History of Latin American Dermatology

ELBIO FLORES-CEVALLOS, LUIS FLORES-CEVALLOS, ZUÑO BURSTEINAmong the ten Teaching and Treatment Services of the UNMSM, located at the Dos deMayo, Arzobispo Loayza, Víctor Larco Herrera (for the mentally ill), St. Bartholomew’sMother and Child, and Callao’s Daniel A. Carrión Complex hospitals, special attentionshould be drawn, in the history of Peruvian Dermatology, to the Dermatology Teachingand Treatment Service of the UNMSM, located at the Dos de Mayo Hospital, whose headwas Dr. Aizic Cotlear. It became the most important educational and treatment nucleusof attraction in Dermatology in the country, and more than justified the certification bythe relevant university authorities as the central location of the first Dermatology SpecializationProgram in the academic mode in Peru.The governmental and paragovernmental health institutions that request the trainingof the specialized doctors they require, have to create the vacancies, taking care of thefinancial aspect, and must coordinate the call for selection with the University, abidingby the University Regulations of the Program of Second Specialization in HumanMedicine.EARLY COMMITTEES FOR THE SPECIALIZATION IN DERMATOLOGY AND TROPICAL MEDICINEOn March 15, 1974, the Board of the UNMSM’s Academic Programs of HumanMedicine adopted 27 Committees for the Specialization in Human Medicine, including theDermatology Committee, presided at the beginning by professor Dr. Aizic Cotlear, and includingDrs. Dante Mendoza, José San Martín and Alejandro Morales, and the TropicalMedicine Committee, presided by professor Dr. Zuño Burstein; these two committees establisheda close academic and service relationship. At present, the Dermatology Committeeis presided by professor Dr. Dante Mendoza, and the Tropical Medicine Committeeis headed by professor Dr. Abelardo Tejada.Through its Second Program of Specialization in Human Medicine, on March 3, 1974,and April 16, 1975, the UNMSM published in national newspapers the rules, steps andrequirements for the obtainment of the degrees of specialist in Human Medicine underthe non-academic mode, for 28 specialized fields, which include Surgical Doctor Specializingin Dermatology and Surgical Doctor Specializing in Tropical Medicine.On April 22, 1974, the UNMSM, with its Academic Programs of Human Medicine andthe Second Specialization Program, publicly exercising the rights and duties establishedby law and those on the path to being instituted, handed out specialization degrees in thevarious medical branches under the academic mode.This bestowment of degrees (on those who had successfully completed their trainingat the former Graduate School) was carried out in solemn public session at Lima’s MunicipalPalace, by invitation of the President of the UNMSM and the President of theCONUP, with the presence of the Minister of Education and the Mayor of the ProvincialCouncil of Lima. With this action, it was publicly reaffirmed that the only organization inPeru authorized to grant Professional Specialist Degrees on behalf of the Nation is thePeruvian University.Historical aspects of Tropical Medicine Institutes and of ScientificResearch in Dermatology in PeruThe history of Dermatology in Peru has been closely linked to the development ofTropical Medicine as a specialized field, both in the academic and research aspect of Peruvianmedical reality, and in professional practice. The important field of Tropical SanitaryDermatology, which encompasses the study of pathologies shared by these twospecialized fields — such as the Peruvian wart, leishmaniasis, deep mycoses, leprosy,STDs, AIDS, etc. — requires the inclusion of a historical account, even if brief, of the existingresearch centers in Peru, linked to dermatological activity.336