A manera de semblanza: Elly Silberpfening de Holz (1910-2005)

elly holz was born in thorn, east prusia, on january 19, 1910. she got her high school degree in berlin, germany and became medical doctor in pisa, italy. elly and siegbert, her husband, after escaping away from nazi regimen arrived in venezuela in 1939. she worked at "concepcion palacios" hospital and, afterward, stayed for a while as physicians in cariaco, sucre state. since 1945, she remained in caracas, working since then in her public health career maily as advisor in the regulatory area at the national institute of hygiene-ministery of health and welfare. elly had several great achievements, within those to avoid thalidomide marketing in venezuela, to establish the pharmacovigilance systen in the country (national center for pharmacovigilance, cenavif) and to be a co-founder of sanitary pharmacology. after more tha 40 years of hard work she retired and lived helping her disciples until march 22, 2005.