TELEDERM 2008 -
2nd World Congress of TeleDermatology
&1st National Conference of the Indian Society of TeleDermatology (INSTED)

IMPORTANT NOTICE
Visa
All overseas visitors will require a visa to visit India. The information may be obtained from Indian missions abroad. One should possess a valid national passport except in the case of Nepalese and Bhutanese nationals, who may carry suitable means of identification. Visitors are generally required to make an identification of their baggage and declaration of foreign currency in their possession.
Letter of Invitation
Invitation letters are available at DOWNLOAD CENTRE..However, this letter does not imply any financial support towards expenses for attending the conference, such as registration, travel and hotel accommodation or other expenses.
HOTELS: http://www.wctd2008.com/tours.htm



WELCOME ANNOUNCEMENT

From The President of International Society of Teledermatology (ISTD).
H. Peter Soyer, MD, FACD
President International Society of Teledermatology
The University of Queensland
Brisbane, Australia
p.soyer@uq.edu.au

In my role and function as president of the International Society of Teledermatology it is my responsibility and my pleasure to write a few words about the scientific and educational event focusing on the virtual aspects of Dermatology held in Chennai in October 2008. In the spirit of an International Medical Society Chennai, situated in the heart of the Indian Continent, is probably one of the best places of the world were such a congress can be organized and in this context the enthusiasm and passion of the organisation team lead by Jayakar Thomas and by Parimalam Kumar has to be specially mentioned. The International Society of Teledermatology is happy and fortunate to be hosted by the Indian Society of Teledermatology and at this stage I like to express my gratitude and my appreciation to our Indian colleagues for undertaking the major effort to organize the WCTD in Chennai in 2008.

The inherently visual nature of dermatology makes our discipline easily applicable to virtual medicine. And it is suffice to say that teledermatology holds great potential for revolutionizing the delivery of dermatologic services. In addition, teledermatology provides a well-defined channel for interaction with experts as is the case on the interactive discussion forum provided and promoted by the International Society of Teledermatology at www.telederm.org . There are still a few challenges to meet. Building a connected world in dermatology is dealing with the mission-critical nature of healthcare transactions, the lack of data standardisation, and concerns over security and privacy of healthcare information. Solutions need to scale to the potential of millions of simultaneous users, they must be available without fail, 24 hours a day and they must respond quickly to the demands of fast-moving professionals. The programme of the Second World Congress of Dermatology will make an attempt to mirror these challenges.

I am looking forward to welcome you together with our Indian friends and colleagues in Chennai and I do hope that the WCTD will be for all of us a remarkable event, both professionally and emotionally

From The President of Indian Society of Teledermatology (INSTED).
Jayakar Thomas MD,PhD
Indian Society of Teledermatology (INSTED)
Chennai
India
jayakarthomas@gmail.com

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

Greetings from the Indian Society of Teledermatology (INSTED) Website : http://www.insted.in and the organizers of TELEDERM 2008.

It is our great pleasure to welcome you to Chennai, India for the 2nd World Congress of Teledermatology (WCTD) from 16th to 18th October 2008 at the Taj Coromandel.

“Healthy present and healthier future” - the theme of our Congress should be a reminder of the fact that many of the present achievements of our specialty are based on the regulation of diverse elements into an integrated and harmonious operation and the exchange of knowledge at global level. For our future growth we need to intensify this association for common benefit.

This Congress will provide excellent opportunities to update you with all important diagnostic and therapeutic developments in Dermatology and Venereology. It will feature plenary lectures, videoconferencing, interactive key pad sessions, and free presentations on topics of high priorities. The sessions will be handled by experts who are on the cutting edge of their respective fields.

Chennai, located in the southern part of India, gives you its very own warm welcome. In the leisure time between and after the scientific programme of the Congress you will have ample opportunity to explore the city and its surroundings deciding for yourself, which part of this beautiful cosmopolitan city you like most with its plentiful museums, galleries, theatres, beach resorts, recreation parlours, and pubs. A 10 to 30 minutes ride will take you from the Congress venue directly into the city centre where most of the cultural and gastronomic “hotspots” are within walking distance.

The Local Organizing Committee and the scientific chairs are working hard over the past months to make this 2nd WCTD the most memorable scientific event for you. Chennai will contribute its charm and beauty to also make your stay an exceptional social and cultural experience.

We are also awaiting you to discover Chennai’s wonders: stroll along its streets, shop in the famous districts, try its unforgettable “cuisine” and enjoy the delights of its ancient and modern art. We hope that this Congress will offer you the scientific and cultural enrichment you are looking for.

We specially thank Dr.Peter Soyer , President, and his entire team of the Executive Board of the International Society of Teledermatology for giving us this wonderful opportunity to host the 2nd WCTD.

Please do remember that you are entering the country which still prides one of the wonders of the world today!