GlobalSkin 2025 Conference Recap

From April 24–27, 2025, GlobalSkin hosted the Champion 2025 Conference, at the Vienna House by Wyndham Diplomat in Prague, Czech Republic. The event was attended by over 200 attendees including 163 skin patient leaders from 59 countries, along with speakers, industry partners, and key stakeholders.  

Themed "Champion", the conference aimed to inspire, connect, and celebrate GlobalSkin’s community of champions. Across ten diverse plenaries, leaders in patient advocacy, dermatology, research, advocacy, and regional health systems united in amplifying the global dermatology patient voice. Regional meetings across all six WHO regions fostered locally focused collaboration, while dynamic learning sessions equipped patient leaders with the right tools to strengthen their advocacy and enhance their organizational impact. This report outlines the wide range of opportunities available at the conference for attendees to engage in meaningful dialogue, explore critical challenges facing dermatology patients and organizations, and collaborate to drive transformative change.

Ahead of the main conference, the RareDERM and Atopic Eczema Forums took place on April 24.

Designed for patient organization leaders supporting individuals with rare dermatological conditions, the RareDERM Forum focused on reviewing gaps and opportunities within the community, setting shared advocacy priorities for improved care and treatment, and exploring ways to strengthen mental health support for patients. Attended by 77 patient advocate attendees from 29 countries, the forum led to the development of a RareDERM Call to Action, which will focus on increasing access to holistic care, tackling stigma through storytelling, strengthening data systems, and building sustainable advocacy organizations. Click here to view the complete RareDERM Forum Report.

The Atopic Eczema forum, co-hosted with GAAPP, welcomed 51 patient advocate attendees from 24 countries. Through thoughtful reflection and discussions, attendees identified their organization’s advocacy goals, mapped realistic progress to 2030, and discussed how the global community—through GlobalSkin and GAAPP—can provide the tools and support needed to succeed. The forum concluded with Atopic Eczema patient leaders leaving with a five-year roadmap, concrete advocacy initiatives, and renewed momentum for policy action worldwide. 

• Champions of Ourselves, Each Other, and Our Cause featured NANÉE Emmerich, a patient advocate born with Congenital Melanocytic Naevi (CMN), who urged attendees to embrace their stories, support one another, and step boldly into their roles as champions for themselves and the patient community.

• Championing Each Other: AI’s Power to Listen, Learn, & Lift saw Jeremy Forman (Vice President, R&D AI, Data, and Analytics at Pfizer) underscore the pressing need to advance skin health globally. He discussed the transformative potential of AI in amplifying diverse voices, accelerating treatment development, and expanding access to care. Forman also highlighted Pfizer’s Accord program, which is anchored in the core principles of Listen, Learn, and Lift.

• Caring for the Mental Health Burden of Skin Disease brought together Ritu Jain (Debra Singapore), Dr. Karen Ferez (Mexican Foundation for Vitiligo and Skin Diseases), Liz Allen (United Porphyrias Association), Roselyne Mphela (Beyond Vitiligo), and Tammi Shipowick (GlobalSkin) to explore stigma, examine the psychological impact of skin diseases, share innovative initiatives, and offer strategies to support mental well-being.

• Patient Organizations Advocating for Skin served as platform for GlobalSkin members Karin Veldman (Vereniging Voor Icthyosis Netwerken), Edmund Lau (Psoriasis Association of Singapore), Dr. Ghulam Mustafa (Helping Hands Foundation Pakistan), and Kristina Venning Rose (Albinism Fellowship UK) to share their thoughts on diverse advocacy strategies, lived experiences, common misconceptions, and local success stories.

• Successful Collaborations featured Melanie Funk (Eczema Support Australia), Jacyn Lanthier (Lichen Sclerosus Support Network), Yi Li (China Chronic Skin Disease Fund), Africa Luca de Tana (AADA – Spain), and James Laban and Radido Magero (Vitiligo Society of Kenya & Royal Patches) – who shared inspiring case studies showcasing how patient organizations are driving impact in different regions across the globe through strategic partnerships. 

