History of the Association
The Maltese Association of Dermatology and Venereology (MADV) was founded in 1994 with Dr Joseph Pace as President and Dr Lawrence Scerri and Dr Michael Boffa as Vice-Presidents. The first Treasurer was Dr George Depasquale.
In spite of its youth, or perhaps with the vitality of youth, MADV has proved to be a great defender of patient rights, having been successful in obtaining free medication for patients with certain chronic skin problems, and reduction of import duty on sunscreen of SPF>15 to be considered medicinal products rather than cosmetics. It also strongly, and successfully, opposed the suggestion that certain persons with “self-inflicted infections” should not be offered free treatment.
The MADV has striven successfully for the formation of a specialist register to safeguard the quality of dermatological care and endorses strongly the concept of compulsory continuing medical education.
It has actively participated in awareness campaigns such as the yearly Euro-Melanoma campaign as well as engaging in Psoriasis, Eczema and Sexual health-related educational activities through its partnerships with respective associations and entities. It is represented in the UEMS Section/Board of Dermato-Venereology (UEMS-EBDV) and other international fora related to the speciality. Dr. Lawrence Scerri held the post of Treasurer of UEMS-EBDV (2014 -2024).
Dr Joseph Pace was the first Board Director from Malta of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) and was succeeded by Dr Lawrence Scerri, Dr Michael Boffa, Dr Eileen Borg and Dr. Liam Mercieca. MADV successfully hosted the first-ever EADV Spring Symposium (2004), IUSTI Europe Congress (2014) and Dowling Club Visits (1998 & 2018). Maltese doctors’ involvement in EADV remains a strong one given our size, and MADV members have held positions of Secretary-General and various committee chairmanships within EADV. Papers have been presented at EADV academic meetings and members have benefited from the various postgraduate courses run by EADV.
For many years, Dermfest has been the MADV’s annual academic event held in autumn each year. Overseas colleagues are regularly invited to participate and the meeting has gone from strength to strength. The 2018 meeting inaugurated a new session for patients’ associations with the welcome participation of the foreign invited guests.
MADV has always looked to the future with confidence and optimism despite recurrent challenges facing the speciality throughout the years, boosted by the quality of its expanding and continuously renewed membership.