Welcome to the website of the ESPD. Photodermatology is a major subspecialty of Dermatology and is of enormous relevance to all people on earth. The sun after all is the source of life on earth; the understanding of its effects on mankind is therefore very fundamental. Sunlight can have very serious adverse effects as well as beneficial effects and it behoves us to appreciate and utilise the good and minimise the bad. It is therefore really important for all dermatologists to have a thorough understanding of the area. Though many dermatologists have a good understanding of the basics of the subspecialty not all have in depth experience. The ESPD aims to improve knowledge in the area by running symposia highlighting new research and innovations and also runs a photodermatology course covering all aspects of photodermatology for those in training and also those wishing to update their knowledge.
Last Autumn as part of the Sister’s Society programme at the EADV in Istanbul a very successful update session was held and given the success of that session we will hold a similar update session at the forthcoming EADV meeting in Amsterdam 2014. These sessions afford a platform for reviewing areas of controversy and in addition areas of current interest to dermatologists worldwide. In 2015 at the World Congress of Dermatology in Vancouver the ESPD will hold a World Photodermatology Day in collaboration with the American Photomedicine Society, the Chinese, Korean, Australian, South American photodermatologists and of course our Canadian Hosts. These interactions with worldwide societies have in the past been most instructive, highlighting areas of research and clinical practice relevant to all of us and we would expect the Vancouver meeting to be likewise of great general interest.
This May we will run a course in Photodermatology in Dublin. Details of how to book for this course are listed under the tab meetings and I would urge those interested to book early to avoid disappointment.
The ESPD also encourages research and all young dermatologists are encouraged to submit research for presentation at the above meetings, instructive case reports are also welcomed and again will be included at the Photodermatology course in May. Workshops are a way of developing new areas of relevance to clinical practice, and a most successful collaboration on Photoallergens led recently to publication of what is now best practice. We aim to continue this with a further workshop updating potential photoallergens of importance in the near future.
Our society journal is Photodermatology Photoimmunology Photomedicine , by joining the ESPD one also receives the journal and regular newsletters highlighting the activities of the society. As President I urge you to join our society and help to make our society more relevant to your needs. A growing society is only as good as the strength of its members.
I wish all who visit the website the very best for 2014, hope to see new members and also hope to see you at our forthcoming events
Gillian Murphy MD FRCPI FRCP Edin President ESPD