AAD’s historical commitment to diversity
The AAD has a rich history in support of diversity and tradition of embracing all members from our multicultural nation. The AAD established a Diversity Task Force in 1994, which later became a committee and launched the Diversity Mentorship Program in 1995 to connect medical students from communities underrepresented in medicine with dermatologists for a one-on-one mentorship experience. The program, which has been active for nearly 30 years, provides hands-on exposure in the field of dermatology and helps stimulate interest in dermatology as a career.
In 2017, the president of the AAD convened a summit of dermatology societies to discuss how to increase diversity in the specialty, as research showed that health inequities and patient outcomes were improved by a diverse physician workforce and training. Several initiatives came out of that meeting including an annual Diversity Champion Workshop event, now in its 6th year, and awareness building/mentorships for under-represented medical students.
In 2020, the AAD’s Board of Directors adopted a strategic plan proposed by the AAD Diversity Committee to address diversity, equity, and inclusion, which built on our long-standing work and outlined specific goals and programs to advance diversity in the specialty of dermatology. A range of programs have launched in subsequent years aimed at:
Promoting and facilitating diversity, equity and inclusion within the AAD;
Increasing the number of practicing dermatologists who are under-represented minorities (URM) and providing leadership and professional development programming;
Ensuring dermatologic education and research encompasses health disparities and skin of color, and advocating for Black and Latino patient representation in research; and
Expanding the Academy’s advocacy priorities to prioritize addressing health inequities and lack of access to care.
These programs address disparities based on race/ethnicity in addition to disparities based on other social determinants of health which include, but are not limited to, gender/gender identity, sexual preference, disability, geography, and economic status.
