History of Latin American Dermatology

FERNANDO CÁRDENAS, JUAN CARLOS DIEZ DE MEDINAAt first, scientific activities were undertaken individually, with participation in somenational events together with other societies: Pediatrics, Surgery, Medical Athenaeum,etc. In those times, the role of Dr. P. Sangüeza proved important, since he provided updatesand strengthened the talks or conferences with his participation on skinhistopathology, complementing the presentation of clinical cases with excellent photomicrographs.An important quota for the training of specialists was derived by the dermatologicalschools of Argentina, Brazil and Colombia; the former, particularly, provided effectivelinks abroad and established the bases for the creation of our Society. At this school,three important names stand out: Professors Julio Martín Borda and Jorge Abulafia andDr. Jaime Rubin have contributed to the training of new specialists, and their contribution,in some cases, extends right up to the present, with Prof. Juan Carlos Gatti now included.A stage was reached when the creation of a Bolivian scientific dermatological society,which would bring together the growing number of specialists, was considered an greatnecessity. This is how the Bolivian Dermatological Society came into being.■ From its foundation to 1985 to 1985On the morning of April 20, 1968, at the Dermatology Service, Male Section, of theHospital de Clínicas of La Paz, with the participation of Drs. Jorge Suárez, Enrique Vergara,Fernando Cárdenas, Ferdin Humboldt, Pastor Sangüeza, Apolinar Caro and FabioPrado Barrientos, the Bolivian Dermatological Society was founded. On that same date itwas decided to consider Drs. Omar Villagómez, Luis F. Piérola, Luis Nava, Eduardo Saracho,Jaime Briansonson and Norah Siles as co-founders.The Board of Directors was constituted as follows: President, Dr. Jorge Suárez; Vice-President, Dr. Enrique Vergara; Secretary, Dr. Fernando Cárdenas U.One week later, on April 27, it was decided that a set of bylaws was to be drawn up;in the meantime, the bylaws of the Bolivian Dermatological Federation were adopted. Itwas suggested that a committee be formed in order to draw up the proposed bylaws.During a period of approximately three years, the Society did not actively operate assuch; however, in 1969, a new meeting took place in La Paz, this time with the presenceof Dr. Norah Siles. On this occasion, the Bolivian Leprology Society was founded, the firstBoard of Directors of which was constituted as follows: President, Dr. Norah Siles; Vice-President, Dr. Fernando Cárdenas; Secretary, Dr. Omar Villagómez; Counselor, Dr. JorgeSuárezEven though this Leprology Society did not hold meetings as such, its members playeda significant role in Bolivian Leprology, initially headed by Dr. Suárez. It is important tomake a special mention of Drs. N. Siles and R. Amonzabel for their active participationin congresses, the presentation of works and the direction of leprosariums or Institutosde los Negros at Jorochito and Candúa.In early 1971, the Bolivian Dermatological Society was reorganized and its Board ofDirectors was renewed as follows: President, Dr. Fernando Cárdenas; Vice-President, Dr.Ferdin Humboldt.A few days later, the Society received a letter from Dr. J. Brianson, in which he announcedhis intention to forming a Bolivian Dermatological Association; however, onfinding out about the reorganization of the Society, he gave its his whole-hearted backingto the society. The foundations were then laid for carrying out a Congress, to be precededby Dermatological Meetings. We shall see later that this idea would actually becarried out.In 1973, the Bolivian Dermatological Society held a new meeting in which an64