ILDS 2019 Annual Review

The 24th World Congress of Dermatology (WCD) held in Milan, Italy was a fantastic success. The global reach and participation for every WCD makes this event unique in dermatology: over 16,000 delegates attended from more than 140 countries last June 2019. The WCD was the culmination of four years of dedication by the Italian Society of Dermatology (SIDeMaST), led by WCD President Giovanni Pellacani and WCD Secretary-General Ketty Peris, in collaboration with the ILDS. The Scientific Programme was an innovative, wide-ranging and truly global programme that encompassed over 150 sessions in 43 topic areas. [ric id="8397" srcmoduleimage="https://ilds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Board-at-Milan-360x260.jpg" srcsquare="https://ilds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Board-at-Milan-360x360.jpg" srcoriginal="https://ilds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Board-at-Milan-450x253.jpg" srcvideo="https://ilds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Board-at-Milan-320x180.jpg" srcnarrow="https://ilds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Board-at-Milan-475x100.jpg" alt="" caption="ILDS Board Directors (2019-2023) during the World Congress of Dermatology in Milan, Italy" classes="center" format="original"] During the WCD, the ILDS held its General Meeting and elected 10 new Board Directors as well as a new President. The ILDS has gone through a period of substantial development over the last four years as we progress, together with our Members and partners, towards our vision of “Skin Health for the World”. Over the next four-year cycle this will culminate at the 25th World Congress of Dermatology in 2023 in the beautiful and energetic city of Singapore. Our collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) continues to strengthen and the ILDS was re-admitted into official relations with the WHO in 2019. There were many important achievements in 2019 including the adoption of the eleventh revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) by the WHO. In addition to these activities, we launched the Global Psoriasis Atlas website on World Psoriasis Day, 29 October, along with the many activities undertaken as part of World Skin Health Day throughout the year. In 2019, the International Foundation for Dermatology (IFD) continued to support the Regional Dermatology Training Centre (RDTC) in Tanzania and other ongoing projects, and also developed new initiatives in areas of need such as migrant and refugee health. A Manual of Best Practice: Skin Cancer Prevention and Management for Persons with Albinism in Sub-Saharan Africa, supported by the IFD, was launched by Standing Voice on International Albinism Awareness Day on 13 June and work is now underway to support its dissemination. [ric id="8398" srcmoduleimage="https://ilds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/HL-and-LF-360x260.png" srcsquare="https://ilds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/HL-and-LF-360x360.png" srcoriginal="https://ilds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/HL-and-LF-450x300.png" srcvideo="https://ilds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/HL-and-LF-320x180.png" srcnarrow="https://ilds.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/HL-and-LF-475x100.png" alt="" caption="Lars French (ILDS President) and Harvey Lui (ILDS Immediate Past-President) outside the ILDS Office in London, UK" classes="center" format="original"] We are honoured, as President and Immediate Past-President of the ILDS, to have the opportunity to serve the ILDS and to work with committed ILDS Members and other partners. There is a lot to be done to realise a world where everyone can attain the best possible skin health, and we are excited to be working with you all in 2020 and beyond. Our strength is our unity. Lars French ILDS President Harvey Lui ILDS Immediate Past-President