Professor, Department of Surgery and School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia

Canada Research Chair in Engineered Immune Tolerance

Director, Advanced Therapeutics Manufacturing Facility

Vancouver, BC, Canada

Dr. Megan Levings is a Professor in the Department of Surgery and School of Biomedical Engineering at the University of British Columbia and BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute.

Dr. Levings started her career through summer research projects with Dr. James Price, who was studying signalling pathways in drosophila. This experience sparked her interest in genetics and she subsequently pursued graduate training with Dr. John Schrader, in the genetics program at the University of British Columbia. Here she studied cytokine receptors and signalling pathways. After obtaining her PhD in 1998, she joined Dr. Maria Grazia Roncarolo’s lab in Milan, undertaking postdoctoral training in the area of immune regulation. During this time, she conducted pioneering work to define what we now know as regulatory T cells (Tregs), and showed their potential to be isolated and expanded for use as cellular therapy to stop harmful immune responses. Dr. Levings was recruited back to UBC in 2003, joining the Department of Surgery as a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Transplantation. Her lab has continued to advance research into Tregs, most recently using gene editing to re-direct cell specificity and enhance their function. Dr. Levings is also a leader in human immunology more generally, with work to define and optimize biomarkers in autoimmunity leading to mechanistic insight into disease pathogenesis and response to therapy. Dr. Levings is currently President Elect of the Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies and has won numerous awards, including the 2020 YWCA Woman of Distinction, Science, Research & Technology, 2022 Simon Fraser University Outstanding Alumni award, 2022 UBC Faculty of Medicine Distinguished Researcher in the Basic/Foundational Science Category, and the 2025 Canadian Society for Immunology Cinader Award.

Consultant Dermatologist, Ovalia Clinic
Consultant Dermatologist, Derma Clinic
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Specialty: Dermatology

Sub-Specialty: Laser and photobiology

Category: Consultant at Ovalia clinic – Riyadh

Qualifications:  American and Canadian Board of Dermatology (certified)

 Special Certificates

• Fellowship in Laser & Photobiology from University of British Columbia (Canada)
• President of ADAM Academy (Academy of Dermatology And Aesthetic Medicine)
• Consultant at Ovalia clinics

Professor and x- chair, Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University
Secretary General, Egyptian Vitiligo Society
Cairo, Egypt

Prof Samia Esmat is a Professor of Dermatology Cairo University. She has been working in the field of Dermatology clinical aspects and research for almost 37 years. She has focused on vitiligo research especially acral vitiligo and vitiligo surgeries. Dr Esmat raised the importance of aggressive systemic intervention early in the disease onset in 2019 and how this can improve disease prognoses. She has been the Chair of the Phototherapy Committee of the Vitiligo Working Group for three years and an international board member of the GVF. She is a founding member and the Secretary General of the Egyptian Vitiligo Society with around 80 publications mainly in the fields of lasers and vitiligo.

Professor of Clinical Dermatology
Founding Director, Skin of Color & Pigmentary Disorders Program
Founding Director, Dermatology Culture and Engagement Program
Department of Dermatology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
Woodland Hills, USA

Dr. Nada Elbuluk is a board-certified dermatologist and Professor of Clinical Dermatology at the USC Keck School of Medicine, Department of Dermatology. She currently serves as the Founding Director of the USC Skin of Color and Pigmentary Disorders Program and Research Fellowship. She also serves as the Founding Director of the Dermatology Culture and Engagement Program. She is the immediate past president of the Skin of Color Society President. She is also an active member of the Women’s Dermatological Society, the Global Vitiligo Foundation, and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. 

Dr. Elbuluk’s clinical and research interests include general medical and cosmetic dermatology, skin of color conditions, pigmentary disorders and health equity. She has lectured nationally and internationally on these topics amongst others. She has received several grants to support her research, which has been published in numerous academic peer-reviewed journals and has published nearly two dozen book chapters. She is the co-author of the Taylor and Elbuluk Color Atlas and Synopsis for Skin of Color as well as a section editor for the 3rd edition of the Taylor and Kelly Skin of Color Textbook and the Review of Dermatology textbook. Dr. Elbuluk is also a recognized and respected media expert interviewed by numerous media outlets.

Founder & Director, P’erl – The Melasma Research & Treatment Institute
Founder & Director, The Vitiligo & Pigmentation Institute of Southern California
Clinical Professor of Dermatology, University of California, Los Angeles
Immediate Past President, Global Vitiligo Foundation
Founder, Camp Victory for Children with Vitiligo
Los Angeles, CA, USA

Pearl E. Grimes is a globally recognized dermatologic expert and a leading international authority on vitiligo and pigmentation disorders. As Director of the Vitiligo and Pigmentation Institute of Southern California, she treats patients from all over the world who seek her expertise and extraordinary patient care.

