History of Latin American Dermatology

M. MADERO, F. MADERO, G. MONTENEGRO, M. COELLO, C. ARIASIn the city of Loja, Dr. Jorge Bermeo Vivanco was one of the Dermatology pioneers; in1962 he studied with professors Ollague and Uraga in Guayaquil, and in 1978 he was appointedprofessor of Dermatology at Loja University’s Medical School. Dr. Juan JaramilloPuertas was in charge of the Dermatology area of the St. John of God Hospital of that citysince 1968.In 1985, the first doctors who trained and graduated as dermatologists with Prof. Ollaguein Guayaquil began to arrive in Loja. The first was Beatriz Ojeda and then AntonioReyes; together, in 1994, they set up the Loja Pre-Nucleus, which other specialists subsequentlyjoined.Figure 4. FirstEcuadorian-PeruvianSessions ofDermatology in thecity of Machala,Ecuador. May 1999ECUADORIAN-PERUVIAN SESSIONS OF DERMATOLOGYAn event that became a true milestone in the history of Ecuadorian Dermatology wasthe Ecuadorian-Peruvian Sessions of Dermatology, scientific and fraternal meetings betweenPeruvian and Ecuadorian physicians, which not only representeda valuable international exchange, but were also speciallysignificant because of the moment and the peculiar circumstancesof the Cenepa War between Ecuador and Peru.The promoter of these Sessions was Dr. Gonzalo Calero Hidalgo,who organized them together with Dr. Luis Chiriboga Ardito, atthat time president of the Guayas Nucleus.The first Ecuadorian-Peruvian Sessions were held from May 28to 30, 1999, in the Ecuadorian city of Machala. Since then, alternatingbetween different cities of Ecuador and Peru, four Sessionshave been successfully held, and the fifth one will take place in thecity of Guayaquil in July 2005 (Figure 4).Ecuadorian Dermatology at the present timeAt this time, Ecuadorian Dermatology has the Ecuadorian Society of Dermatology asits official organ, with a presence throughout the national territory through its 119 memberswho work in the country’s main cities. The total number of dermatologists inEcuador is slightly higher, due to the fact that, for different reasons, some specialists arenot registered in the Society.The management of the Society is carried out in a rotating manner by the Guayaquil,Quito and Cuenca nuclei for two-year periods.In the current period (2003-2005), the national management of the Society lies withthe Azuay Nucleus, with Dr. Víctor León Chérrez, from the city of Cuenca, as local andtherefore also national president.The teaching of Dermatology as a specialized field takes place at the three graduateschools already mentioned, which currently accept an average of ten dermatologists a year.Hospitalization for patients with dermatological ailments is currently a constant in theDermatology Services of the hospitals of the main Ecuadorian cities. Outpatient dermatologicaltreatment takes place at most of the country’s hospitals as well as in lower levelUnits or at dispensaries dedicated to the specialized field.At a national level, the presence of the specialized field is constant by means ofcourses, sessions and congresses; and our dermatologists regularly take part in the mostimportant international events to share and acquire knowledge.PRESIDENTS OF THE ECUADORIAN SOCIETY OF DERMATOLOGYDr. Enrique Uraga Peña 1964-1965 / 1965-1966Dr. Wenceslao Ollague Loayza 1966-1967 / 1967-1968 / 1970-1971 / 1981-1983196