Always remember we are stronger when we are UNITED
From the President
By Seemal R. Desai, MD, FAAD, March 1, 2025
Dear members,
As my term as president of the American Academy of Dermatology draws to a close, I am filled with immense gratitude and a deep sense of fulfillment. Serving as your president has truly been the dream of a lifetime, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to lead such a remarkable organization. I’m grateful for the trust you placed in me and for the chance to serve this incredible specialty that I am so passionate about. Reflecting on this journey, one thing has become clear: Unity has been the cornerstone of our successes. Whether working together as members, advocating for our specialty on Capitol Hill, or engaging with colleagues across the world, we’ve focused on what unites us: our shared commitment to advancing dermatology and improving patient care.
From the very beginning of my presidency, I made it a priority to foster open communication and collaboration. With the support of our dedicated staff and members, we’ve worked tirelessly to address the challenges facing our field, always with the best interests of our members and our patients at the forefront.
One of my proudest achievements as president was our Academy’s tireless efforts to address Medicare payment reform. Under my presidency, we revamped our advocacy agenda to have only one singular federal advocacy focus. This issue has a profound impact on each of us, not only as physicians but as physicians striving to deliver the highest quality care to our patients. I had the honor of speaking directly with Congress and even testifying before the House Ways & Means Committee. While the fight continues, I am confident that the Academy will remain at the forefront of advocating for a fair and sustainable system.
But our impact doesn’t stop at domestic borders. I’ve had the privilege of representing the Academy on the global stage, attending over 15 international engagements to share the incredible work we’re doing and strengthen our connections with dermatologists worldwide. Dermatology is a global community, and I am proud that our Academy has been a leader in fostering that unity.
I have also been deeply moved by the Academy’s philanthropic efforts. Camp Discovery is one of the jewels of our organization and knowing that we are providing children with skin conditions the opportunity to experience summer camp free from judgment is something that fills me with pride. Our recent task force addressing the health care needs of the unhoused population is another example of how we, as dermatologists, are leading the way in providing care to the most vulnerable. And of course, the Firefighter Skin Cancer Check program is yet another example of how our specialty goes above and beyond to protect and serve those who protect us. We held the landmark presidential Unity Summit in Seattle in August and achieved so much more!
As I conclude my term, I want to make it clear that this is not a goodbye by any means. I will always be here for you, for our Academy, and for the specialty I hold so dear. It has been an absolute privilege to serve as your president, and I will continue to advocate for our shared mission in any way I possibly can.
Finally, I want to express my deepest thanks to my family — the memory of my father continues to help drive me, and the support of all of my family near and far has been invaluable. But most importantly, I thank with all my heart my wife Nimisha and my children, Anya and Armaan. Your unwavering love, support, loyalty, and encouragement have made this year not only possible, but truly meaningful. I could NOT have done it without you by my side. To all of you — THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for this incredible opportunity, thank you for supporting me throughout this journey, and thank you for letting me live out my dream of being president of the AAD. It’s been the honor of a lifetime to serve you.
Let Unity of our Specialty ALWAYS be our guiding principle!
With my heartfelt best wishes to you and your loved ones,
Seemal
Take action
Find out how you can get involved in the Academy’s advocacy efforts.
Presidential spotlight
Every month, I have the privilege of honoring one of our members who goes above and beyond in service of our specialty or someone who has had a meaningful impact on me personally. As you may have noticed, I did not have a January spotlight, because I was saving February to honor two important individuals at once!
It is therefore my pleasure this month to honor my wife, Nimisha Desai, PharmD as our AAD Presidential Spotlight.
When we first met in 2007, I immediately knew that this was someone special, and someone who I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. Her warmth, grace, patience, and elegance immediately drew me to her. Throughout our relationship, our marriage, and through multiple struggles, both personal and professional, she has been a constant rock of support that has guided me in every way.
Needless to say, the role of AAD president is extremely time-consuming, grueling, and, at times, emotional. There has not been one moment throughout the last year where I couldn’t go to Nimisha to express my joy, nervousness, and sometimes even displeasure about so many things happening in our day-to-day lives. And trust me, I am not always easy to deal with!
One of the things that I have found so incredibly helpful about our relationship this year was my ability to go to Nimisha whenever I needed a levelheaded opinion, to bounce off an idea, and to get someone’s unbiased input on my leadership journey. In fact, this has always been our dynamic — one where I glean from her wisdom, and she helps make me better!
To Nimisha: I just want to say thank you, thank you, and thank you. I know this hasn’t been easy, and you’ve sacrificed so much to let me achieve my dreams. I hope I’ve made you and the entire family very proud. From you putting your career on hold, to helping propel mine, to always being a foundational support for the children and our family, words truly aren’t enough thanks.
It is therefore my honor to recognize you, Nimisha, with this month’s AAD Presidential Spotlight with the highest distinction for your everlasting loyalty, patience, support, and love.
I LOVE YOU!
AAD/A Impact Report
Read more about what the Academy is doing for you at staging.aad.org/impact.
