Dear Colleagues,

When I received the request to serve ESDR as its 2020/21 president I was very proud that I would fulfil this position as the first president from the Central-Eastern region of Europe. Back in 2018 I had no clue that I would also be the very first fully online president of ESDR during a year when we did not have the possibility to meet in person for any of our long-established events. The COVID-19 pandemic totally disrupted 2021 and I am afraid we still do not see its end…

However, I am very proud that our Society could overcome the problem of not being able to meet in person and could organize newly initiated events – ESDR Kitchen – and could continue with events running for decades – the Anniversary Annual Meeting, FLA and Leadership Mentoring etc – with great success. Hereby I would like to say thanks to all of our colleagues who contributed to the organization of these 2021 online events and to all of our enthusiastic ESDR members who joined them.

I wish all of you a very happy end-of-the-year festive season and hope that in 2022 we will be able to see each other in Amsterdam.

Dear Colleagues,

I assume that following the trauma of the first waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, the outstanding scientific advances leading to the development of protective vaccines came as a reassuring sign, and yet we have to deal with an ongoing crisis.

During this year, the success of the 50th ESDR meeting, which happened digitally, as did the 10th anniversary Future Leaders Academy, both resonated as more than symbols: together with other initiatives, they prove our ability to cope with this new reality with agility, keeping our common passion for innovation and progress unaltered. As your 52nd President, I wish to celebrate all skin scientists and dermatological researchers who, in times of tension, were working around the clock with resilience, motivation and creativity. Together with the ESDR Board and the Office staff, we will continue to support skin science in all its dimensions, while promoting further gender, geographic and cultural diversity and inclusivity.

In 2022, I eagerly look forward to welcoming you for the 51st ESDR annual meeting in Amsterdam, where everything started. In the meantime, I wish you and your close ones a healthy and happy Holiday Season and New Year.