“Excellence and Leadership in Dermatology and Medicine”

On November 6–7, 2025, the 20th Congress of the Baltic Association of Dermatovenerologists (BADV) took place at the “Islande” Hotel Conference Center in Riga. The event gathered well-known professionals from the field — physicians, professors, as well as students and residents. The congress was held in person, but thanks to the main Gold Sponsor AS “Grindeks” and Silver Sponsor “Sanofi,” participants also had the opportunity to follow the event remotely, free of charge, via the Zoom platform.

In total, more than 30 lecturers from 13 different countries (the USA, Germany, Austria, Taiwan, Italy, the Netherlands, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Romania, Slovenia, Switzerland, and Poland) delivered presentations.
The congress program consisted of more than 40 lectures. The main topics covered included cosmetic dermatology, dermato-oncology, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV/AIDS.

During the opening ceremony, welcome addresses were given by BADV President, Professor Andris Rubins; Member of the 14th Parliament of the Republic of Latvia and Chair of the Subcommittee on Public Health of the Social and Labor Affairs Committee, Dr. Līga Kozlovska; President of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Professor Ivars Kalviņš; Chairman of the Supervisory Board of AS “Grindeks,” Kirovs Lipmans; Member of the Seimas (Parliament) of the Republic of Lithuania, Vice-Chair of the Health, Welfare and Family Committee of the Baltic Assembly, Professor Saulius Čaplinskas; and Head of the Department of Dermatology at Kaunas University, Professor Skaidra Valiukevičienė, who will serve as President of the next BADV Congress (to be held on November 5–6, 2026, in Kaunas).

The opening lecture, titled “Synchronous teledermatology consultations for people in countryside and outlying islands in Taiwan: six years of weekly services,” was delivered by Professor Chih Hung-Lee from Taiwan, who had also been a lecturer at previous BADV congresses. Meanwhile, Saulius Čaplinskas — who has repeatedly participated in and organized BADV congresses in Vilnius — addressed issues of HIV/AIDS and migration in the Baltic region and Europe.

At the conclusion of the congress, Professors Chih Hung-Lee (Taiwan) and Saulius Čaplinskas (Lithuania) were awarded BADV Honorary Membership Diplomas. Six young doctors and residents — Sabīne Kristone and Diāna Druse (Latvia), Evelina Malukaite and Saule Jaskovikaite (Lithuania), Madison Downs (USA), and Marko Kozelj (Slovenia) — received awards for the best presentations among young physicians. They were presented with prizes sponsored by BADV, “Bioderma,” and AS “Grindeks.”

In total, 353 participants took part in the congress. Of these, 270 registered to attended in person, while 83 joined the live broadcast via the Zoom platform. On-site participants also had the opportunity to visit 12 exhibition stands by various companies and familiarize themselves with their latest products and equipment.
The Baltic Association of Dermatovenerologists extends its gratitude to all lecturers for their contribution to the scientific program, to the congress participants for their engagement, and to the main supporters: Gold Sponsor AS “Grindeks” and its Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Kirovs Lipmans; Silver Sponsor “Sanofi”; Bronze Sponsors “Sandoz” and “AbbVie”; as well as all other supporters of the congress and the “Islande” Hotel for hosting and supporting the event.

Information prepared by Professor Andris Rubins, President of the BADV and 20th BADV Congress (arubins@apollo.lv)

Congress participants during a lecture on November 6, 2025

After the opening lecture by Professor Chih Hung-Lee from Taiwan on November 6, 2025

BADV President, Prof. Andris Rubins presents the BADV Honorary Member Diploma to Professor Chih Hung-Lee of Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan

Leading dermatovenerology professors of the Baltic States.
From left: Prof. Andris Rubins (Latvia), Prof. Skaidra Valiukevičienė (Lithuania), Kulli Kingo (Estonia), Prof. Silvestrs Rubins (Latvia).

After the Young Doctors’ and Residents’ Symposium on November 7, 2025