Looking back on a successful year
From the President
By Susan C. Taylor, MD, FAAD, March 1, 2026
Taking care of dermatologists so that they can take care of their patients...and their practices
Dear members,
It’s hard to believe that my term serving as your Academy president is nearing its end. It is bittersweet that this is the final column I will write as your president. Though the past year was extremely fulfilling and, at times, quite challenging, it remains the honor of a lifetime. I want to thank each and every one of you for trusting me with the duty of representing our specialty and you, our Academy members, as president of the American Academy of Dermatology.
My year as president has been very productive, and I would like to take this opportunity to review some of the major accomplishments the Academy has achieved over the year.
In regard to advocacy, the Academy worked with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to ensure that qualified dermatologists will continue to be allowed to direct high-complexity labs performing dermatopathology. The Academy also worked with the FDA, which led to the proposal of a new sunscreen ingredient that will expand the options available to the public.
Medicare physician payment reform remained our sole federal legislative priority, and while we didn’t get the results we hoped for, we did significant work building relationships and laying groundwork that will lead to reform in the future.
Over the past year, I personally met with Rep. John Joyce, MD, FAAD (R-PA) — a leading advocate for payment reform and a leader of the DOC Caucus — multiple times in Washington, D.C., and New York, as well as with members of the Congressional Black Caucus at a meeting in California. I have found that building relationships through direct conversations with lawmakers is an effective way to get results, and why your attendance at the AADA Legislative Conference in September is so important. I also empaneled the Ad Hoc Task Force on Sustaining Physician Practices for Senior Citizen Care. The task force, which includes current, former, and incoming AADA leadership as well as strategically selected consultants, has evaluated new and creative strategies to address the Medicare physician payment crisis.
I’ve traveled extensively around the world in support of the Academy’s international strategy and its partnerships with international societies. I have spoken at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology Congress in Paris, the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venerology Annual Meeting in Valencia, and the Canadian Dermatology Association’s Annual Meeting in Halifax. Additionally, the Academy hosted educational sessions at the International Congress of the Medical Excellence in Dermatology and Aesthetic Medicine (MEIDAM), the European Academy of Dermatology and Venerology, and the Emirates Dermatology Society (EDS) Conference.
I’m proud of our work in support of women’s issues, including a new session at the Leadership Forum and a new session at the Annual Meeting titled, “Global Voices of Impact: International Women Dermatology Presidents Leading Change.” The AAD also held the “Unity Summit – Into Action” meeting at the Innovation Academy, where we collaborated with dermatology sister and state societies to focus on access to care, advocacy, and supporting residents and early-career dermatologists.
This year I established the Ad Hoc Task Force on Access to Care and Community Outreach, with Immediate Past President Seemal R. Desai, MD, FAAD, and former Secretary Treasurer Daniel D. Bennett, MD, FAAD, co-chair and chair, respectively. The goal of the AHTF is to define, prioritize, and determine the scope of community outreach and access programs to align with and advance the AAD’s strategic goals.
This year I spearheaded an effort to enhance communication with our members. Utilizing the vehicle of social media, we initiated an “in case you missed it” series on Instagram. We also have an effort designed specifically for young physicians. Speaking of young physicians, in January, the AAD launched the Career Launch hub, featuring a variety of resources for new and early-career dermatologists to establish themselves within the specialty. You can view the hub.
As you can see, this has been an extremely productive year. I’m proud of the work we’ve done. The theme of my presidency has been, “Taking care of dermatologists so that you can take care of your patients,” and I believe that has been accomplished.
Before I conclude, I would just like to take a moment to wish the best of luck to my successor, Murad Alam, MD, MSCI, MBA, FAAD. I am confident that the Academy will continue to prosper in his capable hands and I look forward to what the future holds.
The past year has been one of the most meaningful chapters of my life, made possible by the trust you placed in me when you elected me. I hope you are proud of the progress we achieved together.
Thank you for your confidence and support.
Susan
AAD Career Launch
Check out the Academy’s new guide to success for early-career dermatologists.
