1990.• Sixth Ecuadorian Congress of Dermatology, Cuenca, April 12-16, 1993.• Seventh Ecuadorian Congress of Dermatology, Guayaquil, July 20-25, 1995.• Eighth Ecuadorian Congress of Dermatology and First Dermatology Meeting of theBolivarian Area, Quito, May 1-6, 1997.• Ninth Ecuadorian Congress of Dermatology, Cuenca, April 29-May 3, 1999.• Tenth Ecuadorian Congress of Dermatology, Guayaquil, July 19-22, 2001.194