History

The History and Evolution of the International Society of Dermatology


The International Society of Dermatology was founded by Dr. Aldo Castellani and Dr. Frederick Reiss in 1959. The organization was initially the "International Society of Tropical Dermatology". The Society had a particular interest in global dermatology and tropical skin diseases but also had a broad interest in all aspects of dermatology as basic sciences, venereology and public health, and in teaching dermatology in developing countries. The organizing committee of Drs. George C. Andrews, Anthony C. Cipollaro and J. Lowry Miller recruited an initial worldwide membership of 1000. Membership was open to all physicians with an interest in tropical medicine.

The first formal meeting was held on January 25, 1960 at the New York Academy of Medicine. Dr. Aldo Castellani was chosen the first President and Dr. Frederick Reiss the first Secretary General. The first paper was presented by Dr. Castellani.

The official publication of the Society was published as the quarterly journal Dermatologia Tropica . This journal was later increased to 10 issues yearly and was renamed The International Journal of Dermatology (IJD). Currently the IJD is published every month.

View the ISD History Book

IJD Editors
Vincent Derbes, M.D.
Orlando Canizares, M.D.
Raul Fleischmajer, M.D.
Lawrence C. Parish, M.D.
Lawrence Gibson, M.D.
Rokea el-Azhary, M.D., Ph.D. (current)
Lajos Kemény, Prof. Dr. (elected Editor in Chief)


The Society organizes and promotes international congresses every 5 years where participants from all parts of the world can meet and engage in the free exchange of scientific and clinical knowledge.
 

International/
World Congress

Year

Country

Congress President

First

1964

Naples , Italy

Pietro Cerutti, M.D.

Second

1969

Kyoto , Japan

Shin-ichi Matsumoto, M.D.

Third

1975

Sao Paulo , Brazil

Sebastiao A.P. Sampaio, M.D.

Fourth

1979

New Orleans , USA

Henry W. Jolly, Jr., M.D.

Fifth

1984

Mexico City , Mexico

Ramon Ruiz-Maldonado, M.D.

Sixth

1989

Rio de Janeiro , Brazil

Ubem Azuley, M.D.

Seventh

1994

New Delhi , India

Lalit Bhutani, M.D.

Eighth

1999

Cairo , Egypt

Mohammed Amer, M.D.

Ninth

2004

Beijing , China

Hong Duo-Chen, M.D.

Tenth

2009

Prague, Czech Republic

Jana Hercogova, M.D.

Eleventh

2013

New Delhi, India

Vinod Sharma, M.D.

Twelfth 2017 Buenos Aires, Argentina

Ricardo Galimberti, M.D.

In 1994 the name was changed from the World Congress to the International Congress of Dermatology. Officers and Directors are elected at the time of the Congress.

Presidents of the International Society of Dermatology

1960-1964

Aldo Castellani, M.D.

Italy

1964-1965

Alfred Marchionini M.D.

Germany

1965-1969

Jose Gay-Prieto, M.D.

Spain

1969-1974

John C. Belisario, M.D.

Australia

1974-1979

Arthur Rook, M.D.

England

1979-1984

Orlando Canizares, M.D.

USA

1984-1989

Francisco Kerdel-Vegas, M.D.

Venezuela

1989-1994

Sigfrid A. Muller, M.D.

USA

1994-1999

Terence Ryan, M.D.

England

1999-2004

Coleman Jacobson, M.D.

USA

2004-2008

Ramon Ruiz-Maldonado, M.D.        

Mexico

2009 Interim 

Sigfrid Muller, M.D.

USA

2009-2011

Torello Lotti, M.D.

Italy

2011-2013

Francisco Kerdel, M.D.

USA

2013-2017

Evangeline Handog, M.D.

Philippines

2017- 2021

George Reizner, M.D.

USA

2021- current

Nellie Konnikov, M.D.

Russia/USA

Secretary-Generals of the International Society of Dermatology

Frederick Reiss, M.D.

USA

Samuel B. Frank, M.D.

USA

Orlando Canizares, M.D.

USA

Sigfrid A. Muller, M.D.

USA

Maria Duran, M.D.

Columbia

Torello Lotti, M.D.

Italy

Evangeline Handog, M.D.

Philippines

Nellie Konnikov, M.D.

Russia/USA

Hassan Galadari, M.D.

United Arab Emirates

After the First World Congress, the Castellani-Reiss Medal and Award was established to be given at each World Congress to an outstanding contributor to the field of tropical dermatology.

Castellani-Reiss Medal Awardees

John Mitchell, M.D.

Canada

Botanical Dermatology

Jose Barba Rubio, M.D.

Mexico

Leprosy

Gunnar Lomholt, M.D.

Sweden

Medical Missionary - Africa

Francisco E. Rabello, M.D.

Brazil

Environmental Dermatology

K.C. Kandhari, M.D.

India

Tropical Dermatology Research

Henning Grossman, M.D.

Germany

Medical Missionary - Africa

Coleman Jacobson, M.D.

USA

International Dermatology

Sigfrid Muller, M.D. USA

International Education

Terence Ryan, M.D. UK

Community Dermatology

Aldo Morrone, MD

Italy Community Dermatology

The decision was made in 1974 to have regional meetings on a regular basis with the objective of extending the activities of the Society to non-tropical as well as tropical areas.

Regional Meeting Sites

In addition the International Society of Dermatology has participated in numerous meetings throughout Latin America, in all of the Pan African Congresses of Dermatology in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Egypt and at the Regional Training Center in Tanzania .

New Name

In 1984 the Society's name was changed to The International Society of Dermatology, Tropical, Geographic and Ecologic in order to better reflect the Society's global interests in all aspects of dermatology. As the only international society of dermatology, in 1999 the name was again changed to The International Society of Dermatology with 2000 members from 78 countries throughout the world.

The motto of the International Society of Dermatology is "Congregat ut Vincat Invidi Morbi Sagittas" - "Gather Together in Order to Overcome the Arrows of Hateful Disease" 

Golden Jubilee in 2009

The ISD celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2009 and ISD Archivist-Historian, Dr. Vincent Cipollaro, wrote the History of the International Society of Dermatology to celebrate its Golden Jubilee. Dr. Vincent Cipollaro provides insights into the society as only a first-hand observer can from its formation to its Golden Jubilee. The history may be viewed here.

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