Society for Investigative Dermatology (SID) Annual Meeting – May 18-22, 2022
Hello ITSAN community! We have so much great news to share about the SID meeting this year. Here are some highlights from the trip showing ITSAN in action!
What is the Society for Investigative Dermatology (SID)?
According to their website, “The SID mission is to advance the sciences relevant to skin disease through education, advocacy and scholarly exchange of scientific information.”
This conference kept the focus squarely on research – of all kinds, even in obscure fields. It was different from other conferences in that there was not an exhibit hall full of products, but instead, row upon row of new and breaking research. The doctors at this conference were very open and interested in new information. They were there to learn from each other.
Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon, USA – view from the hotel. Not a long walk at all!
ITSAN President Kathryn Tullos about to enter the Exhibit Hall at the SID Annual Meeting – May 2022
Poster Presentation in the Oregon Convention Center Exhibit Hall
You may remember that in late 2020/early 2021, ITSAN partnered with Allergy Asthma Network (AAN) to conduct a survey about steroid exposure in patients with Atopic Dermatitis. Some of the results of this survey were used to create a poster for possible publication and presentation at the SID annual meeting. It was such great news when we applied and our poster was accepted – onward to present!
Poster presented at the SID meeting – collaboration with Kathryn Z Tullos, RN – President of International Topical Steroid Awareness Network (ITSAN), Kelly Barta – ITSAN Board member and Executive Director of Coalition of Skin Diseases (CSD) , Tonya Winders – President of Asthma Allergy Network (AAN) , and Dr. Peter Lio of the Chicago Integrative Eczema Center.
The day of the presentation, the exhibit hall was buzzing with conversation. Doctors, industry leaders, and researchers walked up and down the aisles of posters to listen, ask questions and learn from presenters during the two hour event. Kathryn Tullos of ITSAN related, “It was really cool to be in this room full of the doctors who were interested, engaged, wanting to learn and trying to figure out all of the different angles to solve the problem with you. There was no push back, just interest and curiosity. They asked great questions and offered insights that showed they were really listening and wanted to make connections to information that might help.”
Left: ITSAN President Kathryn Tullos during poster presentation, presenting and being presented to. Photo Credit: SID meeting 2022 photo gallery.
Inside the Exhibit hall. A look at all of the poster presentations and presenters. Photo Credit: SID meeting 2022 photo gallery.
Left: ITSAN President Kathryn Tullos during poster presentation, presenting and being presented to. Photo Credit: SID meeting 2022 photo gallery.
Selfie in the Exhibit Hall after the second day of poster presentations – about to take the poster down and fly home.
We are now published!
ITSAN recently discovered that the supplement issue of the Journal of Investigative Dermatology (JID) published the abstract of our poster! You can read the full text here. Now two of our ITSAN board members – Kathryn Tullos and Kelly Barta – are published authors on the subject of cumulative steroid load and TSW Syndrome! It is a complete full circle moment to finally be recognized as experts – and actively conducting and publishing research. ITSAN is so grateful for the collaboration of Tonya Winders and Dr. Peter Lio who made this happen.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology (JID) “publishes high impact peer-reviewed reports describing original research on all aspects of Cutaneous Biology and Skin Disease.”
Link to abstract in JID here.
Link to above PDF found here.
ITSAN Information Booth
Adjacent to the exhibit hall, patient advocacy groups were invited to set up booths to share information about their work with any doctor or researcher passing by. Kathryn Tullos was able to hand out brochures and business cards from the ITSAN booth, while networking with other conference attendees over the 4 days she was in attendance.
ITSAN’s brochures and business cards on our table top, next to the entrance to Exhibit Hall. Prime real estate!
Other patient advocacy groups sharing the space: PeDRA, National Eczema Association, National Psoriasis Foundation, and Pachyonychia Congenita (PC) Project
Educational offerings at the SID meeting
Another great opportunity we are able to take advantage of by attending conferences is that patient group reps are able to attend scientific presentations, classes, and plenary sessions. To get an idea of the types of classes we had access to, check out the class schedule here.
For instance, this class was a must:
When we get an inside view of what is happening in the medical world, we know even better what we can advocate for – what’s possible. Knowledge is power.
Parting is such sweet sorrow…
At the end of the conference, it was time to say goodbye. It was such an important opportunity to present on the same level as experts in their fields. It was incredibly validating and felt like such an important step forward. The cherry on top was the opportunity to be published as a result of the poster being accepted and presented at the conference. What a positive and hopeful outcome! It was hard to leave such beautiful minds – and such gorgeous scenery and weather.
Goodbye beautiful Oregon!
Goodbye fabulous Tillamook cheese!
Goodbye amazing weather!
If you have any questions or comments about this event, reach out to info@itsan.org
We love to hear from you! Thank you for your support in allowing us to work for this community and move our mission forward! ITSAN had to pay 100% of the travel and lodging to attend and present at this event. Please consider donating here to support this and other attendance at similar conferences in the future. Thank you!
