Development of The Asian　College of Veterinary Dermatology (AICVD)

In 2002, the 1st Asian Veterinary Dermatology Meeting (AVDM) was held in Taipei, and the development of veterinary dermatology in Asia had prompted the formation in 2003 in Seoul, of the Asian Society of Veterinary Dermatology (AISVD) during the 2nd AVDM. The AISVD board began to explore the potential for formation of an Asian College of Veterinary Dermatology (AICVD), using the model developed for the creation of the European College of Veterinary Dermatology (ECVD). In 2004, the AISVD board invited Prof. Peter Ihrke, Prof. David Lloyd, Prof. Danny Scott, and Prof. Ton Willemse to act as ‘grandfathers’ in the selection of founding members of the AICVD. Members of the AISVD were invited to submit curriculum vitae and, under the chairmanship of Prof. David Lloyd, the ‘grandfathers’ evaluated these using a pattern of selection criteria similar to those used for the formation of the ECVD in 1992. In August 2005, a selection of three founding members of the AICVD was made and those selected were Prof. Toshiroh Iwasaki (Japan), Dr. Charles Chen (Taiwan) and Dr. Masahiko Nagata (Japan). In June 2008, nine ‘de facto’ specialists who will form the initial body of the AICVD were appointed with their agreement to fulfill the selection criteria. This will be announced at the 6th World Congress of Veterinary Dermatology in Hong Kong in November 2008.
(Reference: D. H. Lloyd Vet Dermatol 2006: 17; 93)

The primary objectives of the College are similar to those of the ECVD and ACVD: to advance veterinary dermatology in Asia and increase the competence of those who practice in this field by:

●Establishing guidelines for post-graduate education and experience prerequisite to certification in the specialty of veterinary dermatology.
●Examining and certifying veterinarians as specialists in veterinary dermatology to serve the public by providing expert care for animals with dermatologic disease.
●Encouraging research and other contributions to knowledge relating to pathogenesis, diagnosis, therapy, prevention, and control of diseases directly or indirectly affecting the skin of all animals, and promoting communications and dissemination of this knowledge.

Appointed de facto specialists Dr. Cheol-Yong HWANG Korea
Prof. Degui Lin P. R. China
Dr. Nobuo MURAYAMA Japan
Dr. Koji NISHIFUJI Japan
Dr. Tae-Ho OH Korea

Board and Committees of the AICVD Prof. Toshiroh IWASAKI (President) Japan
Dr. Charles CHEN (Vice president) Taiwan
Dr. Masahiko NAGATA (Secretary and Treasurer) Japan

Near future activities The 5th Asian Veterinary Dermatology Meeting
Taipei, Taiwan
11-13 December 2009

Website: To be decided soon.

Explanation of photo
Masahiko Nagata, Toshiroh Iwasaki, and Charles Chen (left to right) at the 3rd Asian Dermatology Meeting, Tokyo, October 2005.

Development of veterinary dermatology in Asia　and formation of the Asian College of Veterinary　Dermatology

Veterinary dermatology is increasingly becoming a worldwide discipline with active involvement and sharing of knowledge and experience across many countries of the world. This international component was made clear by the very wide range of representation at the 5th World Congress of Veterinary Dermatology held in Vienna in 2004. Delegates from 55 different countries attended, including 10 Asian states. Asian colleagues formed 8% of the delegates and made powerful contributions to the scientific and clinical presentations at the Congress. This growing Asian dimension in veterinary dermatology bodes well for the success of the forthcoming 6th World Congress to be held in Hong Kong in November 2008. The development of veterinary dermatology in Asia had already prompted the formation in November 2002 in Seoul, South Korea, of the Asian Society of Veterinary Dermatology (AISVD) during the 2nd Asian Veterinary Dermatology Meeting. The first executive committee was elected and was composed of Dr Munetsugu Ogata, president, Drs Young-Hwa Youn and Charles Chen as vice presidents, Dr Toshiroh Iwasaki, secretary, and Dr Masahiko Nagata, treasurer. Under the leadership of the President, Dr Ogata, the AISVD board began to explore the potential for formation of an Asian College of Veterinary Dermatology (AICVD), using the model developed for the creation of the European College of Veterinary Dermatology. In 2004, the AISVD board invited Dr Peter Ihrke, Dr David Lloyd, Dr Danny Scott, and Dr Ton Willemse to act as grandfathers in the selection of founding members of the AICVD. Members of the AISVD were invited to submit curriculum vitae if they wished to become founding members and, under the chairmanship of David Lloyd, the grandfathers evaluated these using a pattern of selection criteria similar to those used for the formation of the European College of Veterinary Dermatology in 1992. In August 2005, a selection of three founding members of the AICVD was made and this was announced to the AISVD at the 3rd Asian Dermatology meeting in Tokyo in October 2005. Those selected were Dr Toshiroh Iwasaki,Dr Charles Chen and Dr Masahiko Nagata. They have elected Dr Iwasaki as the first president of this new college. It is a pleasure to welcome this exciting new college to the world of veterinary dermatology.

D. H. Lloyd　February 2006

Veterinary Dermatology to publish Advances in
Veterinary Dermatology 6

The 6th World Congress of Veterinary Dermatology will be held in Hong Kong in 2008. The Editors and Board of Veterinary Dermatology are delighted that the Boards of the World Congress and the World Congress of Veterinary Dermatology Association have agreed that the proceedings will be published in the Journal. This is to the mutual benefit of both parties. It will ensure some excellent reviews and cutting-edge research papers for the journal and also ensure that the papers are published in a journal with a good, and increasing, impact factor.

JOURNAL PRINTING MOVES TO SINGAPORE

With this issue, journal printing moves to Singapore. The relocation is an opportunity to take advantage of technological advances to improve the paper and typefaces.

© 2006 The Authors. Journal compilation © 22006 European Society of Veterinary Dermatology. 17:93-94