Dr. Carlo Pincelli, Scientific Secretary, welcome us by saying:  "As most of you know, Rome is not on the Pacific Ocean; yet we have been allowed by the senior members... of the Advisory Committee to organize the PSRC in this city in view of the fact that there are some palm trees around and that the climate, during the month of September, is not different from the one in California..."
 

The scientific section was held at IDI which is a regional 380-bed dermatology hospital located in Rome, performing more than 100,000 out-patient visits per year.  Its structure and size make it almost unique in Italy.  In addition to basic clinical activity (hospitalization, out-patient, and day hospital), IDI provides training and teaching courses, promoting knowledge about dermatology on a national level by means of conferences, congresses, and its own scientific publication.

The Institute has also established and expanded a pharmaceutical company in the fields of dermatology and cosmetics (IDI Farmaceutici) and has increased research carried out by its medical staff of more than 80 specialists.