Deutsche Dermatologische Gesellschaft

Logo of the German Dermatological Society

The Deutsche Dermatologische Gesellschaft e.V. (DDG) (German Dermatological Society; "e.V." meaning "registered association") is a scientific specialized society for dermatology in Germany. It is a member of the AWMF, the Association of Scientific Medical Societies in Germany.

The aim is the promotion of scientific and professional concerns of dermatology, venereology and allergology and the support of specialization areas in dermatology, andrology, phlebology and lymphology, proctology, operative dermatology and dermatooncology, dermatological radiotherapy, dermatological microbiology, occupational and environmental dermatology, dermahistology as well as prevention and rehabilitation. The DDG also operates as advisor for German and international governments and authorities, public and non-public organizations, medical and scientific societies, institutions, clinics and individuals in scientific and professional quests. It was founded in 1889 in Prague and comprises nowadays almost 3,600 full and associated members. The society is based in Berlin where they operate a joint office with the BVDD, Berufsverband der Deutschen Dermatologen (Professional Association of Germany's dermatologists). In 1998 these two organizations founded the DDA, Deutsche Dermatologische Akademie (German dermatological academy) which is committed to the continued and advanced education of dermatologists.

Working groups

The DDG employs several different working groups which are dedicated to the science of specific topics and publish recommendations and guidelines. Among these working groups are the following:

• Dermatological Angiology
• Occupational and Environmental Dermatology
• Aesthetical Dermatology and Cosmetology
• Photodermatology
• Dermatological Oncology
• Pediatric Dermatology
• Dermatological Prevention
• Health Economy and Evidence-based Medicine of the DDG
• Dermatological Research
• Dermatological Histology
• Wound healing
• Dermatological Infectiology and Dermatology of the Tropics
• History of Dermatology and Venereology
• Rehabilitation in Dermatology
• Working group Pruritus Research
• Andrology
• Dermatological Diagnosis index (extensions of ICD-10 for Dermatology)
• Psychosomatic Dermatology

Cooperation

The DDG considers itself explicitly as an association of German-speaking dermatologists and therefore collaborates closely with the dermatological professional societies of Austria (ÖGDV) and Switzerland (SGDV). It is also a member of the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS), the international umbrella organization of all scientific professional societies in the field of dermatology. The DDG also is represented in the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV), the European Dermatology Forum (EDF), the European Society Dermatological Research (ESDR) and the Union of European Medical Specialists (UEMS).

Publications and work

The publication organ of the DDG is the magazine Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft^[1] (ISSN 1610-0387), published by Wiley Online Library, and the society awards different scientific prizes and grants research fellowships.

Commemorating the 70th anniversary of the death of Karl Herxheimer, who was a Jewish dermatologist from Frankfurt am Main in Nazi Germany, the society organized a Karl Herxheimer commemoration lecture on 6 December 2012 and set up a memorial stone on the Jewish graveyard in Frankfurt.

References