As a result of his studies, he made important contributions in the field of dermatology, particularly highlighting his role in the fight against leprosy (Hansen’s disease). He promoted the passage of Law 11359 on the Prophylaxis of Leprosy,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Argentinean Law 11359 on Leprosy Prophylaxis |url=https://www.argentina.gob.ar/normativa/nacional/ley-11359-233128}}</ref> (promulgated in 1926), which he co-drafted with Maximiliano Aberastury, intended to combat this disease.
As a result of his studies, he made important contributions in the field of dermatology, particularly highlighting his role in the fight against leprosy (Hansen’s disease). He promoted the passage of Law 11359 on the Prophylaxis of Leprosy,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Argentinean Law 11359 on Leprosy Prophylaxis |url=https://www.argentina.gob.ar/normativa/nacional/ley-11359-233128}}</ref> (promulgated in 1926), which he co-drafted with Maximiliano Aberastury, intended to combat this disease.
Beyond his academic and professional contributions, he also promoted social and educational projects. As a member of the Asociación Amigos de los Parques Nacionales (National Parks Friends Association),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Asociación Argentina de Parques Nacionales |url=https://areasprotegidasnat.wixsite.com/aapn/inicio}}</ref> he promoted the creation of the San Carlos de Bariloche Social Center, known as “Ayekan Ruca” (in Mapuche language: house of joy), as a way to combat ignorance and poverty through more and better education.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Atraer para Educar Recreando. El Proyecto Ayekan Ruca en San Carlos de Bariloche. 1934-1955 |url=http://www.hechohistorico.com.ar/guardamemorias/trabajos/SOCIEDAD%20Y%20EDUCACION/JORNADAS%20DE%20HISTORIA%20PATAGONIA/2008/EDUCACION/Mendez-Podlubne.pdf}}</ref>
Beyond his academic and professional contributions, he also promoted social and educational projects. As a member of the Asociación Amigos de los Parques Nacionales (National Parks Friends Association),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Asociación Argentina de Parques Nacionales |url=https://areasprotegidasnat.wixsite.com/aapn/inicio}}</ref> he promoted the creation of the San Carlos de Bariloche Social Center, known as “Ayekan Ruca” (in Mapuche language: house of joy), as a way to combat ignorance and poverty through more and better education.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Atraer para Educar Recreando. El Proyecto Ayekan Ruca en San Carlos de Bariloche. 1934-1955 |url=http://www.hechohistorico.com.ar/guardamemorias/trabajos/SOCIEDAD%20Y%20EDUCACION/JORNADAS%20DE%20HISTORIA%20PATAGONIA/2008/EDUCACION/Mendez-Podlubne.pdf}}</ref>
[[File:Hospital_Pedro_Baliña_ayer.jpg|thumb|Hospital “Dr. Pedro L. Baliña”, at Posadas, Province of Misiones, Argentina]]
[[File:Hospital_Pedro_Baliña_ayer.jpg|thumb|Hospital “Dr. Pedro L. Baliña”, at Posadas, of ]]
– The Hospital “Dr. Pedro L. Baliña”<ref>{{Cite web |title=El Hospital Dr. Pedro Baliña celebra 88 años brindando calidad de atención de salud |url=https://www.canal12misiones.com/noticias-de-misiones/sociedad/hospital-dr-pedro-balina}}</ref> was inaugurated on February 6, 1936, as a sanatorium-colony for the internment of leprosy patients. It is located in Posadas, capital of the province of Misiones, in the northwest of Argentina. Presently, the hospital is a provincial reference for infectious diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, and leprosy.
– The Hospital “Dr. Pedro L. Baliña”<ref>{{Cite web |title=El Hospital Dr. Pedro Baliña celebra 88 años brindando calidad de atención de salud |url=https://www.canal12misiones.com/noticias-de-misiones/sociedad/hospital-dr-pedro-balina}}</ref> was inaugurated on February 6, 1936, as a sanatorium-colony for the internment of leprosy patients. It is located in Posadas, Misiones, in the northwest of Argentina. Presently, the hospital is a provincial reference for infectious diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, and leprosy.
