Pioneers in Dermatology and Venereology: An Interview with Professor An Goossens.

Abstract

Following my education as a pharmacist at KU Leuven, I obtained a ‘Certificate of Cosmetopharmacy at Nantes University’ (France), which included a course in Dermatology given by very inspiring teachers H. Barrière and P. Litoux. Back in Belgium, I spent 4 months in the department of Dermatology in Leuven with Prof. H. Degreef, after which I had the opportunity to spend 9 months in Prof. A.A. Fisher's office in NY to specialize in contact allergy. Prof. A.A. Fisher from New York University and Professor S. Fregert from Lund University, Sweden. Professors A.A. Fisher and H. Degreef. Dooms-Goossens A et al. Computer-assisted monitoring of contact dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 1980; 6: 123–7. Dooms-Goossens A et al. Contact dermatitis caused by airborne agents. A review and case reports. J Am Acad. Dermatol. 1986; 15: 1–10. Coopman S, Degreef H, Dooms-Goossens A. Identification of cross-reaction patterns in allergic contact dermatitis from topical corticosteroids. Br J Dermatol 1989; 121: 27–34. Lepoittevin JP, Drieghe J, Dooms-Goossens A. Studies in patients with corticosteroid contact allergy. Understanding cross-reactivity among different steroids. Arch Dermatol. 1995; 131: 31–7. Gilissen L, Goossens A. Frequency and trends of contact allergy to and iatrogenic contact dermatitis caused by topical drugs over a 25-year period; Contact allergy to Contact Dermatitis 2016; 75: 290–302. President of the European Society of Contact Dermatitis (ESCD) 2010–2012, of the European Environmental Contact Dermatitis Research Group (EECDRG) 1999–2002, and the Belgian Contact Dermatitis Group (BCEDG) 1993–1996, and 2004–2007. Being a pharmacist working as a scientific researcher and head of the Contact-allergy unit at the University dermatological department KU Leuven, having trained hundreds of dermatological residents in contact allergy, both nationally and internationally. None. Meeting so many kind colleagues and friends worldwide sharing the same interest. A.A. Fisher. Arts, music, learning languages, sports and cooking. All the good ones… Far too much interest in cosmetic dermatology, hence, shortage of interest in dermatological diseases, including contact dermatitis. Further research in biologics. Be involved with the patients! *Note: The Pioneers in Dermatology and Venereology interview was conceived and conducted by Johannes Ring. None Declared. The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.