Awards Ceremony Gallery
The presentation of the 2017 SKINPACT Awards took place in Manila, the Philippines in November 2017; Kochi, India in January 2018; and the final awards will be presented on the Gold Coast, Australia in May 2018. See all the excitement of the ceremonies captured in the gallery below, and stay tuned for images from the Australian Awards ceremony.
Awards Ceremony Video
Watch the highlights and experience the 2017 winning projects receiving their awards in the SKINPACT Awards ceremony below.
The 2017 SKINPACT Awarded Projects
Congratulations to the 2017 SKINPACT Award recipients!
This year a substantial number of votes were cast by supporters in the worldwide dermatology community for the shortlisted projects, selected by the SKINPACT Awards 2017 Expert Panel, to determine a winning project in each category. In addition to the community awarded projects, the Expert Panel selected their top project from each category. Each of the following initiatives has been awarded a grant to realize the project:
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
Expert Panel’s Award
Water treatment to mitigate arsenic pollution in different arsenic affected villages of West Bengal
Dr. Pradip Kumar Das
Team: Dr. Suhas Bhattacharya, Dr. Sourav Dhara, Dr. Kathakali Chatterjee, Dr. S. K. Laha
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION
Expert Panel's Award
Rash Decisions: Innovation in undergraduate dermatology education using mobile technology
Dr. Gayle Fischer
Team: Dr. Saxon D. Smith & Dr. Philippa Dickison
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
Community Vote Award
Partners In Leprosy Action (PILA): a community skin health strategy as a combined approach to detecting skin-related neglected tropical diseases
Dr. Belen Lardizabal Dofitas
Team: Ana Marisa CAMBEL, Raquel REYES, Dr. Sherjan KALIM
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION
Community Vote Award
SCHISTO DERE LAKSI: A community-wide schistosomal rash education initiative for early detection in endemic Philippine province using a film and comic book
Dr. Mirla Celina Taira
Team: Sandra Sabate DALA, Dr. Rodel DELGADO, Dr. Marlyn UMIL, Rowie ROMUAR, Divina Gracia SALAS
Finalists in community leadership
Projects under this category should take a fresh and sustainable approach to improving the lives of patients with skin conditions

Derma Point: A Knowledge Park regarding skin in Health & Disease as a resource for patient management
Lead Dermatologist:
Dr. Paschal Vivek Dsouza
Project team members:
Dr. Sundeep Chowdhry, Dr. Tapan Dhali
Affiliation:
Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), Ministry of Labour, Government of India
In developing countries, especially in the government sector, where a large number of patients are seen in limited time, details regarding disease, correct way to carry out therapy, precautions to take etc. may not be disseminated properly, resulting in improper compliance and suboptimal therapeutic response. This could be interpreted as therapeutic failure leading to frequent changing of costly medications rather than addressing the primary problem. This innovative proposal to develop a dermatology knowledge park in an outpatient area, housing information about the “Do’s & Don’ts” of skincare in health and disease, will benefit the community.

Epidermolysis Bullosa – A Program for comprehensive care at Centre for Human Genetics, Bangalore
Lead Dermatologist:
Dr. Ravi Hiremagalore
Project team members:
Dr. Arun Inamadar
Affiliation:
Centre for Human Genetics, Bangalore
Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by spontaneous or trauma induced blisters. Some forms of EB are fatal while others have chronic wounds and other associated complications. In India, care of EB patients has been largely neglected due to lack of awareness. There are no specialized clinics in most parts of the country. This project aims to create a “hub and spokes” model of care using teledermatology to connect pediatricians and dermatologists with EB patients living in remote areas of the state. The focus would be on early diagnosis, patient care and education, while building awareness amongst healthcare professionals.

