History of Latin American Dermatology

History of Dermatology in PeruThis ruling was repeated in subsequent laws and university bylaws, but was absentfrom the text of Law 13,417 of the year 1963. This is why, in order to train its specialists,the UNMSM hastened to set up the Graduate School, in charge of organizing and orientingtheir continuing education, giving special emphasis to refresher courses, andestablishing the residency system to train specialists in the different branches of themedical activity; however, it did not confer the degree of specialist, but rather a Diplomastating that a Surgical Doctor “has successfully completed the Residency Program in thespecialized field of …..,” with the starting and final dates. This Diploma was signed bythe Dean of the Medical School and the Head of the Graduate School.GRADUATE PROGRAMSThe 1972 General Bylaws of the Peruvian University, issued by Decree No. 17,437,states that simple graduate programs (update and/or refresher courses) and residencyprograms correspond to the Second Specialization level (the First Specialization levelends with the Surgical Doctor degree), and that they will be included within the Office ofAcademic Programs in Human Medicine.SPECIALIST DEGREEBy Resolution No. 1,226-73, dated January 18, 1973, the National Council of the PeruvianUniversity (CONUP) authorized the UNMSM to implement its Program of SecondSpecialization in Human Medicine, and to grant the degree of Specialist, which for thefirst time in Peru was conferred on behalf of the Nation, in the academic mode, uponcompletion of a rigorous residency and specialized training program.Prior to the existence of this program, professional doctors became specialiststhrough a process of self-education, the exchange of knowledge, or studies undertakenindependently in the non-academic mode.The CONUP, by CONUP Resolution No. 1,556-74, on February 6, 1974, consideringthat it was convenient to award degrees in the non-academic mode in order to regularizethe situation of many professionals; that the granting of degrees is covered by Art. 62of Decree No. 19,326, and that, furthermore, no other public or private institution cantake on this role, which corresponds exclusively to the Peruvian University, which is explicitlyentitled by Law to confer specialization degrees, resolved to authorize the Programof Second Specialization in Human Medicine of the National Higher University ofSt. Mark in order to grant the degree of “Surgical Doctor Specialist in…,” on behalf of thePeruvian Nation, in the non-academic mode 1 .INTERVENTION OF THE PERUVIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATIONIn 1969, Law No. 15,173, coordinated with Decree-Law No. 17,239, created the PeruvianMedical Association (CMP), with the aim of ensuring that the practice of the medicalprofession is carried out in accordance with the ontological guidelines of the Code ofProfessional Ethics issued by that same Association, abiding by international principlesin that respect. As members of the CMP Bylaws and Regulations Drafting Committee, andas representatives of the Medical Academic Programs, Drs. Elmer Alegría and ZuñoBurstein participated in the event.According to this legal instrument, its bylaws and regulations, being a member of theAssociation was established as a necessary requisite for the practice of the medical professionin Peru. For the registration of doctors at the CMP, it is necessary to present aprofessional degree of Surgical Doctor, granted by one of the country’s medical schools,or recertified by one of the national universities. In the case of professional degrees conferredabroad, they are exempted from the recertification when there is a valid internationalreciprocity agreement.In order to install these controls, the CMP created the National Matriculation Records331