History of Latin American Dermatology

History of Argentine DermatologyDermatology in the NortheastManuel Giménez, senior, worked arduously and uninterruptedly in the field of leprosyin the Chaco. His passionate struggle against the epidemics is reflected in the institutionsand dispensaries created at his initiative.Manuel Iglesias and Félix Scappini were full professors. When the National Universityof the Northeast was created, Manuel Giménez, junior, was appointed, and he endowedhis chair with incessant research and study activities that caused him to stand out amongprofessors of recent generations.Other significant dermatological centersIn Salta, Andrés Cornejo and later Roberto Biagini were important dermatologists; thelatter contributed to significant epidemiological and clinical knowledge regarding thestudy and dissemination of ERCH and cutaneous tuberculosis.In Entre Ríos, the first dermatologist was José María Roque D’Angelo (1943). In 1985Abraham Man became the most notable personality in the Dermatology of the Littoralarea and trained specialists in Entre Ríos, site of the Hospital where he served as chief,Corrientes and Misiones. He is one of the most outstanding representatives of Borda’sschool. Over diverse periods he held major posts at the Argentine Society of Dermatologyin Buenos Aires. The Teaching Unit of Paraná, a dependency of the National Universityof Rosario, began to operate in 1991, with Dr. Abraham F. Man being appointed as leadingprofessor and Drs. Rubén Ruberto y Diana Mauro as chief teaching assistants.The Association of Dermatology of the Center of the Littoral was founded in December1978, with the presidency of Dr. Ricardo Cusanelli and the participation of physiciansof Santa Fe, eastern Córdoba and Entre Ríos. Under the presidency of Dr. Alejandro CamposCarlés this Association joined the Argentine Society of Dermatology.Among the numerous scientific encounters held in the region, special mention has tobe made of the annual “Prof. Dr. José M. Fernández” gathering, which included EntreRíos, Rosario and Córdoba. The Fourth International Sessions of Pediatric Dermatology,with venue in Paraná, were headed by Susana Block, Diana Mauro, Analía Svartz andCarlos Cargniel.In Mar del Plata, where the field is closely linked to Dermatology in the city of BuenosAires, standouts included Raúl Rodeiro, Juan F. Caino, Carlos Cancio and Carlos de Natale.At the present time, Carlota Jaimovich, Jorge Brusco, Alfredo Amdur and JorgeClara stand as points of reference.The Regional Hospital of Mar del Plata exhibits a high academic level and the city isfrequently the site of national and international congresses.INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITY■ International activityFor many years, the Dermatology Sessions of the River Plate were classics; they annuallybrought together dermatologists of Argentina and Uruguay, the two countries alternatingas the venue. They were carried out under the impulse provided by BartoloméVignale in Uruguay and of Quiroga, Mazzini, Pierini and Grinspan in Argentina.In 1963 the Ibero-Latin American Dermatology Association (CILAD) held the Fifth InternationalCongress, with the presidency of Luis Pierini and David Grinspan as generalsecretary. The event brought together all Argentine and Ibero-Latin American Dermatology(Figures 15, 16, 17, 18).In 2003 Buenos Aires was the venue of CILAD’s Fifteenth Congress, and on this occasionAna Kaminsky was president and Miguel A. Allevato secretary general. Over 3,00041