Looking forward to the New Year
From the President
By Terrence A. Cronin Jr., MD, FAAD, January 1, 2024
During these turbulent and worrisome times, it is critical to focus on the things that unite us as people, as physicians, and as dermatologists. A new year is upon us, and with it comes some opportunities for prioritizing our goals. Here are some of the things I think we should keep in mind as we move into 2024.
Focus on our shared experiences. The upcoming 2024 Annual Meeting in San Diego and the 2024 Innovation Academy in Seattle are certain to be unforgettable. The Academy has some unique educational events planned for both of these conferences, and we all value the in-person time with our colleagues and friends. It will be a great way to rejuvenate our spirits and remind ourselves of the unified dermatologic community we share as members of the Academy. Learn more at staging.aad.org/am24.
Focus on dermatologists as dedicated helpers whether it’s with their patients, members of the public, or even other dermatologists! Learning ways to improve our diagnostic abilities is the primary mission of our many Academy educational programs where our members help each other learn the latest methods for improving the patient care we provide. The Academy’s Camp Discovery, Skin Cancer: Take a Hike™, and the Shade Structure Grant Program are extraordinarily helpful to the public, but also provide a way for us to give back to our patients and communities. Find out how you can volunteer for these programs.
Focus on how dermatologists are great problem-solvers, especially when it comes to advocating for our patients and our specialty. There was a tremendous level of participation in last year’s AADA Legislative Conference, and our grassroots efforts year-round continue to be strong. We’re still fighting hard against Medicare physician payment cuts, which will remain the top advocacy priority for the Academy in 2024, but we will continue to flex our muscles and fight with our steadfast resilience and tenacity. We’ve also done a lot of work to combat unsafe scope-of-practice expansions — protecting our patients and our practices.
Finally, focus on building a brighter future for our specialty. The Academy provides ways for members to further their careers, like our leadership and mentorship programs, just to name a couple. Learn more at staging.aad.org/career. Dermatologists have so many options on where to find the most fulfilling part of their practice. Medical, surgical, pediatric, geriatric, pathologic, oncologic, infectious, cosmetic, inpatient, outpatient — truly to know dermatology is to know medicine. The opportunities are endless.
The future is also bright for our patients as we continue to advocate for their benefit. A notable Academy initiative is the Your Dermatologist Knows consumer positioning strategy, which combats medical misinformation on social media. Your Dermatologist Knows consistently and effectively informs the public that only a board-certified dermatologist can provide them with the knowledge and experience they need to receive the most effective treatment of conditions affecting their skin, hair, and nails.
A new year brings new challenges, but also new opportunities — and I am looking forward to the opportunities that 2024 has for our great specialty. I would encourage everyone to make their new year’s resolution to participate in as many Academy experiences as you are able. Togetherness builds strength.
Take action
Find out how you can get involved in the Academy’s advocacy efforts.
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 one hardworking member at the end of this column each month.
Dr. Flanagan is a dedicated and sought-after teacher of dermatologic surgery and cosmetic dermatology.
She completed her residency at the University of Miami Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery. She has served the AAD on multiple committees including the Academy Practice Management Committee, the AAD Individual Giving Committee, and Dialogues in Dermatology.
She has been an innovative educator in the realm of toxins and fillers and has provided countless entertaining live demonstrations at the Florida Society of Dermatologic Surgeons. (A group she was elected to lead as president.) She is a current board member of the Florida Academy of Dermatology and the Practice Advisory Committee chair for the Women’s Dermatologic Society.
In addition to her academic and teaching responsibilities as voluntary faculty at the University of Miami, she has a busy private practice in Jupiter, Florida. She is board-certified in both micrographic dermatologic surgery and dermatology. She met her wonderful husband, Amir Lubarsky, MD, at the University of Miami when she was the dermatology consult resident and he kept calling for more consults. They have two children: Julia who is a junior at University of Miami and Ben who just graduated from American University with a degree in business administration and is currently working in Boston.
Her upbeat and sharp sense of humor is legendary and her tireless commitment to innovative surgical education, mentorship, and service deserves our admiration and certainly the Presidential Spotlight.
AAD/A Impact Report
Read more about the Academy’s most recent advocacy wins.
