The ISF’s David McMahon has been elected to the Board of the International Alliance of Dermatology Patient Organisations (IADPO), of which the ISF is a founding member.
IADPO was founded on the three pillars of research, advocacy and support in Copenhagen, Denmark in October 2015, with the release of the Vancouver Resolution.
The delegates of the first International Dermatology Patient Organization Conference (IDPOC 2015), held in Vancouver, Canada, in June 2015, together with the World Congress of Dermatology (WCD2015) agreed to form an organization to serve as a global voice for all people living with dermatological conditions and skin traumas.
David McMahon said he was delighted to be elected for one of the European delegate positions and expressed a hope to provide a dermatology-wide patient viewpoint on the IADPO board. IADPO represents people who suffer from one or a number of 3,000 different skin conditions that can afflict any of us. We work with communities of skin patients to get their voices heard by all involved in healthcare. The ISF is also a dermatology-wide organisation with a common mission to support people with all skin diseases.
IADPO owes a great deal to the Canadian Skin Patient Alliance (CSPA), which offered service beyond Canada’s borders when it became clear that the WCD2015 would be held in Canada. The International Dermatology Patient Organization Conference (IDPOC2015) was the brainchild of Christine Janus (then CEO of the CSPA) to bring together leaders of dermatology patient organizations from around the world.
The organisations focuses on promoting skin patient-centred research, advocacy and support. We do this by being the global voice for people who suffer from any skin disease, and by being the focal point for skin patients’ organizations around the world.
Following both focus group research with international dermatology patient non-profit leaders prior to IDPOC2015 and discussions held within the conference, the direction was clear: 125 leadership delegates from 23 countries and over 60 organizations were keen to form an international alliance that would allow the good work of the conference to continue.
IADPO is a unique global alliance, we are committed to improving the lives of all patients worldwide. We nurture relationships with members, partners and all involved in healthcare, building dialogue with decision-makers around the globe to promote patient-centred healthcare. IADPO itself is based in Canada, but it’s board members and their voice, impact and sphere of influence is global.
