Dr. Francisco Kerdel-Vegas

Ambassador, dermatologist, academic, son of Oswaldo Kerdel and Sofía Vegas, was born in Caracas (1928). He studied at the San Pablo Institute and at the Andrés Bello Liceo in Caracas. Graduated as Surgeon at the Central University of Venezuela in 1951, Intern of the Venezuelan Red Cross of 1949-1951. Residency in Dermatology at the Massachusetts General Hospital (Harvard Medical School), 1951-1952 and at the Skin & Cancer Unit, New York, 1952-1954. Master of Science at New York University, 1954. Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate and Head (since 1961) of Dermatology at the Faculty of Medicine of the UCV and the Vargas Hospital in Caracas.

Individual of Number of the National Academy of Medicine of Venezuela (Armchair XXIV, 1967). Individual of Number of the Academy of Physical Sciences and Mathematics of Venezuela (Armchair XIII, 1971). Doctor in Medical Sciences of the UCV. Academic Vice-Rector (founder) of the Simón Bolívar University. He is an Honorary Member of the National Academies of Medicine of Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and Paraguay. Ambassador of Venezuela in the United Kingdom (1987-1992), before UNESCO in Paris (1994-1999) and Ambassador in France (1995-1999). Member of Trinity College, Cambridge University. Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), Chevalier of the Legion of Honor and Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of France. Honorary Doctor of the San Francisco College of Podiatry and Cranfield University of England.