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The Beginnings
/ The Objetives / CONVENTION / THE CHAPTERS / MEDICAL MISSIONS / VISITING PROFESSORS / DONATIONS / CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY UNIT / NATIONAL PUBLICATIONS / DUES

THE BEGINNINGS » back to the top

The Peruvian American Medical Society (PAMS) was founded in the city of Atlanta, Georgia, on September 8, 1973.

The sequence of events was as follows:

1. - June, 1973.  Dr. Henry Remy received from Eli Lilly Pharmaceutical Company, a list of Peruvian physicians living in the United States and organized by graduating classes and their Schools of Medicine.  Dr. Remy thought it would be a great idea to organize a meeting of friends from the same graduating class using the lists provided.  He contacted Dr. Abelardo Ulloa and Dra. Elma Mera from Atlanta, and Dra. Yolanda Altuna from Valparaiso, Indiana. These four founders contacted 20 to 25 members of their graduating class of the School of Medicine of San Fernando, class of 1954, named "Promocion Juan Werner" and organized the meeting on Dr. Remy's birth date, September 8.

2.- Friday, September 6, 1973. Fifteen members of the graduating class of 1954 arrived in Atlanta; their hosts were Dr. Remy, Dr. Ulloa and Dra. Mera.

3.- Saturday, September 7, 1973. There was a party at Dr. Remy's home.  Besides the members of the graduating class of 1954, there were other local Peruvian physicians present, among them Dr. Alberto Hirt. That evening, plans were made to have this reunion on a yearly basis and to contact other Peruvian physicians in the United States since they already had the lists provided by Eli Lilly.
4.- Sunday, September 8, 1973. The group had lunch at the Lakeside Country Club, bus tours to the city of Atlanta, a cruise in the "Robert E. Lee" yacht to Stone Mountain and ended with a Peruvian dinner at Dr. and Mrs. Abelardo Ulloa's home. The group was so enthusiastic at being together that, led by Dr. Agustin Arbulu, decided to create a society for the future.  All members present donated $200 as an initial investment and the first Board of Directors was selected.
                       
                     Dr. Agustin Arbulu, President
                     Dr. Henry Remy, First Vice President
                     Dr. Hugo Sanchez Moreno, Second Vice President         
                     Dr. Rodolfo Byrne, Secretary
                     Dr. Abelardo Ulloa, Treasurer
                     Dr. Julio Acosta, Vocal

Founding Members:

                        Dr. Julio Acosta
                        Dra. Yolanda Altuna Ramirez +
                        Dr. Agustín Arbulu
                        Dr. Gerardo Bellodas
                        Dr. Rodolfo Byrne
                        Dr. Alberto Echevaria-Rossi
                        Dr. Alberto Hirt  +
                        Dra. Elma Mera Steves                  
                        Dr. Victor Ortiz-Velez +
                        Dr. Augusto Paredes
                        Dr. Leo Peña
                        Dr. Frank Pollack
                        Dr. Pedro Ponce Byrne
                        Dr. Henry Remy +
                        Dr. Hugo Sanchez Moreno
                        Dr. Carlos Stuart
                        Dr. Oscar Talledo
                        Dr. Abelardo Ulloa +
                        Dr. Julio C. Venegas +
                        Dr. Alberto Zapata +
                        Dr. Carlos Zevallos

This document taken from “ANUARIO” Silver Anniversary Edition 1998

THE OBJECTIVES » back to the top

The original purpose was to unite all Peruvian physicians practicing in the United States by getting together in Annual Meetings, held in different States and Puerto Rico.  In 1979, during the Presidency of Dr. Alberto Zapata the city of Lima, Perú was chosen for the VI reunion, therefore establishing a new trend.  After this meeting the horizons of the PAMS was expanded and its objectives centered in the improvement of medical relationships between our mother country, Perú, and our adopted country, the United States, and in the improvement of medical education and public health in Peru, fostered through medical missions.  In three occasions the meetings were held in Madrid, Spain, Cancún, Mexico and Lucern, Switzerland, but afterwards the main impetus was to target Peruvian cities for subsequent scientific conventions.  Still, nine U.S. cities after Lima were welcome sites of PAMS’ Reunions.

