April 16, 2024

Mentee Ana Maria Viteri with mentor Dr. Rebecca Vasquez (left); Mentee Alexander Bang with mentor Dr. Bernice Kwong, both from the 2022 SOCS Mentorship Program

It’s a Match: Congratulations to our 2024-2025

Mentorship Program Matches!

We are thrilled to announce our 2024-2025 SOCS Mentorship Program Mentor-Mentee Matches, representing the program’s greatest number of matches since 2015!

Applications for the next Mentorship Program cycle will open in late Summer/early Fall 2024. Due to high interest in the program, the Mentorship Committee is unable to pair every mentee applicant with a SOCS Mentor.

Mentorship Resources

Here are open access resources for our membership relating to important topics:

Member Resources:

SOCS Handouts (revised Feb. 2024 by the Diversity in Action Task Force)

• Timeline for Application to Dermatology
• How to Obtain a Position in a Dermatology Residency Program

Mentorship Town Halls available in DEEP

• How to Get Involved with Professional Societies
• Dermatology Residency Application Process
• SOCS Grant Writing Webinar

Leadership Spotlight: AAD President

Seemal R. Desai, MD, FAAD

We are delighted to share an American Academy of Dermatology Plenary Session summary that was originally published by the AAD in Derm World, highlighting the leadership vision of current AAD President, Dr. Seemal R. Desai. Dr. Desai served SOCS as President 2018-2019.

Dr. Desai pledged to lead the Academy as president over the next year through the guiding principle of one simple but profound word: unity.

“We must remain united as we continue to spearhead research and innovation, and in our efforts to ensure that the Academy represents the full diversity of our nation, in our profession, in our research, and in our patient care,” Dr. Desai said.

The SOCS Networking & Educational Symposia Season Begins! 

We’re excited to kick off the 2024 SOCS Networking and Educational Symposia series with an upcoming event in New York City, hosted by longtime SOCS leader, Babar K. Rao MD, FAAD. SOCS Networking and Educational Symposia are supported by Pfizer, and offer a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow SOCS members and meet new colleagues and friends while learning about important topics in skin of color dermatology.

Greater NYC-area SOCS members and dermatology colleagues, we hope you’ll Join us for an evening at NAR Restaurant in NYC on May 1, from 6 to 9 PM!

Network, Learn and Engage with SOCS: Save the dates!

• September 20, 2024: Denver Metro Area (Englewood, CO), hosted by Dr. Lucinda Kohn

• October 4, 2024: Las Vegas, Nevada at the Nevada Society for Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery (NSDDS) Annual Meeting, (host TBD)

Register for any of the networking events today!

In the World of Skin of Color Dermatology

The Skin of Color Society is pleased to partner with IMCAS Americas, which will take place from April 26 to 28, 2024 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

We are delighted to collaborate with IMCAS Americas on the Session, “Clinical dermatology: active acne in skin of color”, on Friday, April 26 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. SOCS member and Brazilian dermatologist Dr. Katleen da Cruz Conceição will represent SOCS in this session as co-chair and presenter on “Preventing acne scarring in skin of color”

SOCS members receive a special discount on registration by following these steps:

• Go to the IMCAS registration page here
• Choose Physician badge
• Enter your participant information and billing data
• at payment step, enter the promocode “SOCS24”
• Upload your membership certificate or invoice
• Then checkout!

Congratulations, Dr. Alexis!

Congratulations to SOCS Immediate Past President Andrew F. Alexis, MD, MPH, FAAD, who was honored at the National Psoriasis Foundation’s Fleur de Cure on April 11, 2024 in New York City.

Check us out on social media!