Dr Padovese is a consultant in dermatology and venereology and a leading clinician at the Genitourinary clinic in Malta. Her main clinical and research interest is skin and sexual health in vulnerable populations. She took part in numerous EU-funded projects addressing sexual health needs in marginalized groups, namely migrants, sex workers, LGBTQI+ and people in custodial settings.

She collaborates with WHO on STI diagnostic advancement and provides technical advice on capacity building on Health and Migration. As a Special Advisor on migrants’ health, STIs and HIV of the International Foundation for Dermatology/International League of Dermatological Societies, Dr Padovese works to improve access to dermatological care in humanitarian emergencies like Lebanon, Bangladesh and Tanzania. She co-founded an international NGO, Bridges2Health&Rights, operating in the broad areas of health and rights and at the intersections of disciplines such as medicine, law and criminology. Author of over 50 peer-reviewed publications and Associate Editor for the British Journal of Dermatology and BMJ STI, she led IUSTI Europe as President in 2023.