– Since 1980, the National Academy of Medicine has established a quadrennial award called “Pedro L. Baliña” to award the best work on “Dermatology, Syphilography and Leprology.”
– Since 1980, the National Academy of Medicine has established a quadrennial award called “Pedro L. Baliña” to award the best work on “Dermatology, Syphilography and Leprology.”
Pedro Luis Baliña (Lomas de Zamora, August 23, 1880 – Buenos Aires, May 2, 1949) was an argentinean dermatologist, leprologist and syphilologist.
After graduating from Colegio San José at Buenos Aires with a gold medal, he attended the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Buenos Aires and graduated with honors in 1905. He completed his postgraduate studies at the Hôpital Saint-Louis (Paris, France), under the tutelage of Drs. Philippe Gaucher and Raymond Sabouraud. Upon his return from France, he joined the Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Syphilography at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the University of Buenos Aires, as a disciple of Baldomero Sommer.
In August 1907, together with several colleagues, including doctors Baldomero Sommer, Maximiliano Aberastury, Julio Vicente Uriburu, Carlos Seminaro and Nicolás V. Greco, he founded the Argentine Society of Dermatology (currently the Argentine Association of Dermatology)[1] of which he was secretary (1907), president (1927-1932 and 1947)[2] and its first honorary president (1947-1949). During his presidency he proposed the creation of dermato-venereological clinics, with regional projection for the prophylaxis and treatment of leprosy, syphilis, venereal diseases and general skin diseases.[3]
In 1910, he created the Dermatology Service at the Hospital Español in Buenos Aires, where he served as its head for 15 years. For more than 20 years (1925–1947), he was the head of the Dermatology Department at the Dr. José María Ramos Mejía General Acute Care Hospital (formerly San Roque Hospital) in Buenos Aires, and the chief organizer of the Social Assistance Service in the Dermatic Syphilography department.
He promoted the creation of the Sommer Hospital[4] (originally called Sanatorio-Colonia Buenos Aires, inaugurated on November 22, 1941), in the town of General Rodríguez, province of Buenos Aires.
In 1924, he was elected a full member (for life) of the National Academy of Medicine of Argentina,[5][6] the most important medical institution in Argentina. In that same year he took over the chair of the Clinical Dermatic Syphilography as interim professor, vacant after the retirement of Dr. Aberastury. In 1925, the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) appointed him Full Professor of his specialty (1925-1947).[7]
As a result of his studies, he made important contributions in the field of dermatology, particularly highlighting his role in the fight against leprosy (Hansen’s disease). He promoted the passage of Law 11359 on the Prophylaxis of Leprosy,[8] (promulgated in 1926), which he co-drafted with Maximiliano Aberastury, intended to combat this disease.
Beyond his academic and professional contributions, he also promoted social and educational projects. As a member of the Asociación Amigos de los Parques Nacionales (National Parks Friends Association),[9] he promoted the creation of the San Carlos de Bariloche Social Center, known as “Ayekan Ruca” (in Mapuche language: house of joy), as a way to combat ignorance and poverty through more and better education.[10]
– The Hospital “Dr. Pedro L. Baliña”[11] was inaugurated on February 6, 1936, as a sanatorium-colony for the internment of leprosy patients. It is located in Posadas, Misiones, in the northwest of Argentina. Presently, the hospital is a provincial reference for infectious diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, and leprosy.
– Since 1980, the National Academy of Medicine has established a quadrennial award called “Pedro L. Baliña” to award the best work on “Dermatology, Syphilography and Leprology.”
– In his memory, a street in the Nueva Pompeya neighborhood of Buenos Aires is named after Dr. Pedro Luis Baliña.
[[Category:Argentine academics]]