Let’s measure to get better! Validating Quality of Life Tools in Asian languages to improve funding for treatments and services
Lead Dermatologist:
Prof. Dedee Murrell
Project team members:
Dr. Siew Eng Choon, Prof. Kanokvalai Kulthanan
Affiliation:
Australasian Blistering Diseases Foundation (ABDF)
Autoimmune Blistering Disease (AIBD) and Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) are debilitating diseases that severely impact upon patients’ quality of life. Given that there are limited treatment options, improving the patients’ quality of life is very important. In many Asian nations, patients do not have access to government-funded vital services such as counselling, home-care nursing and dressings, etc. The aim of this project is to provide dermatologists in Asian countries with the tools to gather data on the quality of life of their patients, and then use this data to convince the appropriate decision-makers that these access schemes are necessary.

Partners In Leprosy Action (PILA): a community skin health strategy as a combined approach to detecting skin-related Neglected Tropical Diseases
Lead Dermatologist:
Dr. Belen Lardizabal Dofitas
Project team members:
Ana Marisa CAMBEL, Raquel REYES, Dr. Sherjan KALIM
Affiliation:
Philippines Leprosy Mission, Inc., Philippines
Five of the seven skin–related NTDs prioritized by the World Health Organization exist in the Philippines. This project aims to determine the effectiveness of the Partners In Leprosy Action (PILA) strategy as a combined approach to skin–related NTDs in the Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Area (GIDA) of Maguindanao. Innovative and integrated approaches to NTD control are needed in areas of armed conflict and remote communities. The PILA strategy brings together various stakeholders to develop sustainable community skin health programs. This study will explore the potential for the strategy to be implemented in other parts of the country.

Water treatment to mitigate arsenic pollution in different arsenic affected villages of West Bengal
Lead Dermatologist:
Dr. Pradip Kumar Das
Project team members:
Dr. Suhas Bhattacharya, Dr. Sourav Dhara, Dr. Kathakali Chatterjee, Dr. S. K. Laha
Affiliation:
Swasthya Bhabna Welfare Organization, India
This project aims to provide arsenic-free ‘safe’ drinking water to the villagers under seven districts of Paschimbanga in West Bengal; and purposeful mitigation of arsenicosis through community action and creating mass awareness. Rural communities will be empowered to prevent and reduce arsenic contamination in groundwater using low cost, low maintenance, and sustainable solutions. Relief from skin disease for the affected victims will be provided. Research and development will be conducted into the mitigation of arsenic pollution, and preventing/reducing further complications of arsenicosis. Overall sustained environmental development and better quality of life will be assured by the socioeconomic upliftment of the people.
Finalists in excellence in education
Projects under this category should be aimed at educating healthcare and public communities about skin health issues in a sustainable manner.

Evaluation of Knowledge Gaps in Healthcare Providers Around Severe Adverse Drug Reactions
Lead Dermatologists:
Dr. Michelle Sue Yen Goh
Project team members:
Dr. Sara De Menezes, Dr. Ar Kar Aung
Affiliation:
Alfred Adverse Drug Reactions Review Committee (AADRRC)
Cutaneous adverse drug reactions (cADRs) are conditions of high morbidity and mortality. Studies on health practitioners’ recognition of these syndromes, management and risk communication have been minimal. In addition, documentation of severe allergic drug reactions has been suboptimal, likely stemming from lack knowledge and awareness. This confers risks to patients and their understanding of medications to avoid in the future to prevent the allergy from recurring. Our study aims to firstly define the gaps in health practitioners’ knowledge around cADRs so that we can develop a targeted education program to enhance accurate assessment, reporting, risk communication and patient safety.

GREAT LOVE in West Java: Gain Rehabilitation Education in Disability Leprosy Children via e-Medicine in West Java Indonesia
Lead Dermatologists:
Dr. Hendra Gunawan
Project team members:
Prof. Endang Sutedja, Dr. Miranti Pangastuti, Dr. Erda Avriyanti
Affiliation:
Bandung Branch PERDOSKI (The Indonesian Society of Dermatology and Venereology)
It is a sad thing to see a child with irreversible nerve impairment due to leprosy. We must do our best to prevent leprosy and to prevent disability in leprosy-affected children. Nevertheless, the disabled children with leprosy in Indonesia often live in remote areas. So, Bandung Branch PERDOSKI (Bdg-BP), as an association of dermatologists, has developed a project to facilitate a long distance rehabilitation education program for healthcare communities via electronic devices (tele-medicine), especially tele-rehabilitation, that will be mediated using video streaming, social media, and a website.