XXXIV CONVENTION » back to the top

The XXXIV Annual Convention was held in Trujillo, Perú, from August 1-5, 2007, under the Presidency of Dr. Ralph Kuon, from Whittier, California. This Convention was preceded by a Medical Mission to Trujillo, which took place from July 23-31, 2007, under the Direction of Dr. Romulo A. Armas.

All Scientific Programs at the Conventions offer CME credits, Category I, from the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education.  Personal friendships are renewed and professional relationships developed during these Annual Reunions.  As always, during the medical conventions, courses are given free of charge to Peruvian medical students and nurses.

THE CHAPTERS » back to the top

PAMS has over 520 members, about 40% of all Peruvian physicians practicing in the United States, distributed in fifteen Regional and State Chapters, each one with its own Board of Directors and social and scientific programs. The Chapters are as follows:

  1. California  (Southern California and San Diego Chapter)
  2. Florida  (South Florida, Central Florida and Tampa Chapters)
  3. New York-New Jersey-Connecticut Chapter
  4. Illinois-Indiana Chapter
  5. Southeast Region Chapter
  6. Midwest Region Chapter
  7. Missouri Chapter
  8. Texas Chapter
  9. Wisconsin Chapter
  10. National Capital Chapter
  11. Puerto Rico Chapter
  12. Peru Chapter

    We also have members in Canada and Venezuela.

THE MEDICAL MISSIONS » back to the top

These represent the highest ideals of our institution.  Since 1994, seventy four medical misisons have been taken to many areas of Perú, bringing surgical and medical care, urgently needed supplies and new techniques to indigent patients of the Adean, Coastal and Amazonian areas.  All members are volunteers, both Peruvian and U.S. physicians, nurses and technicians.  The supplies are donated to local hospitals. Outpatient Clinics and surgical operations are offered.

During 2006 nine medical missions were taken to the Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Program at Hospital Dos de Mayo, to Abancay, Andahuaylillas, Ayacucho, Cajamarca and to Tacna. All the services are free of charge. Many dedicated leaders have offered their tireless efforts for the success of these missions over the years.  For 2007, medical missions are being planned for the Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Program, Abancay, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Huancavelica, Puno and Trujillo .

VISITING PROFESSORS » back to the top

PAMS has a program of Visiting Professors, where academicians from Peruvian Universities come to the United States for seminars and courses and U.S. professors go to Peru to give lectures.  Scholarships for up to three years are given to young physicians to study in Lima or in the USA.  A treaty of mutual help wasg signed between PAMS and San Fernando Medical School.

DONATIONS » back to the top

Over the past two decades an excess of r $14,000,000 dollars have been donated to Peruvian Universities and Hospitals in books, medical equipment and medicines..  Pharmaceutical companies and mayor corporations such as Brother's Brother Foundation, Lippincott Publishing and Direct Relief International have been the sources of this generosity.  Individual members and state chapters have continuously given personal contributions and donations in every Annual Reunion.  At times of crisis in Peru, such as earthquakes, fires and national health problems, volunteers, extra donations and supplies are sent.

Through its Endowment Fund, a 501(c)(3) non profit organization, 38-2824781, PAMS accepts donations which are tax deductible, to be used for its charitable works.

FOR DONATIONS: PLEASE CLICK HERE 

CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY UNIT » back to the top

Under the direction of Dr. Efraín and Maria Montesinos, a Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Program has been established at the Hospital Dos de Mayo in Lima, for the care of indigent patients.  This Unit also provides cardiothoracic surgical training for medical students of the San Fernando Medical School.

NATIONAL PUBLICATIONS » back to the top

PAMS has always had a voice that informs all members of the Society's programs and ideals.  The yearly magazine, the ANUARIO,  reports on the Conventions and Chapter activities.  PAMS News is issued for Convention and Endowment Fund information.

DUES » back to the top

Annual dues - $100 a year for PAMS and $100 a year for the Endowment Fund.
No wages are paid to PAMS Directors.  No funds are used for personal expenses of its Directors.

Administrative Secretary:  Ana May Salgado, 6488 Tamerlane Drive,
West Bloomfield, Michigan 48322
Telephone: (248) 851-2709   Fax: (248) 851-2044 
E-mail:  PAMS1AMS@comcast.net   Web: www.pamsnational.org