Dear GlobalSkin Members,

As 2025 draws to a close and we finish our third year of GlobalSkin’s 5-year Strategic Plan, I want to take this opportunity to say how grateful I am to be part of this incredible organization. Having the chance to meet so many of you at the 2025 GlobalSkin Conference in Prague was truly one of the most memorable moments of the year. Coming together, realizing that we are all in the same struggle to elevate ourselves and the communities that we serve, surely will create a world where people with dermatological conditions are healthy and fulfilled. 

We’ve had a fantastic year at GlobalSkin! We are delighted to share our 2025 GlobalSkin Year in Review Report - an in-depth overview of our organization's notable achievements, membership growth, advocacy work, initiatives in our thriving communities, and upcoming activities for 2026.  

Alongside the report, GlobalSkin CEO, Jennifer Austin has shared her reflections on a successful 2025 through a brief video. 

World Skin Summit, October 23-25, Cape Town – As a member of this ILDS event organizing committee, Jennifer Austin was pleased to attend this conference along with several GlobalSkin members. The Summit provided an invaluable platform to connect with leaders, advocates, and clinicians from around the world - all united by a shared goal: achieving equitable skin health for all. She co-presented with Dr. Claire Fuller in the opening plenary about the WHA Resolution on Skin Diseases and moderated a workshop focused on equitable and affordable skin health within the global NCD agenda. Ritu Jain and Toni Roberts made truly excellent plenary presentations on “Skin Patient Organizations as Partners Supporting Vulnerable Populations.”  

On November 16-17th, Jennifer Austin represented GlobalSkin at the IAPO Global Patients Congress in Manila where she and many other GlobalSkin Members from Asia-Pacific were in attendance.  Jennifer had the opportunity to present in a plenary session about the Skin Diseases Resolution and our learnings from championing such an initiative. This was an excellent opportunity to share knowledge and experience with patient leaders in other therapeutic areas who may be trying to achieve similar recognition for their patient communities. Congratulations to IAPO and Psoriasis Philippines on organizing a great event. 

GlobalSkin had an inspiring and impactful presence at the 15th Georg Rajka International Symposium on Atopic Dermatitis (ISAD 2025), held in Melbourne, October 24–26. The incredible members of our Atopic Eczema Advisory Committee (Melanie Funk, Tina Mesarič, Špela Novak, Angelika Thew, Kelly Barta, Kristin Belleson and Dana Gies), the 13 patient organizations present, and GlobalSkin Programs Director Tammi Shipowick all worked to ensure that patient voice remained central to the event. Our Skin Matters Reception, co-hosted with the Global Atopic Dermatitis Atlas, and our exhibitor booth saw meaningful dialogue flourish. The presentation of new insights on psychiatric comorbidities from the GRIDD project and patient care guidelines through two posters sparked rich conversations. Board Director Tina Mesarič and several GlobalSkin Member representatives also presented during the “Patient-Centered Care in Atopic Dermatitis (PaCeCAD)” session, bringing powerful patient perspectives to the forefront. 

GlobalSkin has contributed to several journal articles that were published this quarter.

• In collaboration with the ILDS on the Grand challenges for skin health revisited: the International League of Dermatological Societies skin disease atlases, British Dermatology Journal, October 28, 2025    

• A collaboration with the Synergist and IAPO on the Patient Movement Catalyst: Action is needed to implement World Health Assembly social participation resolution, British Medical Journal (BMJ), November 20, 2025.  

• Lead by our Atopic Eczema Community on The Patient Voice in Atopic Eczema Guidelines: How Do We Make it Standard Practice? The Patient – Patient Centered Outcomes Research, November 28, 2025 

GlobalSkin has continued to collaborate with University of Hamburg and Cardiff University on data analysis and manuscript development related to the Patient Reported Impact of Dermatological Diseases (PRIDD) measure. We are developing several articles planned for publication in 2026 on topics like measure responsiveness, mental health and other impact data coming out of the GRIDD Study.  

We were very active at conferences submitting abstracts and being selected for poster presentations most recently at ICHOM, ISPOR Europe and the Canadian Outcomes Matter Conference, held in October and November.

The World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a survey in October to gather preliminary information from Member States and relevant stakeholders on the implementation of the World Health Assembly (WHA) Resolution on Skin Diseases adopted in May 2025. GlobalSkin submitted an official response and distributed the survey to our networks ensuring that the patient perspective was heard in the responses. The WHO is now analyzing the responses received and taking the first step to develop the framework for the Global Action Plan.  

2025 marked a milestone year for the World Skin Health Coalition, driven by the dedicated collaboration of its 35 partners worldwide. Building on momentum from late 2024, Coalition partners rallied together to support the landmark Skin Diseases Resolution at the World Health Assembly (WHA). 

Coalition Partners played a vital role in mobilizing support and joining the Call to Action encouraging Member States to support the Resolution.