Giving thanks.
From the President
By Terrence A. Cronin Jr., MD, FAAD, November 1, 2023
As we all begin to prepare for the holidays and start to shore up plans for Thanksgiving, I can’t help but reflect on how grateful I am to serve as the president of the Academy. It has been a very busy eight months since I was sworn in as your president, and I thought I would take this opportunity to highlight and give thanks for the various ways our Academy has been working for us and our patients.
I mentioned in my column last month that it takes a community to build a successful specialty. We witnessed that firsthand at the 2023 AADA Legislative Conference where we linked arms on Capitol Hill and lobbied for our patients and practices. The AADA has been beating the drum on the existential Medicare cuts that we’re facing in 2024 and beyond. Additionally, we’ve been organizing with the house of medicine and advocating for long-term Medicare reform that includes a positive inflationary adjustment for Medicare physician payments. The Physician Leaders Summit on Patient Access and Fixing Medicare Webinar was an innovative success to increase momentum on improving this unfair payment process. This has been an ongoing and annoying battle, but we have been relentless. Thank you for your continued help on this issue.
AADA advocacy priorities
Read more about the AADA’s advocacy priorities.
The AADA has had some significant achievements this year. We successfully pushed for the delay of a burdensome modifier 25 policy with Cigna. We have been working closely with the FDA to minimize the burden of the iPLEDGE REMS Program. In partnership with state dermatology and medical societies, we also recently defeated scope expansion bills in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, New Hampshire, and South Dakota.
Putting policy and politics aside, our Academy is also working to positively position the specialty with the public with the recent launch of Your Dermatologist Knows. Launched in October 2022, the Your Dermatologist Knows consumer positioning strategy has been successful in its effort to share messages that position board-certified dermatologists as the go-to experts for conditions affecting skin, hair, and nails. The strategy takes a multi-channel approach to share messages across platforms, and so far, the AAD’s Your Dermatologist Knows-related social media efforts have been seen and engaged with millions of times. You can learn more in this month’s feature article.
I know we are all so thankful that our Academy is providing you with valuable member benefits. From the AAD CME programs to our updated clinical guidelines, we offer you the resources you need to stay current on advances in patient care. Don’t forget the practice management side of things! We continue to give you updated practical tools, from prior authorization letters to tips on using all the modifiers, and we offer you a wealth of information on practice, policy, and patient care through our award-winning member publications. We have so much to be grateful for as members of this fabulous organization.
At this time of year, it is important to also give thanks to all of those who have made a positive impact in our lives and careers. I’m particularly grateful for the many mentors I’ve had over the years including Drs. Robert Loewinger, Daniel Roberts, Edward Yob, William Eaglstein, Francisco Kerdel, Dan Bennett, Robert Kirsner, and so many more. I owe you all a debt of gratitude for your guidance, expertise, and willingness to walk with me along my journey.
I’d also like to express my gratitude to all the Academy’s member volunteers — my fellow members of the Board of Directors and leadership, and all the chairs and participants of the AAD/A councils, committees, and task forces. Without your work, everything I mentioned above would not be possible, and the Academy engine would not run as powerfully as it does. Finally, thank you to our Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Usher, MBA, and the rest of the Academy staff who work tirelessly to promote the specialty and protect our patients.
Sure, serving as president is a lot of work, but I am very thankful for the experience. On behalf of the Academy, thank you for all that you do as dermatologists, AAD members, colleagues, and friends. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Presidential spotlight
It takes a dedicated and engaged membership to move the needle on the issues facing our patients and practices, and sometimes our most diligent members can go unrecognized. As a toast to our unsung heroes within the Academy, I will be featuring hardworking members at the end of this column each month.
Dr. Downie is a recognized and proven innovator in the field of cosmetic dermatology. She is a highly sought-after lecturer sharing her knowledge, expertise, and techniques with residents and colleagues around the country.
She completed her dermatology residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, where she was the chief resident. Dr. Downie holds medical licenses in New Jersey, New York, and California and practices in Montclair, New Jersey.
She is actively involved in dermatologic research and cutting-edge clinical trials for top-tier pharmaceutical companies focusing on cosmetic dermatology. As a well-published authority, she is also a top medical consultant for The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Early Show, The Dr. Oz Show, and Ten Years Younger. She has been featured on The Wendy Williams Show, The View, The Rachael Ray Show, Fox News, MSNBC, and many others. Dr. Downie along with her friends Dr. Doris Day, Dr. Sabrina Fabi, Dr. Ava Shamban, and Dr. Ruth Tedaldi created a YouTube show called The Gist where they present the facts and myths in both cosmetic dermatology and general dermatology in a warm, glamorous, and professional manner.
Her tireless commitment to education, community, and innovation deserves our admiration and certainly the Presidential Spotlight.
AAD/A Impact Report
Read more about the Academy’s most recent advocacy wins.
