Genuine leaders will help keep our specialty strong.

By Seemal R. Desai, MD, FAAD, May 1, 2024

Dear members,

I hope everyone has been enjoying their spring so far! As we look forward to warm summer weather, I’d like to fill you in on what I’ve been up to the past month as well as what’s in store for next month.

First, I would like to begin with updating you on a personal tragedy that affected me and my family less than two weeks after our Annual Meeting in San Diego. My father passed away on March 20, 2024, from respiratory failure, and though I did not share this in my April column, I wanted our membership to know about this personal loss that has deeply affected me and my family. While this loss is immense and my father can never be replaced, the outpouring of support from so many of you, my beloved dermatology family, has been incredibly heartwarming for my family and me.

When I gave my inaugural address to you all in San Diego on March 10, 2024, I talked about my presidential theme of UNITY and how we are a family. A family of dermatologists, a family of experts, a family of this nation’s best and brightest physicians. So, to you — my dermatology family — please let me say thank you for supporting my own personal family through this very unexpected and tragic loss. I never imagined that my year as AAD President would start with the death of my father, but he would have wanted me to persevere in my duty and in my service to ALL of you.

Speaking of service to our members, on April 12, I spoke at the 2024 South Carolina Academy of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery’s Annual Meeting in Charleston, during which I provided an update on what’s been going on with the AAD. While I am the president of the AAD, I don’t want state and local societies to feel like they have been forgotten. Our specialty is diverse, and the unique perspectives that can be provided by dermatologists from different regions of our great nation help strengthen the already strong foundation upon which we have dedicated our lives’ work. I had a great time speaking in South Carolina, and I eagerly await the opportunity to connect with other state and local societies during my presidency. Despite being a primarily U.S.-based association, the Academy is proud to have international members across the globe, and I am looking forward to sharing the amazing things we do at the AAD with many organizations around the world. I was in Brazil earlier this month, and next month will report from Spain and China if all goes as planned! One of my most important duties as president is to ensure our members are fully aware of what their Academy is doing. I take this responsibility very seriously, and there is no distance too great for me to ensure it happens!

Next month, the Academy is hosting its flagship Leadership Forum weekend. It is one of the AAD’s most important programs, because leadership development is crucial to safeguarding the long-term success of our specialty. This is true not just for residents and younger dermatologists just starting their careers, but for any dermatologist, no matter what stage of their career — yes, even ones just a few years away from retirement! Dermatology has a place in the house of medicine, and with the support of dermatologist leaders, we can work together to make certain that dermatology’s place only ever goes up.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., once said, “A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.” I believe everyone reading this has what it takes to be a genuine leader, and I believe genuine leaders will help keep our specialty strong. For anyone interested in seeing what the AAD’s Leadership Forum has to offer, I encourage you to attend next year’s event. Registration for the 2024 Leadership Forum will open next month. Until next month, let me again thank you for your loyalty to the AAD, our beloved dermatology specialty, and most importantly to the patients we serve. I remain at your disposal and at your service at any time, and it is my honor to be on this journey as your president.

Presidential spotlight

The Presidential Spotlight each month is an opportunity for me to highlight someone who continues to do incredible work for our specialty or even someone who has impacted me on my leadership journey personally.

This month’s recipient of the Presidential Spotlight goes to my father the Late Shri Rohit Navinchandra Desai, DDS, an honor which I feel privileged to bestow.

It is because of my father’s dedication to service, community, and strong leadership qualities that were instilled in me from a very young age, that I feel I am capable and have been ready to tackle all that it takes to be president of the AAD. Many of you are aware that despite significant challenges and illness, my father was able to make the long journey to San Diego to be able to sit in the front row at the Plenary session on March 10, 2024, to witness my inaugural speech as your new president. This is a memory that I will cherish forever. It was the highest of highs, and then to lose him in less than two weeks after that certainly was the absolute lowest of lows.

A native of India, Rohit embarked on a journey of adventure and opportunity when he and his beloved wife, Rekha, immigrated to the United States in 1975. Settling in Georgia, Rohit’s entrepreneurial spirit led him along diverse paths, reflecting his endless curiosity and zest for life. While he initially trained as a dentist in India, Rohit’s journey in the USA led him to pursue a master’s degree in public health from the University of Alabama – Birmingham. His commitment to serving others was evident not only in his academic pursuits but also in the countless lives he touched through his work and presence.

In his leisure moments, Rohit found solace and delight in the simple pleasures of life. An avid golfer, he reveled in the tranquility of the green, finding peace amidst the rolling fairways. Yet, his greatest joy came from spending time with his family, particularly his four beloved grandchildren. Rohit’s infectious laughter, warm smile, and genuine kindness endeared him to all who crossed his path. He possessed a rare gift for making others feel welcome, valued, and cherished, leaving an indelible mark on all whose lives he touched.

Though Rohit may have bid farewell to this world, his spirit of love, generosity, and compassion will forever linger in the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing him. His legacy of kindness and joy will continue to inspire generations to come, a testament to the remarkable life he lived and the love he shared. Though I will and do miss my father incredibly, I know his presence and guiding spirit will always be with me, and I will harness that strength to be the absolute best president I can for our amazing organization and our amazing specialty.

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