Tamar Nijsten

Professor, Dr.

The talk will update you on the epidemiology of melanoma ranging from incidence and rates over time across the globe, but with a focus on the Nordic countries. Both the incidence and survival rates will be discussed over time will be discussed. In addition, conventional and potentially new risk factors associated with melanoma are presented.

In the second part of the presentation, Tamar Nijsten will present the consequences of the rise of melanoma for clinical care. The increasing numbers of people diagnosed with melanoma is challenging the conventional care for the general practitioners and the medical specialists involved in melanoma care. Streamlining the diagnostic route of suspicious skin lesions might benefit from telemedicine and/or image analysis using artificial intelligence.

The changing landscape of melanoma treatments results in more long term melanoma survivors who are in need of counseling and follow up. A more rational approach to follow up regimens might lower the burden on physicians without affecting survival chances.

The presentation will provide updated numbers on melanoma, but provides suggestions on how we can optimize and personalize care for melanoma patients.

Tamar studied medicine in Antwerp (Belgium), spent two years at Harvard Medical School for his PhD, and returned to finish his residency in dermatology.

Since 2005 affiliated with Erasmus MC, has established a dermato-epidemiology group at the department of dermatology Erasmus MC resulting in a full professorship in dermatology in 2014 when he became chair of the department. He is also appointed as a honorary professor at the University of Nottingham (UK).

Tamar has published over 300 peer-reviewed international papers (H-index ~ 50), is chair of the European Dermato-Epidemiology Network (EDEN), and section editor for Epidemiology for the Br J Dermatol.