The importance of getting involved
From the President
By Murad Alam, MD, FAAD, April 1, 2026
Dear members,
I would like to begin by thanking you for trusting me to serve as your president. We have important work to do this year, and I am eager to get started.
An important and easy way for you to help is to join an AAD Council, Committee, or Task Force (CCTF). Regardless of your future goals and aspirations, getting involved in CCTFs can be useful for both you and the AAD. If you are concerned about the future of the specialty, your CCTF involvement helps support critical advocacy functions, preserving scope of practice, protecting physician payments, and reducing administrative bloat. If you are focused on learning more about a particular subject, CCTF involvement will support your development of content expertise and allow you to hear what is new first. If you are interested in progressing in Academy leadership, CCTF involvement provides opportunities to see how the AAD governance structure works and to meet and network with dermatologist colleagues from across the country who span a variety of experience levels and professional styles. You can learn more and review a list of CCTFs to find out what interests you.
To get started, simply fill out an application. These are due at the end of May, so please be aware of the deadline. In the beginning, it can be difficult to know which CCTF you want to join. The names of particular CCTFs are not always descriptive or clear. You may wish to ask advice from those you know who are more active in the Academy or consult the Academy’s organizational chart. Try not to limit yourself to just one committee or task force; consider applying for several. Even if you know exactly which CCTF you would like to join, try to be flexible, and please don’t take offense if you are initially assigned to your second or third choice or to something you did not even list. There are fewer open CCTF positions than those who apply, and often many apply for the same slots on a particular CCTF. Your first appointment may be unexpected and a surprise. If you have been applying for a CCTF year after year, dutifully filling out the form, and have yet to be assigned to anything, please do not be discouraged. In this case, consider reaching out to any AAD Board member, CCTF chair, or other prominent dermatologist that you know and ask them to write you a letter, or advocate on your behalf.
When you receive your appointment, offer your assistance to the chair, and do your best to be a productive member. Read committee materials thoroughly and contribute thoughtfully. Do not hesitate to share your valuable views during meetings. You are there for a reason and we need your input. You will find that as others — both physicians and staff — get to know you, you will have more opportunities to control your future CCTF assignments.
Finally, please don’t be intimidated about serving on a CCTF. The time commitment for most is modest — a few hour-long conference calls a year. While it does take a year or two to understand what is going on, appointments are usually for several years, so you will be an expert by the end. Every AAD committee, council, and task force does important work, and each member plays a crucial role.
Applications for CCTFs are open now and close on May 31, so be sure to apply today!
Until next time,
Murad
