By Allison Sit
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has elected Susan C. Taylor, MD, FAAD, to lead the organization. She is the first dermatologist of African-American descent and sixth female dermatologist chosen to head the AAD. She will be installed as president-elect in March 2024 and will be installed as president for a one-year term in March 2025.
“It is an honor and a privilege to have been elected by my peers to serve as president, and I look forward to leading the Academy as we advocate for our specialty and for our patients,” said Dr. Taylor. “I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience into this position, and I plan to use that to tackle some of the most pressing issues dermatologists are facing.”
Dr. Taylor previously served as AAD vice president from 2020 to 2021. She is the Bernett Johnson Professor of Dermatology at Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. The AAD presented her with the John Kenney Jr., MD Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.
The National Eczema Association (NEA) will award $1 million in research grants this year, which will more than double the amount given in just two years. New grant categories will allow the organization to fund more investigators in various career stages.
“Eczema affects over 31 million people in the U.S. alone, many with severe, even debilitating impacts to their life which merits appropriate investment in research,” says Julie Block, CEO of NEA. “We’ve been working hard to fill this gap, to increase the number of scientists, research projects and research dollars devoted to eczema which will lead to better therapies, better care, better outcomes – and one day, potentially a cure.”
The NEA is the largest private nonprofit funder of eczema research. The organization has invested more than $3 million since it awarded its first grant in 2004. The application process is currently open until July 31 at 5 p.m. PDT. The NEA will announce recipients in late 2023.
The American Skin Association (ASA) recently honored Mark G. Lebwohl, MD, and LEO Pharma at its Spring Gala. Dr. Lebwohl received the ASA’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He is dean for clinical therapeutics for the department of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. LEO Pharma received the Distinguished Corporate Leadership Award.
Dr. David A. Norris, president of the ASA, said, “I congratulate Dr. Lebwohl and LEO Pharma on these well-deserved honors! We look forward to continuing to build strong partnerships with physicians like Dr. Lebwohl and organizations like LEO Pharma as we work together to provide hope to patients and their families.”
The ASA and its affiliates have funded more than $50 million in grants in the last four decades to support the work of more than 300 young scientists.
