This month is an extremely important month for advocacy.
From the President
By Seemal R. Desai, MD, FAAD, September 1, 2024
Dear members,
I hope everyone has had a wonderful summer. Sadly, September means the end of summer and the beginning of the colder, darker days of the year. However, while the afternoons and evenings of the next several months will gradually grow less and less bright, the same cannot be said for the future of dermatology!
Last month, we wrapped up our wonderful Innovation Academy, and I was once again blown away by the amount of passion and dedication that our colleagues have for innovating our specialty. We are truly on the cusp of some amazing things, and I am very excited to see where the future of dermatology leads. I am happy to announce that next year’s Innovation Academy will take place in Chicago! I invite everyone to attend. It truly is an amazing event, and it is one of the many reasons I am so proud to be the president of our Academy.
While in Seattle for the Innovation Academy, I am incredibly proud to have hosted the flagship Unity Summit, where I met with over 70 attendees consisting of representatives of state societies, sister societies, leaders in our subspecialties, former Academy presidents, and former leaders. It was a great experience that I hosted as part of my presidential unity focus. I will never turn down an opportunity to bring my vision to life, as we work together to advance all of dermatology!
Take action
Find out how you can get involved in the Academy’s advocacy efforts at https://takeaction.aad.org.
This month is an extremely important month for advocacy. I’ll be attending the Academy’s State Society Leadership Conference, which is an opportunity for myself, and other Academy members, to mingle and network with high-ranking officials from our nation’s many state dermatologic societies, and to hear directly from them about what concerns their societies and their members. Laws and practices vary by state, and it can be challenging keeping all the information in order. The success and strength of state societies is vital for the success and strength of our Academy as a whole. We could not do it without the state societies.
And then, of course, I’ll be at the AADA Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. I remain dedicated to fighting for all of you on important issues such as Medicare reimbursement, which will be the singular federal advocacy push by myself and by the Academy as a whole. I believe that having direct conversations with senators and members of Congress is an effective way to bring about positive change. The Legislative Conference is open to all members, and we organize it every year. If you missed out on this year’s event, be sure to register next year. That will be your first step toward actively playing a part in making a difference.
Earlier this year, I had the honor of testifying in front of the House Ways and Means Committee, where I advocated on behalf of dermatologists everywhere. That was a nice little preview for the Legislative Conference. There truly is no better way to achieve wins for dermatology than by direct action and conversations with the people who write the laws that impact our day-to-day lives. I really do take the honor you’ve given me of being your representative as the face of the Academy quite seriously, and I will never stop doing what I can do to ensure the growth and prosperity of our beloved specialty!
Let unity of our specialty be our guiding principle!
All my best,
Seemal
Presidential spotlight
Every month I have the privilege of honoring one of our members who goes above and beyond in service of our specialty in multiple different ways.
It is therefore my pleasure this month to honor Diane Berson, MD, FAAD, as our AAD Presidential Spotlight.
Dr. Berson is an associate professor of dermatology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University and an assistant attending dermatologist at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital. She has a private dermatology practice in New York City, and volunteers at the NY Presbyterian Hospital Department of Dermatology where she teaches medical students and residents. Dr. Berson received her undergraduate degree from Cornell University, College of Arts and Science where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She pursued her medical education at New York University School of Medicine. This was followed by an internship in internal medicine at Bellevue Hospital, NYU Medical Center, and a residency in dermatology at State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, where she served as chief resident during her final year of training. She has served in leadership capacities in multiple organizations, multiple board of directors, and notably she has also been a president of the WDS and a recipient of the very prestigious WDS Legacy Award for lifetime achievement.
When you think of Diane, the words warm, caring, friendly, approachable, and loyal come to mind. But what comes to my mind is her long history of dedicated leadership to so many aspects of dermatology. I have had the privilege of knowing Diane and calling her a friend for many years, and my time serving with her on the AAD Board of Directors was truly a great experience.
On a personal note, Diane has been a loyal friend, a guide, an uplifting voice at times of uncertainty, and she is always thinking about others. She leads by example and has supported countless young dermatologists on their journey to leadership in their professional and personal careers. It is for these reasons, and with great joy, that I bestow this month’s Presidential Spotlight onto my friend Diane Berson, MD, FAAD. Congratulations, Diane and thank you for all that you do for dermatology!
AAD/A Impact Report
Read more about what the Academy is doing for you at staging.aad.org/impact.
