2020 was a really ‘extraordinary’ year for Italy, due to COVID-19 spread. Our country was one of the most involved nations in the world, so SIOI decided to convert all its cultural and professional events into online-live activities.

We had more than 30 events, including lectures, courses and virtual congresses – with more than 30000 attending colleagues globally. For the same reason, the 2021 cultural activity will probably be virtual online too, although we hope that we will be able to attend in person the 2021 biannual National Congress in Naples at the end of the year.

SIOI also tried to be close to its Society members with a series of infographics useful for their patients (some of them, translated from IAPD resources). SIOI Italian members also attended international online events, such as the IAPD Virtual Congress. 2020 was also an extraordinary year for EJPD (European Journal of Paediatric Dentistry), the official Journal of SIOI, that reached the Impact Factor of 1,5, being one of the most important in the world for pedodontics.

During 2021, SIOI will also organize several national and international awards, specially dedicated to young colleagues. So, let’s go fast and safe towards the future with the hope that normality will soon arrive!

Gianmaria Fabrizio Ferrazzano
National President, Italian Society of Paediatric Dentistry