Danette Bentley, MD, FAAD, Deputy Chair of the AAD Young Physicians Committee shares how the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) is an integral part of the field of dermatology.
Explain briefly what the AAD does?
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) is the largest organization in dermatology and it represents the majority of practicing dermatologists in the United States and internationally, regardless of interests and subspecialties. The mission statement for the AAD is “Promoting leadership in dermatology and excellence in patient care through education, research and advocacy.” The AAD works to advance quality patient care, being an influential and trusted voice, providing leadership for the specialty while providing support for members and ensuring organizational vitality for the future.
Who do you publish?
There are several publications connected to the American Academy of Dermatology. The publications associated with the AAD include: The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD), Dialogues in Dermatology and Dermatology World.
• The JAAD is available in print and online and is published monthly. Access to this publication is included with membership to the AAD and CME credit is available with some articles. The JAAD is peer reviewed and anyone can submit for publication.
• Dialogues in Dermatology is a monthly audio publication available to members for a fee. Dialogues in Dermatology is in an interview format. Topics are chosen by an editorial board of members and the interview is conducted with an expert in that field. This is available as an app and can be listened to at your convenience. CME is available with these audiocasts.
• Dermatology World is a print and online monthly membership publication. It is developed by editorial staff, directed by a physician editor, and has varied content. It contains advocacy updates, health care reform updates, coding information, practice management tips. And other useful topics to a dermatologist’s daily practice and health care in general.
Who are your members?
Fellow membership is available to physicians certified in dermatology by the American Board of Dermatology, Osteopathic Board of Dermatology, or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Associate membership is open to physicians who have completed residency training in dermatology and are eligible to become certified in dermatology by the American Board of Dermatology, Osteopathic Board of Dermatology, or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Dermatologists currently in a fellowship program are given complimentary graduate member status for two years. There are also affiliate members (i.e. pathologists board-certified in dermatopathology who are not eligible to be a fellow or associate member) and adjunct members (i.e. Researchers, including PhD holders and other scientists, that devote a major portion of their time to dermatologic research).
How do your members benefit?
There are extensive and varied benefits from membership with AAD and listing all of these would take pages! One of the largest benefits to AAD membership is advocacy for our patients and specialty. We have members in the House of Medicine, members that go to Capitol Hill, and members that advocate on a local level for our patients and our specialty. Changes that help our patients and our specialty are often directly related to the efforts of our members in different organizations and areas.
Additional membership benefits includes access to publications and excellent scientific meetings that keep dermatologists up to date in their specialty and access to high quality professional development and CME. The AAD website also provides in-depth information on a variety of practice-related and education topics and helps automatically track your yearly CME.
The AAD advocates for members with Maintenance of Certification (MOC) by working with the American Board of Dermatology in MOC decisions. The AAD has helped to provide members with assistance in meeting MOC requirements (I.e. there is a weekly self assessment question that gives you MOC component 2 credit with completion of the question each week).
The AAD provides resources to help with government regulations- PQRS, Meaningful use, and now MACRA and QPP, as well as offering a broad array of resources to help manage any size or type of practice. Members of the AAD have worked to develop Data Derm. This is a registry that works with your EMR to help pull clinical data for meeting government requirements (i.e. PQRS, QPP) as well as compile data for other uses such as to demonstrate your quality of care.
Members also benefit from networking in their field and having access to experts in areas from coding questions to clinical questions.
There are patient information handouts available both in print and online as well as website topics for the public that are developed by AAD members.
There is media training and information developed by AAD members for help in speaking with the media about skin, hair and nail health.
The AAD also offers MUCH more.
What events do you have coming up?
The AAD’s Annual Meeting is coming up March 3-7 in Orlando this year. The meeting features over 375 sessions, an enormous exhibit hall, networking opportunities and much more. The AAD Summer Meeting, a smaller but just as exceptional meeting, starts July 27th in New York, New York. Next year’s Annual Meeting will be held in San Diego.
What do you contribute to dermatology?
The AAD supports the specialty in many ways. It advocates for patients and dermatologists. The AAD has been central in getting indoor tanning legislation passed in many states. AAD has developed broadcast advertisements to educate the public about the dangers of tanning. And to educate them on the importance of skin cancer detection and prevention. AAD organizes free skin cancer screenings in communities throughout the country. The AAD has a program to support the building of shade structures for over outdoor areas for nonprofits throughout the U.S. The AAD supports Camp Discovery, a camp for kids with serious skin, hair and nail conditions. The AAD is a leader in teledermatology. Helping to provide better access to dermatologists for patients in part of the country where access to dermatologists is challenging.
Are you doing any research?
The AAD is not involved in any medical research as it is a membership organization.
Important dates to keep in mind for the year, related to your organization:
March 3-7, 2017- Annual Meeting; Orlando Florida
July 27- 30, 2017- Summer Academy Meeting; New York, New York
February 16-20, 2018- Annual Meeting; San Diego, California
What is something unique about your society?
The AAD is inclusive. It advocates for all aspects of dermatology and supports all dermatologists, regardless of specialty or interests. It is a huge organization (over 19,000 members). That has an extensive network of councils, committees, and task forces that work to support all different needs of our specialty.
Read more about the American Academy of Dermatology.