In her role as the director of the Grimes Institute for Medical and Aesthetic Dermatology, Dr. Grimes expertly treats a wide range of dermatologic health and aesthetic concerns in patients of all ethnicities and skin types.

She is a dedicated clinician, researcher, and speaker, lecturing globally on pigmentation disorders, cosmetic procedures such as chemical peeling, fillers, and microdermabrasion, and has received numerous awards in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field. She also serves as a Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and Chief Dermatologist for Versicolor Technologies.

Dr. Grimes is an accomplished author, having written over 100 professional articles, abstracts and two textbooks. She is an active member of many societies, including as Immediate Past-President of the Global Vitiligo Foundation.

Dermatologist, Hamzavi Dermatology/Dermatology Specialists
Senior Staff Physician, Henry Ford Health
Board Member, Global Vitiligo Foundation
Detroit, USA

Dr. Iltefat Hamzavi is a board-certified dermatologist and co-director of the investigator-initiated research unit at Henry Ford Hospital, where his work focuses on pigmentary disorders, photomedicine, and hidradenitis suppurativa. He completed his dermatology residency at Wayne State University, followed by an advanced laser and photomedicine fellowship at the University of British Columbia. He has served as founding Co-Chair of the Global Vitiligo Foundation and President of the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation. He has co-authored over 300 peer-reviewed papers garnering more than 20,000 citations, ranking him in the top 0.5% of all physicians for academic productivity, and has been honored by the American Academy of Dermatology with the John Kenney Lifetime Achievement Award.

Vice Chair of Operations, Division Head- Ford Road Medical Center
Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Health
Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University
Detroit, USA

Dr. Richard H. Huggins is a dermatologist at Henry Ford Hospital and is the Vice Chair of Operations for the Henry Ford Health dermatology department in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He underwent his undergraduate schooling at Johns Hopkins University and received his M.D. from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. He completed his dermatology residency training at Henry Ford Health, after which he became a board-certified fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. He specializes in vitiligo and has authored numerous peer-reviewed research papers and textbook chapters in addition to speaking at national and international medical conferences about the condition.  Dr. Huggins is particularly passionate about vitiligo support groups and serves as the president and medical director for the V Strong Vitiligo Support Community as well as serving on the Board of Directors and holding the position of Physician- Community Liaison for the Global Vitiligo Foundation. 

Patient Advocate
Public Speaker
Lakeland, USA

Tonja L. Johnson is a nationally recognized patient advocate, speaker, and leader in the vitiligo community, dedicated to elevating the patient voice and transforming the way the world understands visible skin conditions. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Beautifully Unblemished Vitiligo Support Group, Inc., a patient-led nonprofit organization providing education, advocacy, emotional support, and community connection for individuals and families affected by vitiligo.

Diagnosed with vitiligo in 2014, Tonja turned her personal experience into a powerful mission to reduce stigma, improve patient experiences, and create spaces where individuals feel seen, heard, and empowered. With a professional background in healthcare operations and public health, she brings a unique perspective that bridges lived experience, healthcare systems, and patient-centered solutions.

Tonja serves on the Global Vitiligo Foundation Board of Directors as Vice President for Persons with Vitiligo, representing the perspectives and needs of the global vitiligo community. She has served as a featured Patient Perspective Speaker for the American Academy of Dermatology, Florida Academy of Dermatology, AAD Innovation Academy, and World Vitiligo Day USA Conference.

Through keynote presentations, panels, and consulting engagements, Tonja inspires healthcare professionals, organizations, and communities to embrace compassionate care, meaningful collaboration, and the power of the patient voice.

Scientific Coordinator & Chair, Photodermatology and Vitiligo Treatment Center, Israelite Hospital of Rome
Light Clinic and Vitiligo Unit, Columbus Clinic Center of Milano
Rome, Italy

Giovanni Leone, MD, was born in Rome, Italy, in 1958. He obtained his medical degree from the University of Rome “La Sapienza” in 1983 and completed board certifications in Dermatology and Venereology (1986), Allergology (1989), and Tropical Medicine (1993).

He has served as Visiting Professor at the Universities of L’Aquila and Novara, Italy. From 2001 to 2020, he was Director of the Photodermatology Unit at the San Gallicano Dermatological Institute in Rome. He is currently Consultant Dermatologist, Scientific Coordinator, and Chair of the Photodermatology and Vitiligo Unit at the Israelite Hospital in Rome, as well as Director of the Vitiligo and Light Clinic at the Columbus Clinic Center in Milan.

Dr. Leone served as President of the European Society for Photodermatology (ESPD) from 2016 to 2023 and is a member of the European Task Force on Vitiligo (ETFV). He is Associate Editor of Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine. His main clinical and research interests include vitiligo, photodermatology, phototherapy, and psoriasis. He is also Academic Director and Professor at the International School of Derma.

Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, Michigan, USA
President, International League of Dermatological Societies, London, UK
Former President, American Academy of Dermatology
Detroit, USA

Henry W. Lim is the former Clarence S. Livingood chair and chairman of the Department of Dermatology (1997-2017), Henry Ford Health, Detroit, Michigan, USA.  Dr. Lim is president of the International League of Dermatological Societies, which consists of over 230 international societies from over 100 countries as members, representing over 200,000 dermatologists and dermatology professionals.  He had served as president of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), American Board of Dermatology, American Dermatological Association, American Society for Photobiology, and International Union of Photobiology.  He was bestowed an Honorary Membership of the AAD in 2020, and in March 2026, was awarded the AAD Gold Medal, the highest honor given by the AAD.  He has published more than 750 articles and edited 11 textbooks (with over 44,800 citations in Google Scholar with an h-index of 107).

Staff Physician, Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Health Systems
Clinical Assistant Professor, Dept of Medicine, Michigan State University
Detroit, USA

Tasneem F. Mohammad, MD, is a Senior Staff Physician in the Department of Dermatology at Henry Ford Health in Detroit, Michigan. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology and medical degree from the University of Toledo and completed both a dermatology residency and research fellowship in photomedicine, vitiligo, and pigmentary disorders at Henry Ford Health. 

Dr. Mohammad serves as Director of the Henry Ford Skin Discoloration Clinic and is an active staff in the Henry Ford Vitiligo Clinic, where she specializes in the diagnosis and management of vitiligo and other complex pigmentary disorders. Her clinical and research interests focus on vitiligo, phototherapy, photoprotection, pigmentary disorders, and photodermatoses. She is actively involved in clinical research aimed at improving outcomes for patients with vitiligo in addition to serving on the Global Vitiligo Foundation Communications Committee.

Professor, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology
Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER)
Chandigarh, India

Prof. Davinder Parsad, MD, is Professor of Dermatology at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India. He is an internationally recognized expert in vitiligo and pigmentary disorders, with over 200 publications in the field of vitiligo and more than 400 scientific publications overall. His research has received over 11,000 citations, with an h-index of 54. He has written more than 30 chapters on various aspects of vitiligo. Prof. Parsad has made pioneering contributions to medical and surgical management of vitiligo. He has served as President of the Asian Society for Pigment Cell Research and as a Board Director of the Global Vitiligo Foundation. He is also Associate Editor of Archives of Dermatological Research and Dermatologic Therapy. His contributions have been recognized with several prestigious honours, including the Ambady Oration of the Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL) and the IPCC Scientist Award. His major areas of interest include vitiligo, pigmentary disorders, and urticaria.

Assistant Professor, Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto
Clinician-Investigator and Staff Dermatologist, Women’s College Hospital
Co Founder, Swift Medical Inc.
Toronto, Canada

Sheila Wang, MD, PhD, FRCPC, is a dermatologist, Clinician‑Investigator, and Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the University of Toronto.  She practices as a staff dermatologist and Clinician-Investigator at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto, where her work focuses on improving access to high‑quality dermatologic care through digital health innovation.  Dr. Wang is the co‑founder of Swift Medical, a health technology company that develops AI‑driven imaging tools to objectively measure and monitor skin conditions at the point of care.  Her research program spans vitiligo, inflammatory skin disease, and skin of colour dermatology, with a particular focus on computer vision, automated disease severity scoring, and remote monitoring. 

Vice president of the European Society for Laserdermatology (ESLD)
Co-chair of the EADV Task Force for Laserdermatology
Dept Dermatology | Netherlands Institute for Pigment Disorders
Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Albert Wolkerstorfer is staff member and Principal Investigator at the Department of Dermatology and Netherlands Institute for Pigment Disorders, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (Netherlands). He earned his medical degree at the Medical Faculty University of Vienna (Austria) and received his PhD at the Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam. His academic areas of interest extend to laser dermatology and pigmented disorders. In both fields he combines clinical and translational research with clinical practice at the outpatient department of dermatology.

Professor and Vice Chair, Dept of Dermatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University
Shanghai, China

Dr. Xiang is the Executive Director of Institute of Dermatology at Fudan University and a Professor & Vice Chairman of the Department of Dermatology at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University. She graduated from Shanghai Medical University in 1992. 

She is Vice-Chair of Asian Dermatological Association (ADA 2023-2026), Vice-President of China Dermatology Association (CDA 2017-2025), President of Asian Society of Pigment Cell Research (ASPCR 2017-2020) and Board member of International Federal of Pigment Cell Society (IFPCS 2017-2020). Her areas of interest are melanocytes and pigmentary skin disorders, Acne and sebaceous gland related diseases, Medical laser and photodynamic Therapy. 

She worked on several research projects including seven grants for National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), National Key Research and Development Program, Shanghai Municipal Nature Science Foundation, etc. Her project on “The experimental study of cultured melanocytes allograft in the treatment of vitiligo” was awarded both by Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Achievement and the National Department of Health Science and Technology Achievement.