Prof. Martin Black (Past-President of the EADV) gives an overview of the history of the Academy.

The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology was founded as a non-profit association or association sans but lucratif on the 3rd October, 1987 in Luxembourg. The concept of a European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) had been discussed a few years earlier and had originated from discussions from the Dermato-Venereological Monosection of the Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes (UEMS). The original idea had been suggested by the Danish delegation to the UEMS in 1983 at one of the UEMS Monospecialist meetings. There was a growing desire to harmonise the specialist training of Dermato-Venereology within the European Community. Overall, it was felt that Dermato-Venereology was feeling outside pressures of an economic, political and professional form and that there was also great diversity in the specialist training within the European Community. The concept of the European Academy of Dermato-Venereology was put forward as a way of promoting Continuing Medical Education (CME) to all of our colleagues in the EC. The UEMS itself essentially constituted Presidents, Past-Presidents or Board Members of individual National specialist organisations within Europe, and therefore, the founding members of the EADV were made up of representatives of this small group. The founding members were:

Belgium: Drs. Michel Delune and Jean-Pierre Duesberg
Denmark: Drs. Lars A Henriksen and Hans W Rothenborg
England: Drs. J R W Harris, Michael Waugh, Imrich Sarkany and Neil Smith
France: Professor Philippe Lauret and Dr. Gérard Rousselet
Greece: Dr. Nikolas Parissis and Professor John Stratigos
Ireland: Dr. Derek Freedman
Italy: Professors Giorgio Landi and Emiliano Panconesi
Luxembourg: Dr. Josée Reiffers-Mettelock
Netherlands: Drs. Peter G Bakker and Martin J Woerdeman
Portugal: Professor Antònio Cabral de Ascensao
Spain: Professors Antonio Garcia-Perez and José Gimenez-Camarasa
and the founding President was Professor Emiliano Panconesi from Florence, Italy. The founding Vice-President was Professor Philippe Lauret (France) and the Secretary-General, Dr. Hans Rothenborg (Denmark). The Treasurer was Dr. Michel Delune (Belgium).

Following the signing of the formal statutes of the EADV on October 3rd, 1987, EADV consisted only of the 21 founding members! Subsequently, in 1989, an amendment was made, opening ordinary membership for colleagues from all over Europe who were specialists in their own National specialist society. Following the Foundation of the EADV, Professor Emiliano Panconesi resigned his position as President of the Dermato-Venererology Monosection of the UEMS to concentrate his efforts on the EADV, and offered to undertake the Organisation of the very first Congress of the EADV, which took place in Florence in September 1989. This first Congress of the EADV was an outstanding success and realised more than 1,000 participants. It was soon realised that the EADV Congresses provided an important need for CME within European Dermato-Venereology and also as a focal meeting point for all areas of Europe, to get together on a regular basis. Since then, the Congresses have gone from strength to strength and now number more than 6,000 delegates attending. It has now been possible to organise Spring Symposia to compliment the Annual Congresses of the EADV. The Spring Symposia will be offered to smaller cities and countries which may not have the full capabilities to arrange the larger congresses. The first of these Spring Symposia was held in Malta in February 2003.

EADV Presidents
Emiliano Panconesi 1987-1989
Nikolas Parissis † 1989
Philippe Lauret 1989-1990
John D Stratigos † 1990-1992
Hans W Rothenborg 1992-1994
Antònio Cabral De Ascensao † 1994-1996
Imrich Sarkany † 1996
Jean-Paul Ortonne 1996-1998
Jose Mascaro 1998-2000
Martin M Black 2000-2002
Jean-Hilaire Saurat 2002-2004
Johannes Ring 2004-2006
Alberto Giannetti 2006-2008
Andreas Katsambas as from 2008

EADV Congresses
Florence 1989
Athens 1991
Copenhagen 1993
Brussels 1995
Lisbon 1996
Dublin 1997
Nice 1998
Amsterdam 1999
Geneva 2000
Munich 2001
Prague 2002
Barcelona 2003
Florence 2004
London 2005
Rhodes 2006
Vienna 2007
Paris 2008
Berlin 2009

Main aims and Scopes of EADV
The vision of the EADV is to be the premier European Dermato-Venereology Society with the important aims of leading to improved quality patient care, continuing medical education for all Dermato-Venereologists within Europe and advocacy on behalf of the speciality and patients. The concept of membership has therefore been widened to include all areas of Europe and elsewhere, and to develop alliances and affiliations with other organisations. Therefore, the concept of sister societies has developed, allowing them to have full participation at our EADV Congresses. Close liaisons have now developed between the EADV and UEMS, ESDR and European Dermatology Forum (EDF). A major breakthrough developed when EADV purchased its own House and Office in Brussels in 2001. This House had its official Opening Ceremony on the 27th April, 2002 when more than 150 Dermato-Venereologists from all areas of Europe attended the Official Opening Ceremony, which was performed by Professor Emiliano Panconesi. The whole day was topped off with a Gala Dinner at the Concert Noble in Brussels.

Scholarships and Awards
The steady growth of the EADV has allowed us to be generous in awarding many Scholarships and Awards. The International Foundation of Dermatology has been generously funded and other travel grants have been funded to allow Dermatologists from less well developed European countries to attend, on a regular basis.

Reference
Rothenborg H W. The EADV story: How it came to be. JEADV (1992) 1: IX-XIV

Author: Martin Black
Source: Rothenborg H W. The EADV story: How it came to be. JEADV (1992) 1: IX-XIV
Date: August 2003