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.
On behalf of our organization, Katie Allen (Canada) and Magdaléna Kohutová (Slovakia) were present.
Member-Led Sessions
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.
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:
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- 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).
