introduction

On behalf of the Queensland Skin and Cancer Foundation I would like to extend an invitation to you to attend the inaugural Dermoscopy by the Beach meeting on the beautiful Gold Coast of Queensland. Professor Peter Soyer is the inspiration behind this meeting and he has put together a very interesting program with an excellent array of expert overseas and local speakers.

I feel certain that this will be an extremely valuable learning experience in this very important area of dermatology and also a very enjoyable mini holiday to the Gold Coast.

John Auld
Chairman
Queensland Skin and Cancer Foundation

The Sunshine State of Queensland and the city of Brisbane are known as the Melanoma State and the Melanoma Capital world-wide. In this spirit, and in my role as chair of dermatology within The University of Queensland here in Brisbane, it is my privilege and my pleasure to convene an international educational event on the early diagnosis of melanoma.

Nowadays, early recognition of melanoma is strongly linked to dermoscopy and digital monitoring of melanocytic skin lesions. Therefore, this course is almost entirely dedicated to these fascinating morphologic tools that are inherent to the visual dimension of dermatology. At this stage I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to John Auld, Lynda Spelman and Karyn Lun for embracing Dermoscopy by the Beach under the patronage of the Queensland Skin and Cancer Foundation.

I am looking forward to welcoming you to the Gold Coast and to Dermoscopy by the Beach, which will hopefully be for all of us a remarkable event.

H. Peter Soyer, Convenor
Chair, Dermatology Group, School of Medicine,
The University of Queensland