History of Latin American Dermatology

Historical outline of the Bolivian Dermatological Societyinternational congress was proposed; however, due to the financial difficulties of undertakingsuch a task, other scientific organizations were contacted, such as the ClinicalBiochemistry Society and the Odontological Studies and Research Association; the sponsorshipof the Ibero-Latin American Dermatology Association (CILAD) was also obtained.The congress was held from July 13 to July 17, 1974, at the Universidad Mayor de SanAndrés in La Paz, with the major cooperation of authorities of the university and of otherinstitutions. The event, entitled “First International Symposium on Medical, Odontologicaland Clinical Biochemical Pathology,” was presided by Drs. F. Cárdenas and C. Borjain cooperation with Dr. Juan Guerra Mercado. For that congress, we were visited bygreat figures: Julio Martín Borda, Jorge Abulafia, Sergio Stringa, Luis Belli, GilbertoGonzález Resigno, Juan Carlos Flichman, Leopoldo Eguren, Ramón Baros and JaimeRubin. Prof. David Grinspan (who visited us later) and Dr. Pablo Viglioglia found it impossibleto attend.On that occasion, the current logo of the Bolivian Dermatological Society was createdand was for the first time printed on a de-luxe program. Professors Luis F. Piérola, LuisNava and Jorge Suárez were appointed honorary members. The sessions took place infour halls, and there was also a space dedicated to the exhibition of medical drugs andcosmetics. Talks on scientific cosmetology were also given.After this Symposium, the First National Meeting on Dermatology was organized inthe city of Cochabamba, in 1975. Virtually all the dermatologists in the country attendedthe meeting to present their works. This meeting was presided by Drs. F. Cárdenas andJ. Briansonson. It is worth mentioning the presence of Dr. Phillippe Desjeux, untiring collaboratorright up to the present, who was appointed member of the society. The Sucredelegation was headed by Dr. F. Echeverría. The most outstanding event was the decisionto draw up the Bylaws, a task which was entrusted to the Cochabamba delegation,under the direction of Dr. J. Briansonson and with the close cooperation of Drs. Q.Amaya, N. Trigo and H. Maldonado.The Second Meeting on Dermatology took place the following year (1976) in the cityof Trinidad, at the Universidad Beniana, with the unanimous cooperation of all the doctorsfrom Trinidad and the full backing of Dr. J. Hurtado, to whom we are grateful. Atthis Meeting, the Cochabamba delegation punctually handed in the draft Bylaws.From that date onwards, anatomical and clinical meetings were held with a certainregularity at the Dermatology Service of the Hospital de Clínicas. For this purpose, an officewas initially allocated, and afterwards a small auditorium, which, thanks to the contributionof the members’ fees, was adapted for the projection of slides.In 1978, the Third National Meeting on Dermatology took place, this time in Tarija,with the cooperation of Dr. Luis Michel and the full body of doctors from that city. Thequestion came up whether to call it “Third Meeting” or “First Congress.” The posters,signs and folders were printed with the title “Third Meeting,” but, given the size of theevent, it was finally decided that it should be entitled First Bolivian DermatologyCongress. The event was presided by Drs. F. Cárdenas and L. Michel.Given that this meeting acquired the status of First National Congress, and in accordwith the Bylaws that were being drafted at the time, it was decided that the Board of Directorswas to be renewed. The renewed Board was formed as follows: President, Dr. P.Sangüeza; Vice-President, Dr. F. Humboldt; Secretary, Dr. F. Cárdenas; Treasurer: Dr. L.Valda.Among the main conclusions, we can mention the resolutions to hold anatomical andclinical sessions twice a year in Cochabamba, create branches, and publish monthly journals(up to that date, two informative journals and one newsletter had been issued). Anambitious project for the creation of a Revista Dermatología was also presented.The host city originally chosen for the Second Congress was Sucre but, due to variousunforeseeable circumstances, it was later changed to Santa Cruz de la Sierra. The65