The “Dermatologia Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale” (EOC) was formed by dedicated dermatologists who, with great commitment and verve, but also charisma, promoted the development of the specialty of dermatology in Ticino. The Dermatology EOC is now recognized by the FMH as a Category C continuing education center.
It is a great honor for me, as the current Chief Physician, to present the dermatology department of the Bellinzona Hospital, now called Dermatology EOC, here in DERMATOLOGIE PRAXIS. The great pioneers of Ticino dermatology have dedicated a large part of their lives to the development of the specialty of dermatology in Italian-speaking Switzerland. I would like to introduce these people in the following.
Founding father of dermatology Bellinzona: Dr. Tenchio
The dermatology department at the Ospedale San Giovanni in Bellinzona was founded in 1934 by dermatologist Fausto Tenchio, MD, as the first specialized department. Tenchio studied medicine in Zurich and Rome, completing his training in dermatology and venereology in Zurich. Over the years, he has held the office of President of the SGDV and the Ticino Society of Dermatology and Venereology (STDV), among others. However, Tenchio was also a lieutenant colonel and for decades an armory doctor in Bellinzona, especially during World War 2. It happened that he visited patients in uniform and went to the barracks in civilian clothes. Because of his dermatological magistral formulations and his special charisma he was adored by his patients. He was also a sportsman – until the age of 90 he could be found skating at the Bellinzona ice rink on weekends. At the age of 70, he resigned from his position as chief of the dermatology department, but he continued to practice until a few months before his death on October 12, 1999 (at the age of 95!).
On the occasion of his 90th birthday, I asked him what his secret to aging well was? He said, “A walk every night after dinner!”
Dermatology under Dr. Gilliet
In 1975, François Gilliet, MD, became chief physician in Bellinzona. He studied medicine in Zurich and was trained dermatologically in Boston (Prof. W. Lever), Lausanne (Prof. J. Delacrétaz) and Zurich (Prof. H. Storck). In the course of his activities, he was, among others, president of the STDV as well as a member of the foundation “Society for Combating Venereal Diseases” (SGBG). In 2002 he was awarded the title of “Honorary Member of the SGDV”.
In addition to his work in the ward, Dr. Gilliet developed a phototherapy center for the diagnosis of light dermatoses and the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases. As an allergist, he also brought the diagnosis and treatment of hymenoptera venom allergies to Ticino. Since July 1996, dermatology in Bellinzona has had its own resident position. In 1997 it was recognized as a category C FMH training center in dermatology and venereology.
In 2001, Dr. Gilliet relinquished the position of chief medical officer. He continued his activity as a recognized dermatologist in his practice in Bellinzona until his early death at the age of 74.
Outside of dermatology, which for Dr. Gilliet was not a job but a true passion, he enjoyed listening to jazz music. He loved the great classics of the genre and was particularly fond of the New Orleans style. He played the piano and founded a band with friends, with which he regularly performed at “JazzAscona”. He passed on his two passions to his children: Michel became a dermatologist and full professor at the University of Lausanne, Nicolas artistic director of the “JazzAscona” festival.
From the center to the outpatient clinic to the polyclinic
In 2002, I myself took over the management of the department together with Patrizia Carrozza Merlani, MD. Dr. Carrozza Merlani studied medicine in Zurich and completed her dermatological training in Bellinzona (Dr. F. Gilliet) and Zurich (Prof. G. Burg and Prof. A. Eichmann). She ran a practice in Bellinzona and was also an attending physician at the hospital. In 2008, Dr. Carrozza Merlani ended her hospital career to focus on her practice and family. In 2012, she became president of the STDV.
Due to the many patient requests, the original phototherapy center evolved into an outpatient clinic, focusing first on wound care, then on chronic skin conditions. In 2004, the new FMH statutes for recognition of a Category C continuing education center led to the formation of a polyclinic. The name of the dermatology department was now “Servizio Cantonale di Dermatologia”. In 2005/2006, the inpatient ward was reduced from twelve to eight beds, so that more space was available for outpatient activities.
In September 2005, I was appointed chief physician. I studied medicine in Zurich and completed my specialist training in dermatology and venereology in Geneva (Prof. J.-H. Saurat).
In January 2006, we were able to create a second resident position and also employ another dermatologist: Petros Michalopoulos, MD. He studied medicine in Bern and was trained in dermatology in Bellinzona (Dr. F. Gilliet) and Bern (Prof. L. R. Braathen). Dr. Michalopoulos has been instrumental in the development of the Polyclinic.
New impulses
In the fall of 2007, an outpatient clinic was opened at the Ospedale Beata Vergine in Mendrisio at the express request of physicians in private practice in the Mendrisiotto.
In January 2009, an Allergology Center was established at the Dermatology Bellinzona under the direction of Silvy Bach Bizzozero, MD. She studied medicine in Basel, where she was also trained in allergology and clinical immunology (Prof. A. Bircher and Prof. P. Itin). She left the hospital at the end of 2012. Also in January 2009, due to increasing activity in the Polyclinic, a new dermatologist joined the team: Cristina Mangas de Arriba, MD, from Barcelona (trained under Prof. C. Ferrándiz) conducted, among other things, a prospective study on the genetics of malignant melanoma in Ticino.
In November 2009, the dermatology department moved to another building in the hospital. Due to the threat of pandemic H1N1 influenza and the chronic need for Internal Medicine beds, the Department of Dermatology lost one bed (7 beds remaining total). However, there was no reduction in the annual number of hospitalized patients.
In January 2010, the group of dermatologists in Ticino expanded to include Gionata Marazza, MD, whose strength is surgical dermatology. He studied medicine in Lausanne and was trained in dermatology in Geneva (Prof. J.-H. Saurat). In June 2010, he operated on the first case of light skin cancer in Ticino using the technique of micrographic surgery (Mohs). In 2012, he became a member of the SGDV board and committee.
In July 2012, Giovanni Ferrari, MD, became department head of the allergy ward. He holds the dual title FMH Pediatrics, Allergology and Clinical Immunology. Dr. Ferrari studied in Zurich and was trained in Aarau (Dr. P. Eng), in Zurich (Prof. P. Schmid-Grendelmeier and Prof. L. French) and in Perth/Australia (Prof. P. LeSouëf). The name of the hospital dermatology changed again to “Dermatologia Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale (EOC)”, which also included an allergy ward.
In 2013, we were awarded an attending dermatology position.
Ticino dermatology in transition
In the 79 years since its foundation in 1934, the dermatology department of Bellinzona Hospital has undergone the same changes as society itself: Progress happens faster and faster. Treatment with dyes or tar derivatives in patients who had to stay in hospital for weeks because of this has been replaced by biological agents, so that patients are treated on an outpatient basis or in short hospital stays at most. For many years, until 1994, the chief physician worked alone. The development of society, medicine – and also bureaucracy – created a dermatological team that is still growing today to cover the different dermatological fields. Currently, the team consists of a chief physician, three dermatologists, an allergist, a senior physician in dermatology and two residents in training.
Carlo Mainetti, MD
