Extracts from the Lectures of the 32nd Nordic Congress of Dermato-Venereology, Tampere, Finland
includes dermatology and we have to adjust to that. I think it
is important to stick to core dermatological values and realise
that some diseases are of a more cosmetic nature. However, due
to the rapid increase in skin cancer and the higher prevalence
of in?ammatory diseases like atopic dermatitis there is still
a need for more dermatologists. This will improve quality of
dermatologic care and reduce costs.
OLLE LARKÖ
Department of Dermatology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Göteborg,
SE-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden
E-mail: olle.larko@sahlgrenska.gu.se
Comments from the General Secretary of NDA
Highlights of the 32nd Nordic Dermatology Congress
in Tampere
The 2013 year congress was the seventh Nordic Dermatology
Congress organized by the Finnish Dermatological Society. It
has been 5 years since the last, highly appreciated, congress
in Reykjavik. The scenery of Iceland is dif?cult to match but
the forests and lakes of Tampere were beautiful in the sun
of August. Five years made no difference to the old and new
Nordic friends who found each other quickly, just as it was
described in the 22 stories of Nordic dermatologists who participated in the collection of memories released at the congress
to celebrate 100 years of NDA.
The keynote lecture, “Clinical challenges in percutaneous
absorption”, was held by Professor Howard Maibach, University of California, the nestor of contact dermatitis. He called
Nordic dermatology for an “epicentrum of international
dermatology”. Professor Maibach has certainly contributed
to this development by offering education at his department
in San Francisco to many Nordic dermatologists. Among the
invited speakers, were the ambassadors of Finnish dermatology in USA and Europe. Jouni Uitto from Thomas Jefferson
University in Philadelphia talked on “Personalized Medicine
for Heritable Skin Diseases”. Leena Bruckner Tuderman from
Freiburg Medical Center held a lecture on “Skin fragility: novel
approaches with exome sequencing and disease proteomics”. Many sessions such as Cutaneous lymphoma, Contact
dermatitis, Mast cells in dermatology, Atopic dermatitis and
Gendermatoses demonstrated ongoing Nordic cooperations
and a broad spectrum of current Finnish research. Obviously,
good basic school education (one of the best schools in Europe)
and governmental money are essential for successful research.
Forum for Nord Derm Ven 2013, Vol. 18, No. 4
A panel discussion,”Nordic perspective in dermatology”, was
the ?nal session of the programme. Sampsa Kauppi, the Chairman of the Young Dermatologists in Finland, informed about
plans for a joint meeting with the Young Dermatologists in
Denmark after a session at “Young dermatologist’s forum”.
He also suggested a common Nordic course for young Nordic
dermatologists in Health economics after an inspiring lecture
of Olle Larkö.
Several dermato-venereologists from Estonia and Latvia participated in the congress. Many voices were raised to broaden
the cooperation with the Baltic Association of Dermatovenereologists.
General Assembly discussed several important topics like review
of the present statutes, the position of venereology in NDA
(Harald Moi) and use of the ?nancial surplus for organisation
of focused meetings for residents (Kristian Thestrup-Pedersen,
Jörgen Rönnevig and Lasse Braathen) to be held between regular Nordic congresses. Gregor Jemec was elected as president of
NDA and Joanna Wallengren as secrerary general and treasurer.
We are very honoured and grateful for con?ding in us.
The gala dinner was held at the music theatre Palatsi with
a show of Elvis Presley’s repertoire from the rock and roll of
the 50’s to his Las Vegas years. It was especially touching to
see young dermatologists from the Nordic countries rocking
together – should be a good rhythm for future cooperation.
We thank cordially the Finnish Dermatological Society and
the sponsors for bringing Nordic dermatologists together
and organising this excellent congress setting – a start for the
second century of Nordic Dermatology Congresses.
Petter Gjersvik, Chairman of the Norwegian Society for Dermatology and Venereology, concluded that the Nordic Dermatology Societies need each other. He announced that the 33rd Nordic Dermatology Congress will be held in Trondheim in 2016.
The new board (see page 151), inspired by the congress and
the Finnish sisu will meet already in November to discuss the
issues raised by General Assembly. An education committee,
which is being organised, will also evaluate possible Nordic
CME programmes and common core curriculum for the future specialists. A training course in dermatologic surgery is
planned by Gregor Jemec in Roskilde in the autumn of 2014.
As the number and contents of the national courses for residents are limited (for review see table), please, suggest suitable
themes for focused meetings as well as other activities you
would like NDA to engage in.
JOANNA WALLENGREN
Secretary General of NDA
Department of Dermatology, Lund
University Hospital, SE-581 85 Lund,
Sweden
E-mail: joanna.wallengren@med.lu.se
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