The AAD’s unwavering commitment to expanding access to care
From the President
By Susan C. Taylor, MD, FAAD, August 1, 2025
Taking care of dermatologists so that they can take care of their patients...and their practices
Dear members,
As physicians, our foremost priority is helping patients. Many patients struggle to find access to medical care, and this is especially true of specialty care, such as the dermatologic care we provide when we treat hair, skin, and nail conditions.
The AAD has a strong commitment to expanding access to care to ensure that all patients, regardless of situation, can get the help they need.
One of the programs I am most proud of is the Academy’s Firefighter Skin Cancer Check program. Did you know that due to the hazards that are inherent in their work, firefighters are at a greater risk of developing skin cancer than the average person? Last year, the AAD partnered with the Firefighter Cancer Support Network to develop the skin checks program, which provides free skin cancer checks to local firefighters conducted under the direct supervision of board-certified dermatologists.
So far this year, our dedicated members have provided thousands of skin cancer checks to firefighters, and we are well on our way toward our goal of providing 10,000 skin checks by the end of 2026. If you are interested in hosting a skin check event and helping the heroes that help keep your community safe, visit aad.org/firefighters to learn more.
Another incredible Academy program that brings me great pride is Camp Discovery. Children who have chronic skin conditions can sometimes struggle to fit in with their peers. At Camp, they can finally feel like a kid again, during a fun, exciting week of summertime experiences. Talk to the parents of your young patients to see if Camp is something they’d be interested in! It truly is a life-changing week for campers, and you can help give them an experience that they will never forget. Visit aad.org/CampDiscovery for more information.
Sometimes, a patient who needs dermatologic care lacks the means, time, or funds to visit our offices. The AAD’s volunteer teledermatology program works to mitigate this issue by allowing patients from underserved areas to get the care they need directly. Through partnership with various health care centers across the country, a patient’s primary care physician can initiate a teledermatology consult, which would then be transmitted to a dermatologist to perform a clinical review and provide feedback to the referring physician.
Earlier this year, I had the privilege of working with my predecessor, Seemal R. Desai, MD, FAAD, and several other members to address skin conditions among unhoused populations. We participated in an event in Los Angeles that offered training and resources for caseworkers and health care professionals so that they could be able to recognize common skin conditions and provide very basic treatments. We also helped teach them how to connect with board-certified dermatologists for telemedicine consults when necessary.
I was honored to be a part of that training session and am committed to continuing to work to ensure that the American Academy of Dermatology is at the forefront of expanding health care access.
Until next time, all my best,
Susan
Firefighter Skin Cancer Checks
Visit the Firefighter Skin Cancer Checks website if you are interested in hosting a skin check event and helping the heroes that help keep your community safe.
