How to Make a Difference with WDS

-
By Samantha Schneider, MD



The Women’s Dermatologic Society is a wonderful community of Dermatologists, made up of both men and women, which supports the personal and professional growth of its members and their communities. Founded in 1973, WDS has provided Dermatologists at all levels in their career the opportunity to connect personally and build lasting relationships while growing professionally and making a difference. There are so many ways to become involved – Join Us Today!

 

VOLUNTEER: Impact Your Community 

WDS has a presence in our local, regional, and international communities through a variety of outreach programs and grassroots campaigns. As Dermatologists, we know that sun safety is extremely important. As such, WDS has created multiple avenues through which to educate our patients and communities including skin cancer screenings and prevention outreach, sun safety education, and addressing total women’s health through the dermatology gateway.

Play Safe in the Sun

In 2004, the “Play Safe in the Sun” program was developed and launched to bring board certified Dermatologists to public events around the country. The goal of this program is to raise awareness about skin cancer and sun safety by providing free skin cancer screenings, sun damage assessments, sun safety educational materials and complimentary sunscreen samples at community events.

Coast-2-Coast

Another named initiative is the “Coast-2-Coast” program, which is a member driven extension of the “Play Safe in the Sun” program. This program empowers communities with the tools and resources for local sun safety and skin cancer prevention activities. Members are encouraged to create unique educational outreach events in their local communities throughout the year.

TIPP Women’s Shelter Initiative

The “Women’s Shelter Initiative” was developed in relation to the “Transforming Interconnecting Project Program: Total Women’s Health Via the Dermatology Gateway (TIPP)” program which lifts up women in need. The goal of the program is to address the health needs of the total woman including skin care, oral hygiene, self-care habits, nutrition and social skills so that they can live their lives as their best selves – inside and out.

Our members are involved and appreciate these volunteer opportunities. WDS provides the support and guidance to empower members to create and execute the education outreach events that would be most impactful their offices and communities. For information on how to get involved, please visit the WDS Website or contact wds@womensderm.org.

Learn more about WDS Service Programs:

Play Safe in the Sun

Coast-2-Coast

TIPP Women’s Shelter Initiative

“The WDS makes it extremely easy for members to make a difference in their local and regional communities by hosting sun safety education events, skin cancer screenings, educational and self-esteem sessions through the women's shelter initiative, and so much more! There is a place for everyone in the service arm of the WDS -- go online to request materials and support to host a local event in your area!”
-  Ashley Wysong, MD, MS, WDS Board of Directors


“The Women's Dermatologic Society’s Play Safe in the Sun and Coast-2-Coast Events allow dermatologist members the opportunity to reach out to their communities and engage others in sun safe practices through education and outreach events. I love being a part of the community, enjoying the outdoors safely, and spreading sun safe habits to others."
- M. Laurin Council, MD, WDS Board of Directors


NETWORK: Build Personal and Professional Relationships

 WDS provides the unique opportunity of connecting Dermatologists through networking events, including networking receptions, retreats, and luncheons. At these events, members in academia, private practice, industry, and other areas of dermatology have the opportunity to share their experiences and knowledge about employment opportunities, practice management, and career development.

One specific initiative includes the “Regional Group” program, which facilitates local gatherings of Dermatologists to discuss networking and discuss hot topics in dermatology, women’s issues, and more.

The Mentor Program allows Dermatologists the opportunity to contact an expert for advice and guidance through a non-formal rotation using the “Mentor Directory.” The benefit of such a non-formal opportunity is that it allows each unique mentor-mentee pair to determine the subject, duration, and intensity of the project and relationship. This opportunity is available to all members from residency through mid to late career Dermatologists.

Other events include the “Networking Receptions” and “Panel Discussions” that occur at national and international dermatology conferences including WDS Forum, AAD, ASDS, ACMS, SID, MauiDerm, World Congress, EADV, and CDA. These events provide formal programming as well as informal time to connect with colleagues. With so many to choose from, we hope to see you at our Upcoming Events!

