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ePaper created 2014-09-15, 12:31:02 | version 1.32.01
History Theodoor Marinus van Leeuwen Theodoor Marinus van Leeuwen (1876-1952), began his training in pathology in 1906. Since he wanted to maintain contact with patients, he decided to do a parallel specialization in dermatology. This decision took him to the established European centers of excellence in dermatology at the time: Berlin, Hamburg and Paris. He felt particularly drawn to the French School and was tremendously impressed by the teachers he studied under there, Brocq and Darier. In 1914 the famous Dutch surgeon professor Laméris saw the need to create a separate discipline of dermatology and asked his assistant van Leeuwen to run a clinic for patients with skin and venereal diseases. The reason for this request was the marked increase of venereal diseases during the First World War, and the fact that the rise of patients numbers could not be accommodated by the normal surgical routine. In 1919, Van Leeuwen accepted the first ever chair in Dermatology at Utrecht University. His personal interest in the effect of sunlight on diseased and healthy skin led to the establishment of a long tradition of patient care and research in the Dermatology Department. During those years the focus was on the new treatment of tuberculosis of the skin using the Finsen-Lomholt lamp. Following the principles of Willem Storm van Leeuwen of Leiden University, the clinic started with an allergen-free room in 1934, thus establishing a further strand to the depart- ment’s tradition of patient care and research. Until the end of Van Leeuwen’s tenure - he retired in 1945 - dermatology remained a mainly descriptive medical discipline. During this time, more than 25 physicians qualified as certified dermatologists. In 1938 the first female resident was admitted to the programme. Among the 126 publications of this period, 50% was on venereal diseases. Out of the 13 theses produced, 6 were on venereal diseases, 2 on allergic skin diseases and 2 on Röntgen therapy. 64 The Finsen-Lomholt lamp. BWEADVSMGFINCORR:Opmaak 1 21-07-2014 17:40 Pagina 64