The History and Evolution of the
International Society of Dermatology

The International Society of Dermatology was founded by Drs. Aldo Castellani and 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, 19 60 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.

IJD Editors
Vincent Derbes, M.D.
Orlando Canizares, M.D.
Raul Fleischmajer, M.D.
Lawrence C. Parish, M.D.
Lawrence Gibson, M.D. (current)

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.
 

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

Secretary-Generals of the International Society of Dermatology

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

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 and 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, in1999 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" .