Dear GlobalSkin Members,
As 2023 ends soon, I am reflecting on how much has been accomplished this year. Our vision of creating a world where people with dermatological conditions are healthy and fulfilled, has advanced through our strategic objectives to:
- Elevate - Amplify the voice of the dermatology patient community globally.
- Champion - Ensure a strong and representative global voice for people affected by dermatological conditions.
- Unite - Change the way the world perceives dermatological conditions.
- Build a strong, inclusive, and impactful organisation
We Elevated our Members at the GlobalSkin Conference in Brussels, provided funding for 35 projects for Member organizations in 21 countries representing 13 disease areas through the 2023 Member Impact Fund, and we financially supported five patient leaders with Patient Expert Scholarships that allowed them to take part in the European Patients' Academy of Therapeutic Innovation (EUPATI) Patient Expert Training Program.
GlobalSkin Championed the patient voice at the United Nations (UN), the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Commission (EC) and at the World Congress of Dermatology (WCD).
We United our patient advocacy organisations through the Global Research on the Impact of Dermatological Diseases (GRIDD) Study, worked with World Skin Health Coalition (WSHC) and our many alliance partners in dermatology including the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) and the European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology (EADV) to bring the patient perspective to the forefront.
As your Board President, I am looking forward to all that 2024 has in store. We will continue to amplify your voices wherever you are in the world to have your conditions taken seriously, ensure strong representation through global advocacy, and help raise visibility by providing critical validation of the often-immense impact of dermatological diseases.
I would like to thank all of YOU for your engagement, participation, and support in 2023. As GlobalSkin membership continues to grow with 256 participating organisations from 70 countries representing 58 disease areas, together we are moving closer to creating a world where people with dermatological conditions are healthy and fulfilled.
On behalf of the GlobalSkin Board and staff, I would like to wish you all a happy holiday season and look forward to our collective success in the new year!
Gratefully,
Marc Yale
GlobalSkin Board President
