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How many volunteers were present at the Congress? : |
3000-4000 |
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Delegates from which countries presented in the congress? : |
Switzerland, Germany, United States, France, United Kingdom |
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Were the delegates of any other organizations present in the congress? : |
Yes |
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If yes, please write the names of the organizations in the box : |
International Society of Dermatology, European Society of Dermatopathology, International Eczema Council, European Society for Cosmetic & Aesthetic Dermatology, International Dermoscopy Society,Ibero Latin American College of Dermatology, Pakistan Association of DermatologistsIndian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists & Leprologists, European Society for Dermatology and Psychiatry, The European XP Society, Dermatological Society of Singapore, Pan-Arab League of Dermatologists, European Society of Contact Dermatitis, European Nail Society, European Society for Laser Dermatology, European Society for Micrographic Surgery, European Hidradenitis Suppurative Foundation, European Task Force on Atopic Dermatitis, European Society for Photodynamic Therapy, European Association of Dermato Oncology, Arab Academy of Dermatology and Aesthetics, European Women's Dermatologic and Venereologic Society, European Society for Photodermatology |
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What were the responses to your talking points? Were specific questions or concerns raised? : |
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If you met staff members, please list their full names & positions. : |
N/A |
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Please inform us if there are any follow up actions we need to talk with the members of the congress : |
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Your experiences about the travel processes(Providing ticket, accommodation,...) : |
For getting Schengen visa, first I made a visa appointment by phone to Switzerland embassy. I had to prepare many documents for visa application, which must be of “business type”. I filled a form from TUMS which must be filled before congress participation. I also asked “office of vice chancellor for global strategies and international affairs” to prepare a document that presented me as a faculty member of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Some other visa requirements were original bank statement in English, invitation letter, reservation of the return flight ticket, hotel booking, and medical insurance, which I prepared the by the help of a travel agency office. I asked the congress staffs to give me invitation letter before registration payment, and explained them that I was not sure if I could made the visa, and they accepted because I was Iranian! In Switzerland embassy, I was waiting for about 2 or 3 hours to give my documents to the staffs, in a bad situation, about 1.5 hours in standing position in the yard and under sunny climate. My visa was prepared very late and I did not sure if I could rich to my flight until the day before the trip. Switzerland was a very expensive country, and I could reserve a hotel- apartment in France near the border of Switzerland, albeit about 30 minutes to the congress site, with acceptable price. The weather was wonderful. One of the important and hard to manage part of the trip, was to schedule the working programs of our hospital in the congress days, because 4 faculty members other than me also were participating in the congress, therefore we had to put some of our colleagues instead of ourselves, so that the hospital could work in those days. In summary, it was a very good trip but very expensive and time- consuming processes before it. |
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Please give a briefing of your own observations and outcomes of the congress: : |
This congress was one of the greatest gathering of dermatologists from all over the world. European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology, is the greatest union of dermatologists of Europe and organizes an international dermatology congress annually. It was my second experience in this congress. My previous experience was 3 years ago which was hold in Istanbul, Turkey.
This was a very good experience for me to see many dermatologists (about 3000-4000) in one place. In this 5- day congress, I could participate in many scientific sessions. It was a compact review of all aspects of our field. Many sessions were running at the same time (about 10), and I had to select the topics which were more interesting for me and with more application in my daily practice. I also saw many scientists of dermatology, from United States, to European countries and Asian ones, who are very famous with many publications. I sometimes went to the front of the hall, after finishing the session, to hear the questions and answers between audiences and speakers. Most of the sessions finished with questions from the audiences, and answers from the speakers, which were useful for me.
One of the other good aspects of the congress was that I could be more familiar with new drugs that are invented in the field of dermatology, some of them not reaching the market till now, and some new-entering market drugs and new approvals. Some of them have really hard names to learn, and I liked to hear from the drugs more and more, to be more familiar with them.
I noticed that we really practice very similar to developed countries. One of the differences between these countries and us, was the research bed and equipment’s, also their systematic approach and very huge budget that they spend for research. Many companies who generate new generations of drugs, spend lots of budget for research, which are really very important for developing treatment plans for patients.
I spoke with two Sudanian dermatologists. They were in our hotel. One of them was boss of a hospital in Sudan. I also saw and spoke with two Brazilian dermatologists. They asked me about botulinum toxin injection fee in Iran. They were surprised that this procedure was about 4 fold cheaper in Iran comparing to their country. I saw a dermatologist from Greece. She said that according to her experience, the last day of the congress was very important and she never miss that day. Interestingly, the two Brazilian dermatologists, were going to a tour in Switzerland at that day, not participating the congress.
The congress fee was very expensive. Many of dermatologists were paid by the companies. I actually was offered for payment by a company, but I did not accept because I think that this could be make conflict of interest for me although I think this is very usual all over the world. It was interesting that any speaker had to declare any conflict of interest at the start of speaking.
Some plenary sessions were hold in a very large hall and many dermatologists participated in those large sessions. Before each session, they gave us some forms, for evaluation of the quality of speaking and also applicability of the topics. They asked us to tell them in the forms if we were paid by a company or by ourselves for registration in the congress. In summary, it was a good experience for me and I hope I can attend another fore-coming congresses. |