History of Latin American Dermatology

History of Dermatology in Venezuelasystem was extended to western Venezuelan states such as Falcón, Lara, Mérida,Táchira, Trujillo and Zulia.On June 25, 1996 and at the request of Antonio Rondón Lugo, then president of theVenezuelan Society of Dermatology, the aforementioned interrelation resulted in the reactivationof the Central-Western Chapter (by then called Branch, on account of amendmentsin the bylaws) of the Venezuelan Society of Dermatology, which streamlinedscientific exchanges between dermatologists from the various regions.BOLÍVAR (SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY)The country’s Dermatology reached Ciudad Bolívar through Dr. Francisco Battistini,who in 1949, after his return from France, founded the first outpatient office in Dermatologyin the state of Bolívar. In 1960, undergraduate studies began, and only in1975, the Graduate Residence in Dermatology. Later on Dr. Florencio García Moralesand, upon her return from Paris’ Saint-Louis Hospital, Dr. Ana María Battistini de Brun,who continued at the helm of the graduate program started by her father, joined the service.For his part, Dr. Oscar Perfetti returned from Britain with sound scholarship andin a few years carried out outstanding work in Puerto Ordaz 13 . Another distinguisheddermatologist who has assisted in the strengthening of Dermatology in the region is Dr.Ismery Cabello.CARABOBO (CENTRAL PART OF THE COUNTRY)Dermatology in the city of Valencia, state of Carabobo, started in the 1950s with Dr.Fernando Aguilera on his return from Argentina and France after completing his studies.Years later he was joined by Omar Miret Ortega and Raúl Fachín Visoupon completionof their graduate studies at the Vargas Hospital, in London and the United States.Dr. Marco Tulio Mérida joined in later. In 1976, the first scheduled residencies began,which were the basis for graduate studies in Dermatology at the beginning of 1985.Other distinguished dermatologists are Carlos Fachín, Marlene Mendoza, OlgaMorella Herrera, Rosa Oliveros, Ilse Angulo.ARAGUA (CENTRAL PART OF THE COUNTRY)Dermatology in the state of Aragua started in 1965 with Dr. Pedro Lapenta followinghis practice in leper colonies on the Island of Providencia and in Cabo Blanco, being secondedby Jorge Alvarado, Willian Vázquez, R. Otamendi, Lilian de Cequeda, MaritzaMaya and Luis Felipe Guada.LARA (CENTRAL WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY)In Barquisimeto, the first Service was founded by Dr. Humberto Campins in 1939, atthe old Antonio María Pineda Hospital. He later moved to the Antonio María Pineda CentralHospital. In 1950, Dr. Carlos Zapata joined the service as an associate. In 1954, uponhis return from the Skin and Cancer Unit, the service was joined by Dr. J. J. Henríquez,who remained in that city until 1966 when he moved to Caracas.In 1958, Dr. Cruz A. Graterol Roque was appointed acting head of the Service, and in1963, Dr. Segundo Barroeta joined the Service following graduate studies in BuenosAires; in 1970, he became head of the Dermatology Service in the “Antonio MaríaPineda” Hospital, until his retirement in 2004. He was replaced in the post by Dr. MaríaHerminia Araujo.Drs. María Antonieta Mejías and Segundo Barroeta have been the leaders in the fieldof Dermatology in the state of Lara. In 1971, graduate courses began under the guidanceof Dr. Segundo Barroeta as scheduled health care residencies until 1987 when they becomeuniversity graduate courses.431