Last September, a co-resident and I had the opportunity to attend the annual congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology (EADV) in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. With over 17,300 attendees from over 50+ countries and a substantial contingent of “delegates” from Europe, Asia, and Africa, this was a truly diverse experience that showcased the best of dermatology from around the world. I would strongly recommend this to anyone who is contemplating a trip across the pond – it is worth the journey!
Cutting-Edge Research and Diversity of Opinion
The EADV congress’ scientific program is divided into two ninety-minute sessions in the morning and two in the afternoon. The meeting places a strong emphasis on the latest research and practice pearls across medical, surgical, aesthetic dermatology, and dermatopathology. I found it noteworthy that there were six sessions for late-breaking news, with some notable presentations including topical ruxolitinib for lichen planus, efficacy of topical delgocitinib (a JAK inhibitor approved in Europe) in atopic hand eczema compared with dupilumab, and using AI to identify early indicators of generalized pustular psoriasis. Another highlight is the eight sessions on controversies in dermatology, focusing on hot topics such as diet/probiotics in acne, teledermatology replacing in-person visits, pros and cons of total body photography and confocal microscopy for diagnosing skin cancers, non-surgical treatments for lentigo maligna, and whether cardiometabolic comorbidities are a true manifestation of atopic dermatitis.
A European Adventure
As with the AAD annual meeting, the EADV congress rotates between major cities across Europe each year. Locations in the last few years include Berlin, Madrid, Vienna, Copenhagen, and Istanbul. The RAI Amsterdam convention center in the heart of the city was a short walk (or bike ride) along the canals to many of the city’s parks, restaurants, and outstanding museums.
All meeting sessions can be streamed remotely, and in true European style there is a 2½ hour-long break between AM and PM sessions, so there is ample to time explore!
Scholarship Opportunities
Traveling to Europe is no easy feat! Fortunately, there are scholarships that can make this a feasible option even on a resident salary. The EADV’s Imrich Sarkany non-European Memorial Scholarship provides a €1,000 stipend, year-long academy membership, and free registration to attend the meeting. (Note: you can only receive one EADV scholarship in your lifetime, so choose your year of attendance wisely!) EADV members or those who submit abstracts are eligible for a Healthcare Provider (HCP) scholarship that offsets the cost of meeting registration. The AAD provides up to 3 international society travel grants for the EADV congress each year, with a $750 stipend, accommodations, and meeting registration.
There’s More than One EADV Meeting!
Finding it hard to fit September into your schedule? Good news – there is also a 3-day Spring symposium each year! While smaller than the annual congress, the EADV Symposium includes sessions on inflammatory dermatology and cutaneous oncology, interactive sessions on hair and nail disorders, aesthetics, and clinical-pathologic correlation. The list of upcoming events includes:
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- 2025 Symposium (Prague), May 22-24
- 2025 Congress (Paris), September 17-20
- 2026 Symposium (TBD), May 7-9
- 2026 Congress (Vienna), September 30-October 3
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