All politics is local
From the President
Dr. Tomecki served as Academy president from March 2021 to March 2022.
By Kenneth Tomecki, MD, FAAD, September 1, 2021
"All politics is local" is a storied term often linked to former House Speaker Tip O’Neill, implying a need for local skills to win elections, perhaps less so today compared to the past. Physicians often need such local skills to navigate the medical/political terrain.
Dermatologists have direct access to such skills via their local and state derm societies, the first line of defense for all of us, in the educational and political arena, especially regarding advocacy. The societies are the bulwark of the specialty, a foundation for all of us regardless of locale or practice/work setting. Without those societies, all of us would struggle with payers, regulatory agencies, health systems, and local and state governments. The local societies make us better collectively and most of us are card-carrying members, but many of us are inactive, quiet members (i.e., we pay dues and attend society meetings, for social aspects or CME). If so, fine, but each of us can do more within the society (e.g., join a committee, offer to organize and direct the CME activities, become an officer, etc.). If you’re a quiet member, extend yourself. Jump in, get your feet wet, be visible and vocal. Doing so benefits everyone.
Academy Advisory Board
Learn more about the Academy’s Advisory Board.
Within the Academy, two state committees work at the local level to keep "the politics" dictum alive — AADA State Policy Committee, with Jill Allbritton as chair, and the AAD State Society Relationship Committee, with Ann Haas as chair. Both committees do a truly yeo(wo)man’s job advocating for the Academy and its members within the national state houses.
The State Policy Committee tackles many of the specialty’s top priorities, especially scope of practice, access to medications, and truth-in-advertising. Recently, the committee, in concert with the Louisiana Dermatological Society, pressed the state legislature to reject an expansion of scope of practice, including authorization of NPs to practice independently. Similar NP defeats occurred in Oklahoma and Tennessee. Regarding PAs, similar "wins" occurred in Colorado, South Dakota, and Montana. Regarding NPs, other noteworthy "wins" occurred in Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas. The committee joined the Pennsylvania Academy of Dermatology to reform utilization guidelines that restricted access to medication. Similar efforts were successful in Louisiana, North Carolina, and North Dakota. These and other matters command the committee’s time and energies.
The State Policy Relationship Committee is a central resource for state societies, a hub where societies can learn how to advocate successfully for the specialty and its state members. The AADA annually recognizes states that have made a difference. Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin were the most recent AADA model state award recipients in recognition of their efforts in education, patient care, community service, and advocacy. Both committees are fighting the good fight on our behalf.
Academy committees
Learn more about the Academy’s councils, committees, and task forces.
The Academy’s Advisory Board is perhaps the most critical component of the local scene and perhaps the most democratic as well. The Board has 71 member dermatologists from 43 states, each representing a local or regional society. The Board meets twice yearly and welcomes proposals and suggestions on any reasonable topic. After discussion, resolutions are drafted for consideration by the Board of Directors, and many see implementation. The process has worked extremely well for many years, a testament to grassroots advocacy and local input. The Board’s guiding mission is to represent each of us as practicing/working dermatologists. As such, the "rubber meets the road" with Andy Weinstein as current Advisory Board chair. For further information, contact Andy at derm@bellsouth.net.
Take home point for all of us: Get involved, stay involved, make your mark at the local level, vis a vis your local or state society, alternatively the Academy Advisory Board. Individually and collectively, we can make a difference.
