History of Latin American Dermatology

History of Dermatology in Peruthat Constitute a Health Problem in Peru,” drafted by both specialists, obtained the HonorableMention in the Hipólito Unanue Award. Another remarkable landmark in Dr.Castillo’s research career was the discovery of the first AIDS cases in Peru, which he carriedout together with Dr. Patruco. Another target of his research work has been Lyme’sdisease, of which he also reported the first cases.Other important scientific works carried out and published by Dr. Castillo are “AtopicalDermatitis,” “Genetics and Dermatology,” “Contact Dermatitis,” “Childhood andAIDS,” “Classification of Sexually-Transmitted Diseases,” “Herpes I and Herpes II,” “Immunologyof AIDS,” and “The Eosinophile.”He is member of many medical societies, including the Peruvian Society of Dermatology(SPD), the Peruvian Society of Immunology and Allergy; the Ecuadorian Society ofDermatology, the Paraguayan Society of Allergy, the Bolivarian Society of Dermatology,the Latin American Society of Allergists, the Peruvian Society of Medical Genetics, the PeruvianUnion and the Latin American Union Against Sexually-Transmitted Diseases.Dr. Castillo has several times been President of the Peruvian Society of Immunologyand Allergy.Figure 20. Dr.Wenceslao CastilloOscar Romero 16Oscar Romero is a dermatologist, born in the city of Lima in 1929. He obtained hismedical degree in 1961, at the National Higher University of St. Mark, and the degree ofSpecialist in Dermatology in 1977. He carried out his specialized studies in Microbiologyand Tropical Medicine at the São Paulo University Medical School, in 1961 and 1962; atthe Clinics Hospital of that same University, he completed his graduate studies in Dermatologybetween 1963 and 1965.He entered the National Higher University of St. Mark Medical School in 1955, as internshipassistant at the Clinical Laboratory; he began his teaching career in ProfessorHugo Pesce’s Chair of Infectious, Tropical and Parasitic Diseases, and later in ProfessorAizic Cotlear’s Chair of Dermatology, becoming Head of the Tropical Medicine Departmentin 1977, and Head of the Dermatology Department of the National Higher Universityof St. Mark, from 1980 to 1993, with Head Professor status in Dermatology andTropical Medicine, spanning 44 years of academic services. He was Head of the Academicand Treatment Dermatology Service, and Head of the Continuing Medical EducationSection of that University. He was Tutor and Professor in charge of the specializedfield of Dermatology of the Medical School’s graduate Unit.For his medical treatment work, in 1966 he entered the Ministry of Public Health, bycompetition, occupying the post of Venereology Doctor at the Ate Vitarte Health Center;in 1968, he was selected as Dermatologist Doctor at the Dos de Mayo National Hospital,where he subsequently became head of the Dermatology Service (1995-1999), covering37 years of Public Health services (Ministry of Health). He has been part of juries in manyDermatology and Tropical Dermatology contests organized by Medical Societies and Nationaland International Congresses.Standouts among his many published works include: “Jorge Lobo’s Disease, First CaseDiagnosed in Peru,” “Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, Sporotrichoid Forms,” “Venereal Diseases,Syphilis,” “South American Blastomycosis in Peru,” “Donovanosis at Dos de MayoHospital,” “Lipoid Necrobiosis at Dos de Mayo Hospital,” “Kaposi’s Sarcoma form 1991to 1993 at the Dos de Mayo Hospital,” and numerous handbooks of theoretical classes forDermatology.The awards given to Dr. Romero include the medal for 25 years of service at the Dosde Mayo Hospital, medal for 40 years in medical teaching at the National Higher Universityof St. Mark Medical School, Award of Honor and medal of Merit for outstandingscientific and professional work towards the prestige of the Order issued by the PeruvianMedical Association in October, 1999. He belongs to the Peruvian Society of Dermatology,325