There is a new national consultant for dermatology and venereology

Prof. Witold Owczarek has become the new national consultant in dermatology and venereology. He replaced Prof. Joanna Narbutt in the post.

Prof. dr. n. med. and n. o zdr. Witold Owczarek, colonel, dermatologist and venereologist, allergologist, scientist. He has been associated with the Military Medical Institute - National Research Institute since 1998. He has headed the clinic since 2010, and was awarded the title of professor of medical and health sciences on November 21, 2022.

A graduate of the Faculty of Medicine at the Military Medical Academy in Lodz (1997), the Faculty of Management at the University of Warsaw (2011), and Innovation Management in the Health Sector at the Leon Kozminski Academy (2013). He has been associated with the Hospital on Szaserów since 1998, and has been head of the Dermatology Clinic since 2010. He has been a member of the Institute's Scientific Council for four terms, serving as deputy chairman of the council and chairman of the doctoral committee. Since 2017, he has been coordinator of the Institute's Intensive Care and Special Care Clinical Center. On December 15, 2004, he received his doctoral degree in medicine on the basis of the dissertation presented, "Clinical usefulness of atopic patch testing with airborne allergens in patients with atopic dermatitis." The dissertation was awarded with the First Degree Award of the Rector of the Military Medical Academy. He was awarded the degree of Doctor of Medical Sciences on April 20, 2011 by a resolution of the Scientific Council of the Military Medical Institute in Warsaw on the basis of his habilitation dissertation entitled: "Eotaxins in atopic dermatitis", which was awarded an individual second degree award by the Director of the WIM.

Professor Owczarek has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Polish Society of Dermatology since 2016. He serves as Vice-Chairman of the Board of the Warsaw Branch of the Polish Society of Dermatology (since 2008), Chairman of the Oncological Dermatology Section of the Polish Society of Dermatology (since 2014), National Defense Consultant in Dermatology (since 2011). He is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology (since 2017) and the National Examination Board of the Center for Medical Examinations (since 2011). From 2012 to 2016, he was a member of the board of directors (treasurer) of the Polish Pharmacoeconomic Society.

He is a member of many expert teams appointed by state bodies and institutions, including the President of the National Health Fund: the coordinating team for biologic treatment of severe and moderate psoriasis (chairman since 2013), the coordinating team for treatment of patients with advanced basal cell carcinoma of the skin with vismodegib (chairman since 2017) and the coordinating team for biologic treatment in rheumatic diseases (member since 2016). In 2021, he was appointed as a member of the expert team of the Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Cancer Institute National Research Institute in Warsaw to coordinate and monitor the implementation of the National Oncology Strategy with the Minister of Health in the areas of melanoma and skin cancer. He is a co-founder of the "Prescription for the Future" Coalition for Access to Biological Treatment, established to provide a platform for dialogue between physicians and patient organizations in three therapeutic areas: dermatology, gastroenterology and rheumatology.

Scientific achievements include a total of 180 full-text publications with a total ministerial value of 4853 points and IF index: 136.451. Total number of citations (from Web of Science Core Collection): 592, H-index: 12. Author or co-author of 57 published national and international congress presentations - Source: Military Medical Institute.

National consultants are appointed by the Minister of Health from among specialists in particular fields:

Medicine,

pharmacy,

Other fields that are applicable to health care.

The minister may ask for candidates:

scientific societies of national scope that bring together specialists in a particular field,

The relevant health professional governments.

National Consultants:

initiate national epidemiological studies and evaluate the methods and results of these studies;

forecast health needs in their field;

advise on how to implement tasks that stem from the National Health Program and other health programs;

Give their opinion on requests to refer a patient for treatment or diagnostic tests outside Poland;

give opinions and advice on tasks carried out by the Center for Medical Examinations, the Center for Postgraduate Training of Nurses and Midwives and the Center for Medical Postgraduate Training.

Source: MZ