Learn more about WDS Networking Opportunities:

View Upcoming WDS Events

View Past WDS Event Highlights

Mentor Program

Regional Group Program


EMPOWER: Support Current and Future Leaders of Dermatology

 As an organization, WDS provides opportunities for its members to grow professionally through leadership opportunities. There are many committees and task forces through which members can become involved. These groups allow members to share their expertise, collaborate with others and contribute to our growth. Members looking to gain leadership experience are encouraged to explore WDS Councils and Committees.

In addition to leadership opportunities, there are a variety of WDS awards to ensure that members at all levels of their training and career are recognized for their contributions to our community. WDS Award Programs support Dermatologists throughout their career by providing opportunities for mentorship, leadership, and education. Additionally, WDS recognizes members who exemplify the core values of excellence in patient care, mentorship, volunteerism, and leadership through the WDS Annual Awards each year at the Annual Meeting and Luncheon.

For more information, please visit the WDS Website or email wds@womensderm.org.


Learn more about WDS Leadership & Membership Opportunities: 

 WDS Councils and Committees

WDS Board of Directors 

WDS Member Categories


Learn more about WDS Award Opportunities:

WDS Award Programs

 WDS Annual Awards

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

WDS Book Club - Read and Recommend

-
Image
WDS Book Club - Summer Reads By the News You Can Use Committee Summer is heating up! Ready to cool off with a summer escape? Whether you’re craving a relaxing beachside book or a fun staycation read, dive into this selection of titles curated by your WDS Members   Molly Stout, MD recommends the following books: 1) The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hildebrand – An iconic summer destination in need of a fearless leader, plus a little ghostly mystery. 2) The Covenant of Water by Abraham Vergase – A multigenerational family saga with lots of nods of medicine. Don’t be afraid of the page count, this tome is hard to put down. 3) The Burnout by Sophie Kinsella  – A young woman finds herself at a career meltdown and retreats to her childhood vacation town. For anyone feeling burnt out, this will reignite a little heat! 4) The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki – Consider your historical fiction itch scratched with this real-life cereal heiress. The plot thic...
Read more

Melanoma: Recent Advances and Future Possibilities

-
Image
  Melanoma: Recent Advances and Future Possibilities By Cather McKay MD, FAAD The incidence of invasive melanoma increases each year. Deaths from melanoma steadily rose until 2014, decreased until 2019, but have been on the rise again. As of 2024, the American Cancer Society predicts the lifetime risk of melanoma is 1 in 33 for White Americans, 1 in 1,000 for Black Americans, and 1 in 200 for Hispanic Americans. 1 Despite lower incidence in patients with skin of color, diagnosis tends to occur later with poorer survival as a result. We as dermatologists aim to improve diagnostic accuracy and correctly stage our patients so they can be referred to appropriate specialists. Melanoma staging and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines are important for every dermatologist to review and are available with a free NCCN account. Here are some of the recent updates 2 :   Biopsy principles Biopsy via saucerization/deep shave removal, punch for small dia...
Read more

TIPP: Women’s Shelter Initiative to Empowering Women Through Dermatology

-
Image
  TIPP: Women’s Shelter Initiative to Empowering Women Through Dermatology By Stephanie Choi, MS4, and Hanna Englander, MS2; UMass Chan Medical School   Community engagement offers healthcare providers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact and gain valuable insights into caring for patients from diverse backgrounds and with varied needs. For UMass Chan medical students Stephanie and Hanna, one particularly rewarding opportunity has been the Women’s Dermatologic Society (WDS)’s Transformative and Interconnecting Program Project (TIPP), the women’s shelter initiative.  Through the TIPP program, medical students and dermatologists can organize dermatology educational workshops for participants at women’s shelters. Each event requires involvement of a dermatologist with an active WDS membership; and interested dermatologists and medical students can utilize the toolkit detailed on the TIPP website to acquire WDS support materials. This includes the WDS pre-made...
Read more