History of Latin American Dermatology

History of Nicaraguan DermatologyThe Nicaraguan Association of Dermatology■ The Nicaraguan Association of DermatologyThe administrative steps for its founding began in 1957; the founding finally tookplace on May 4, 1961, in the Managua Declaration, with the name of Nicaraguan Societyof Dermatology and Syphilogy. Subsequently, due to legal reasons, it had to change itsinitial name to Nicaraguan Association of Dermatology.Its founders were Drs. Carlos Irigoyen, Alcides Delgadillo, Armando Morales Ettienne,Jorge García Esquivel, Ernaldo Ávalos Vega and Carlos Delgado González, all of them deceased5 .The Nicaraguan Association of Dermatology groups most of the country’s dermatologists.Up to the present, it has organized nineteen National Congresses of Dermatology 6 ,focused on the following specialized fields: Dermatology, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics,Plastic Surgery and General Medicine; at some congresses, topics dealing with primarytreatment and with the training of medical residents and students have been presented.It has also, through its board members, organized three Central American Congresses.Through the Association, agreements have been made with the American UniversityMedical School to conduct programs of Ongoing Medical Education in Dermatology andDermatology Update Courses.On October 6, 1998, during the General Meeting of the Nicaraguan Association of Dermatology,the Dr. Hermann Allan Schaffer Urbina scholarship was created in memory ofthat eminent Nicaraguan dermatologist; the scholarship consists of $US 200 monthly andis aimed at young doctors with excellent averages throughout their careers who wish tostudy Dermatology. The first doctor who obtained this distinction was Dr. Hermann AllanSchaffer Suárez, who completed his studies at the Medical School of University of Marroquín,Guatemala. The Association also has a mutual aid fund and joint life insurance fordermatologist members of the Association who need them in case of disease or death 6 .Dr. Francisco José Gómez Urcuyo National Center of Dermatology■ The Dr. Francisco José Gómez UrcuyoNational Center of DermatologyOn February 20, 1995, in a solemn ceremony twenty-five days after the death of theillustrious dermatologist, the Ministry of Health — at the request of the Nicaraguan MedicalAssociation and of the Nicaraguan Society of Dermatology — gave his name to theinstitution that Dr. Gómez Urcuyo had founded on February 1, 1978 (Figure 8) with thecollaboration of Dr. Ángel Martínez Jiménez, in charge of hanseniasis patients, Dr. AldoEdgar Martínez Campos, as teaching sub-head, Dr. Federico Prado Rocha, as the head ofthe outpatient office, and Dr. Claudio Galo Sandino, a clinical microbiologist, the headand founder of the hospital’s current laboratory. Drs. Hermann Schaffer Urbina, as thehead of hospitalized patients, Josefa Pineda, Leonor Corea, Hugo Argüello,a pathologist and a disciple of Prof. Ackerman, Marlene Parra García andDalia Torres Flores joined later 12 .At present it is a teaching hospital, treating an average of 300 patients aday, and it is considered to be the cradle of current Nicaraguan dermatology13 . Forty-seven Nicaraguan and two foreign dermatologists have graduatedfrom it. The first dermatologist who graduated in Nicaragua was Dr.Alfonso Bendaña Hurtado, on November 25, 1985 10 .At present, there are fourteen Dermatology residents; full specializedtreatment is provided for all dermatology patients and the teaching is providedmostly by dermatologists graduated in Nicaragua. Interns and plastic surgeonsalso work and collaborate with the educational work.The Dr. Francisco José Gómez Urcuyo National Center of Dermatology works inFigure 8. Unveilingof the bronzeplaque in honor ofDr. Francisco JoséGómez Urcuyo atthe NationalDermatologyCenter thatcurrently bears hisname. Left to right:Ms. Inés Hurtado,widow of GómezUrcuyo, Ms. SaraUrcuyo, mother ofDr. Gómez Urcuyo,and Ms. MarthaPalacios, HealthMinister, 1995279