Rash Decisions: Innovation in undergraduate dermatology education using mobile technology
Lead Dermatologists:
Dr. Gayle Fischer
Project team members:
Dr. Saxon D. Smith & Dr. Philippa Dickison
Affiliation:
Department of Dermatology, Royal North Shore Hospital, Australia
Dermatology is poorly taught to Australian undergraduate medical students despite the fact it represents 20% of presentations to GPs. Australian medical students receive an average of 3 lectures during their undergraduate course. This has meant that junior doctors approach skin conditions with a lack of confidence and familiarity, which in turn leads to delayed diagnosis, mismanagement and poor patient outcomes. The aim of the project is to utilise innovative technology to create a mobile application that facilitates dermatology education. The visual nature of dermatology coupled with the convenience of mobile learning will lead to increased understanding and improved patient management.

SCHISTO DERE LAKSI: A community-wide schistosomal rash education initiative for early detection in endemic Philippine province using a film and comic book
Lead Dermatologists:
Dr. Mirla Celina Taira
Project team members:
Sandra Sabate DALA, Dr. Rodel DELGADO, Dr. Marlyn UMIL, Rowie ROMUAR, Divina Gracia SALAS
Affiliation:
Dionisio Cornel Medical Center, Inc., Antipolo City, the Philippines
Schistosomiasis control has been unsuccessful in Eastern Samar, the Philippines where this Neglected Tropical Disease continues to be endemic. Ongoing government programs are treatmentaimed, lacking towards prevention and total eradication. This project will teach the whole community: healthcare professionals, teachers, parents, and school children, of the early recognition of Schistosomiasis, leading to early management. The aim of the project is avoidance of chronic morbidity and latestage sequelae of Schistosomiasis, prevalent in three rural towns of the province. A film and a comic book, because of their mass appeal, shall be used in workshops to educate the community.

Specialist facilitated skin cancer education for rural Australian health professionals using case based / clinicopathology teaching and web based methods
Lead Dermatologists:
Dr. Benjamin Carew
Project team members:
Dr. Matthew Peters, Dr. Jim Muir, Dr. Paul Komarowski, Dr. Dan Kennedy, Dr. Brian De’Ambrosis
Affiliation:
Australian Skin Cancer Academy
The Australian Skin Cancer Academy (ASCA) is proposing to deliver Web based interactive CPD accredited Clinicopathology meetings to skin cancer professionals in rural areas. These interactive sessions will be facilitated by a Dermatologist, with Plastic Surgeon and Dermatopathologist input.
ASCA was established in 2016 by a group of Specialist Dermatologists, Plastic Surgeons and a Skin Cancer General Practitioner. The aim of the group is to deliver specialist-led training to practitioners in the field of skin cancer. In 2016/2017 ASCA has partnered with the Australian College of Dermatologists, Healthworkforce Qld and Sullivan and Nicollades to deliver teaching programs.
Expert Panel
Meet the distinguished members of the 2017 SKINPACT Awards Expert Panel, who meticulously reviewed and evaluated all project submissions to determine the finalists and ultimately the Expert Panel Award winning projects.

Jie ZHENG (China)
Professor, China Society of Dermatology

Sandipan DHAR (India)
Professor & Head, Department of Pediatric Dermatology, Kolkata

INNE DIANA ARLINE (Indonesia)
Doctor, Department of Dermatology – Venereology, Padjadjaran University Bandung

Maria Jasmin JAMORA (Philippines)
Program Director of the Skin and Cancer Foundation Inc (Manila)

Haur Yueh LEE (Singapore)
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Singapore General Hospital

Peter FOLEY (Australia)
Associate Professor, Australian College of Dermatologists

Mi-Woo LEE (South Korea)
Professor in Dermatology, UUCM AMC, Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center, College of Medicine University of Ulsan, Seoul, Korea

Chung-Hong HU (Taiwan)
Professor, Taipei Medical University

Nopadon NOPPAKUN (Thailand)
Associate Professor, Division of Dermatology, Department of Internal Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital