History of Latin American Dermatology

History of the Argentine Association of Pediatric Dermatologyof more regular, year-round scientific activities, the expansion of the roster of membersand the purchase of the organization’s own headquarters.One of the first tasks undertaken by the new Board was that of launching a membershipdrive and organizing sustained scientific activities, namely; three annual meetingsat diverse hospitals among the many that provide pediatric Dermatology services.In fulfilling this goal, during the year 1998 three scientific meetings were held, at theGarrahan and Elizalde hospitals, in the city of Buenos Aires, and Sor María Ludovica, inLa Plata.The call to add new members met an immediate response with a major addition; thiswas the basis for the society, in full process of growth, taking on the name of ArgentineAssociation of Pediatric Dermatology (ASADEPE), a civil association.In April 1998 an important step in the society’s development took place, when Dr. JoséAntonio Mássimo founded the journal Dermatología Pediátrica Argentina (Argentine PediatricDermatology, DPA), ASADEPE’s official organ. This publication emerged as thefirst in its field in the Spanish language, appearing on a quarterly basis with an 8,000-copy printing run.In June of the same year an agreement was also reached between ASADEPE and theProcter & Gamble diaper manufacturing company, which would constitute the basis thatwould allow a real estate purchase for setting up the association’s headquarters.In the month of September, ASADEPE backed and sponsored the initiative of Drs. JoséAntonio Mássimo and Silvia Teresita Pueyo for the founding, based at the Ricardo GutiérrezChildren’s Hospital, the study course to Specialists in Pediatric Dermatology at theUniversity of Buenos Aires’ Medical School, in which they held the posts of dean and vicedeanrespectively.Thus a decisive step was taken towards the consolidation of this young and vigorousdiscipline, with a major scope for action in Argentina, a country with a large populationof children and a strong demand for treatment of skin diseases.In the year 1999 three scientific meetings were held: the first on March 27 at the PrivateCommunity Hospital, in Mar del Plata; the second on August 7 at the Military Circlein Olivos, and the third on November 20 at the Houssay Hospital in Vicente López,province of Buenos Aires.Between August 23 and 25 of that year the Second Argentine Congress of PediatricDermatology was held, with Dr. Silvia Pueyo as president and Drs. Joseph Morelli andAmy Nopper of the U.S. as foreign guests, who enriched the roster of prestigious localguests among a turnout that surpassed the figure of 600 participants.On September 18, 1999, another transcendental step was taken in the consolidationof the institution, with the purchase of a house at Honduras 5770, in the neighborhoodof Palermo, to set up ASADEPE’s association headquarters (Figures 1 and 2). Since its officialinauguration (Figures 3 and 4), numerous teaching activities for members began tobe organized at this site.On September 25 of that year the membership of the Governing Board was renewedfor the 1999-2001 period, with the appointment of Silvia Teresita Pueyo (president), JoséAntonio Mássimo (vice-president), María Amelia García (general secretary), Pedro GarcíaZubillaga (scientific secretary), Antonio Pignataro (treasurer), Ricardo Kohan andPedro Rovere (full members), Anita Rossi and Araceli Rodríguez (substitute members)and, in the monitoring organ, Guillermo Ilho and Carlos Lorenzano (full account reviewers)and Jorge Díaz Saubidet (substitute account reviewer) (Figure 5).With the renewal of the Governing Board, strong momentum was given to academicactivities, with the implementation of a regular annual scientific program consisting inthree scientific gatherings, devoted successively to the Dermatology of the newborn, topediatric general Dermatology and to the Dermatology of the adolescent.The annual scientific meetings went beyond the scope of the hospitals and were thus57