Volunteer duty, chapter 2
From the President
Dr. Tomecki served as Academy president from March 2021 to March 2022.
By Kenneth Tomecki, MD, June 1, 2021
Volunteer, n...person who performs/gives his/her services of own free will; v...to give/offer to give on one’s own initiative.
I highlighted the main AAD volunteering opportunities in the last column, but many others exist, all meaningful, all ongoing, and all for the greater derm good. Most require some time and effort, some engagement, and all of them help the Academy, the specialty, patients, and perhaps ultimately you the members.
Access Derm: A relatively new AAD program employing telederm technology to deliver derm expertise to underserved communities. Board-certified dermatologists and derm residents provide telederm evaluations to underserved areas in their own states, using a "store and forward" tech platform that is free of charge and coordinated through Qualified Healthcare Centers. The volunteer physicians provide feedback to the patient’s primary provider with referral to a local derm if necessary. Volunteers are needed, ditto RE participating health centers. If you have the inkling, sign up, recruit a resident to do likewise, and, encourage your nearby center to join the effort. Kudos to Sanofi Genzyme and Regeneron who partner with the Academy for this program.
Camp Discovery needs no introduction. The program offers a week of fun and outdoors to children with chronic skin conditions. The camps are truly "one of a kind," offering an incomparable experience at five locations with a myriad of activities, such as fishing, horseback riding, hiking, camp fires, "sing alongs," or simply some well-deserved down time outdoors in the country. Any dermatologist can participate by referring a youngster to the AAD for admission to a nearby camp. That’s the first step. After that, off to camp, where oversight is provided by dedicated dermatologists, nurses, and counselors (the real volunteers), who probably derive the same enjoyment as the campers. Strong thanks to Amgen and Ortho/Dermatologics who have proudly supported the camps for many years.
The Shade Structure Program provides permanent shade structures for outdoor locations (e.g., playgrounds, pools, recreation spaces). Though not truly a volunteer, "hands on" activity, the program needs dermatologists to sponsor an application, adopt a structure, and/or make a donation. Any one of those approaches helps the program.
Skin Care for Developing Countries is a funded AAD program for international and humanitarian projects (i.e., community-based, clinical/derm care). Grants vary between $2,500-5,000, depending on the proposal and available funds, and are not intended for basic research. Dermatologists and derm residents are welcome to apply. Recent locales have been north India, Malawi, south Caribbean, and Tanzania. If anyone feels adventuresome, especially as the pandemic begins to ease, the program could be a fine outlet to explore a distant land and provide clinical derm care in return. All in all, a win-win situation.
Three other programs could be enticing for those in the pedagogical arena: 1) the AAD Academic Dermatology Leadership Program where seasoned dermatologists can advise, direct, and guide young faculty as they begin academic teaching/research careers; 2) the AAD Mentorship Program where dermatologists use their expertise, education, experiences to guide younger physicians in a variety of issues related to clinical care, business, and more (AKA "in and outs" of the medical/derm world); 3) AAD Diversity Mentorship Program where dermatologists counsel and advise minority medical students re: careers in dermatology, with the hope of stimulating interest and increasing minority representation in the specialty.
Academy volunteerism opportunities
Academy volunteerism opportunities.
For those who really want to get involved in the specialty vis-a-vis the Academy, two strong and obvious opportunities exist for the undaunted: Academy councils, committees, and task forces (CCTF) which represent Academy governance and the inner working of the Academy. Hundreds of such positions exist and appointments are made every year. Only downside: More applicants than available spots and only about 50% success rate w/ appointments, but anyone with an interest, expertise, drive, etc. should apply, indicating a preference. If successful, great. Embrace the commitment, be visible and vocal, and make a difference. If denied, shrug your shoulders, and try again.
And, lastly, but definitely not least: The Academy Advisory Board, the real grassroots body of the specialty representing most states and a variety of communities, where members have a collective voice, offering suggestions and proposals that make their way to the Board. The Advisory Board has a seat at the table, at the AAD Board, via the Advisory Board chair, currently Andy Weinstein.
That’s it, in an abbreviated nutshell. Bottom line...pick an area, get involved, and make a difference. Be a volunteer in some capacity, but, if that’s not possible, reach for your check book or credit card and make a donation; earmark an activity and support the AAD and other volunteers. It’s always a welcomed gesture.
