Doing our part to make a difference
From the President
Dr. Hruza served as Academy president from March 2019 to March 2020.
By George Hruza, MD, MBA, June 3, 2019
“When you think about yourself, skip the only,’ as in I’m only a surgeon’ or I’m only a dermatologist.’ Think about what needs to be done and how you can make it happen.” For those of you who attended the Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., this year, you were likely inspired, as I was, by these words spoken by Boris Lushniak, MD, MPH, professor and dean of the University of Maryland School of Public Health, during the plenary session when he received the 2019 Clarence S. Livingood, MD, Memorial Award and Lectureship. Dr. Lushniak discussed the importance of service and leadership during his talk — two vital activities that I believe dermatologists are well-equipped to undertake.
I spoke to many Academy members at this year’s Annual Meeting about the joy of practicing dermatology, and I know I am not alone when I say that choosing dermatology as my career was one of the best decisions of my life. Because dermatology has given me so much professional fulfillment, I feel compelled to give back by engaging with my community and our specialty. Fortunately, our Academy offers many opportunities for you to get involved.
Members can choose from several patient and public outreach programs to support with their time and/or money, such as Camp Discovery or the SPOT me Skin Cancer Screening. Last year, I participated in an Adopt-a-Shade dedication ceremony in St. Louis, where I was incredibly inspired by the work of AAD member M. Laurin Council, MD. She saw a tremendous need for shade at her children’s school, so she helped the school’s teachers develop a sun-safety curriculum and made a generous donation to the AAD to make a shade structure possible. Her efforts not only provided a sun-safe area for children to play, but she also helped raise skin cancer awareness throughout her community. Read more about the Academy’s Adopt-a-Shade program, and check out other inspiring stories about giving back in the Academy’s philanthropic magazine, Aspire, at staging.aad.org/members/publications/aspire.
Community events aside, you can also make an impact on your specialty by participating in the Academy’s Leadership Institute initiative that provides training, mentoring, and networking opportunities to help dermatologists develop leadership skills to make them successful in their careers, the AAD, organized medicine, and in life. It’s up to those of us who have been practicing for several years or decades, to guide the next generation of dermatologists. Learn more about the Leadership Institute at staging.aad.org/members/leadership-institute.
Finally, let’s not forget about advocacy! In order to make a dent in Washington, D.C., and in our state houses, we need to be involved in grassroots advocacy. When the Academy calls on you to contribute your voice and your financial support, please heed the call. It’s easier than you think.
I know many of us are feeling burnt out by EHRs, paperwork, regulatory requirements, and constant battles with insurance companies. However, if we work together, we can ensure the success of our specialty, a more fulfilling career for ourselves, and most importantly, a brighter future for our patients.
