Dear Members and Stakeholders,
As an organization focussed on the well-being and health of dermatology patients globally, the International Alliance of Dermatology Patient Organizations (GlobalSkin) has a responsibility to safeguard the health and safety of our member organization leaders, dermatology patients, Board Directors, employees, and other key stakeholders.
In view of COVID-19’s worldwide impacts, the GlobalSkin Board of Directors has approved a new travel guideline, which took effect March 10, 2020. It states that IADPO will cease non-essential travel until such time as COVID-19 is no longer considered a global public health risk. Essential travel is defined as a meeting/event that can only be completed by physically being present and doesn’t create an unacceptable health hazard.
Impacts of this decision include:
- Cancellation of Board and staff participation in conferences this spring including the American Academy of Dermatology Annual General Meeting (event formally cancelled); International Alliance of Patient Organizations’ Global Patient Conference (event formally postponed); the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology’s Spring Symposium; and the World Health Assembly.
- GRIDD Workshops being planned with patients in order to gather qualitative data are now shifting from in-person workshops to video interviews with our researchers.
- Our Atopic Eczema Workshop in Dublin, which was scheduled to take place in June is being moved to September.
As a global organization, we are fortunate to already have in place technology that allows us to connect with our members and stakeholders remotely so this temporary change in travel policy will not impact GlobalSkin’s overall ability to carry out its mission and deliver on its strategic plan.
We wish you and your family good health during this time of global uncertainty.
Warm regards,
Simmie Smith, Board President
Christine Janus, CEO