History of Latin American Dermatology

History of Dermatology in PeruFOLIA DERMATOLÓGICA PERUANAIn October, 1986, the Folia Dernatológica Peruana was first issued as the official publicationof the Peruvian Central Committee of the CILAD. This journal then became a regularpublication that continues up to the present, with original works and institutionalinformation, distributed nation-wide and abroad. It is indexed in national and internationaldata bases (LIPECS, LILACS and SCIELO). The journal is currently the official scientificpublication of the Peruvian Dermatological Circle (CIDERM Peru). Its recordnumber is ISSN1029-1733; its Founding Director is Dr. Zuño Burstein and its current(2004) Executive Director is Dr. Rafael Gamarra, President of CIDERM-PERU.REVISTA DERMA SURIssued by the southern branch of the Peruvian Dermatological Society. Its first numberappeared in September, 2004, published by the Board of Directors, headed by Dr.Lilia Zapata.REVISTA DERMATOLOGÍA PEDIÁTRICA LATINO-AMERICANAThe first issue appeared in Lima in October, 2003. It is the official publication of theLatin American Society of Pediatric Dermatology, and its main editors are Peruvian dermatologistsDr. Rosalía Ballona, Dr. Héctor Cáceres and Dr. José Catacora. The magazinereceives the collaboration of outstanding leaders of the field; the current aim is to publishit on a quarterly basis for distribution throughout Latin America.Some forerunners of Dermatology in PeruWhen the specialized field hadn’t yet been recognized as such, there were many professionalphysicians at the National Higher University of St. Mark (UNMSM) who, either trainedabroad or self-trained, undertook the study and the practice of Dermatology in Peru. Wemust highlight the merit of our predecessors whom we consider “forerunners.” We consider“pioneers” those who later on showed an interest in and dedication to the practice and teachingof Dermatology. And we call those specialists who followed their example successors.Among the “forerunners,” there are some names of doctors and professional groupswhose activity has been visible in the History of Peruvian Dermatology, and who are worthyof mention.FELIPE MERKEL (1873-1941) 13A physician born in Kronstad, Austria, in the year 1873. he carried out his earlylearning at the prestigious Our Lady of Guadalupe School in Lima and obtained his doctor’sdiploma in 1903, at the UNMSM with an academic peper on “Tuberculosis in the NationalArmy,” which won an award from the Medical School. Merkel completed hisspecialized studies in Paris, Berlin and Vienna, where he graduated as a medical doctorin 1908, with a thesis on “Regulations on Prostitution in Lima”. Most of his professionallife was dedicated to Dermatology and Syphilography; he was appointed President of thePeruvian Committee of the Tenth World Congress of Dermatology. He is considered to bethe first Dermatology and Syphilography specialist in Peru.In 1913, the Fifth Latin American Medical Congress was held in Lima, where Merkelpresented and important work on uta. He devoted himself to the study of syphilis, andestablished the use of salvarsan in anti-syphilitic therapy, presenting works on “SalvarsanTherapy for Syphilis: 12 years of Salvarsan practice” (1922), and on the treatmentof syphilis (1937).In 1910, he was appointed standing member of the National Academy of Medicine inLima; he received numerous distinctions for his professional activity and his austeresense of Hippocratic ethics.315