In addition to the highlights above, delegates were inspired by the powerful scientific insights shared by Dr. Esther Freeman (Harvard Medical School) and Prof. Ncoza Dlova (University of KwaZulu-Natal), enlightened by Stephen Redmond (BearingPoint Ireland) on how to harness AI for smarter work, galvanized to advocate for the upcoming WHA Resolution on Skin Diseases by Jennifer Austin and Visnja Zaborski-Breton (GlobalSkin) and Dr. Daniel Argaw Dagne (World Health Organization), and energized by a meaningful session featuring our industry partners on collaboration between patient advocacy organizations and industry.

Important note: Session presentations will be added to the Members-Only section of the GlobalSkin website in the first week of June 2025.

The regional meetings hosted by GlobalSkin brought together patient leaders from each of the six WHO regions, to engage in meaningful discussions around common challenges, identify regional priorities, and explore opportunities to strengthen their collective advocacy efforts for individuals living with dermatological conditions. A shared understanding that emerged from these discussions was the potential to boost regional impact through the formation of Regional Networks—whether established now or in the future—as powerful platforms for peer connection, resource sharing, and coordinated action tailored to the unique needs of each region.

The capacity-building learning sessions organized by GlobalSkin featured Neil Bertelsen (Neil Bertlesen Consulting) discussing impactful advocacy strategies; Fanny Sentenac (GAAPP) offering insights into effective digital communication; Kelly du Plessis (Rare Diseases South Africa) sharing approaches to building sustainable organizations through governance and planning; and Matt Bolz-Johnson (EURORDIS) highlighting ways to foster mentally healthy communities and improve quality of life for dermatology patients.

• A day before the conference, the One-World Reception was organized to celebrate the vibrant diversity and unity of the GlobalSkin Member community. Attendees wore traditional attire and exchanged cultural tokens, helping create a warm, inclusive space to connect, honour global roots, and celebrate the rich diversity of our global dermatology patient leader alliance.

• The Member Showcase was a vibrant exhibition space where GlobalSkin member organizations displayed literature and promotional materials highlighting their work. Delegates had the opportunity to learn about diverse initiatives, exchange ideas, and explore new opportunities for collaboration within the global dermatology community.

• The GlobalSkin Patient Leader Awards and 10-Year Anniversary Celebration was a memorable evening filled with joy, inspiration, and reflection on a decade of collective impact. Attendees embraced the festive spirit with touches of sparkle, making the event feel truly special. Members who have been with GlobalSkin since its inception shared heartfelt stories of their journeys and growth alongside the organization. At the event, GlobalSkin also celebrated the exceptional achievements of individuals and organizations that are making a meaningful difference in the lives of dermatology patients around the world. These awards honoured innovation, creativity, collaboration, advocacy, and research leadership within the global skin patient community. This year’s award recipients were: 
  
  • Innovator Award: Royal Patches, Fundapso, and the International Pemphigus & Pemphigoid Foundation
  • Collaborator Award: Melanie Funk, Marie-Claude Boiteux, Karen Veldman, and Fikre Hailekiros
  • Champion Award: Tonya Winders (GAAP)
  • Creative Expression Award: Keren Ferez
  • Catalyst Award: Warren Simangolwa (Patient and Citizen Involvement in Health)

• “Not only were the topics covered and discussions useful and interesting, but the manner in which all delegates were encouraged to participate, present and share was truly about celebrating patient leadership and empowering a community of champions.” - Tina Koukopoulou (Epidermia Greece) 

• “The conference was truly extraordinary, both at professional and human levels. Being part of the event opened up a world of knowledge and connections that will have a positive impact on our patients and their families.” - Claudia Núñez (OLD Albinos Chile)

• “I am sincerely grateful to GlobalSkin for curating such an empowering and significant event. Being surrounded by people who believe in the power of patient voices to transform healthcare continues to fill me with hope, energy, and determination.” - Edmund Lau (Psoriasis Association of Singapore)