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The goal of the Women’s Dermatologic Society (WDS) is to help women in dermatology realize and fulfill their greatest potential. To achieve this goal we rely on the active participation of our members, who represent a diverse cross section of professionals in the areas of private practice, academia, managed care and industry.


The mission of the Women’s Dermatologic Society is to help women in dermatology realize and fulfill their greatest potential by striving to:
  1. Foster, promote and support women’s issues in dermatology;
  2. Identify, train, and recognize women leaders in dermatology;
  3. Provide a forum for developing relationships through mentoring and building of coalitions;
  4. Provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and research relevant to women’s issues;
  5. Promote the highest possible standards of ethics, support of research, patient care, patient education and public education.

  • WDS envisions a professional environment that recognizes the unique contributions by women in dermatology.
  • WDS strives to ensure that women in dermatology have full access and opportunity for professional advancement.
  • WDS focuses on balancing the diverse demands of medicine, family and community.
  • WDS encourages and supports women to maximize their personal and professional potential and to contribute to our specialty and society.





Seated (left to right): Kathy Schwarzenberger, MD, Suzanne Olbricht, MD, Suzanne Connolly, MD, Wendy Roberts, MD, Mary Lupo, MD
Standing: (left to right): Amy McMichael, MD, Kerry Parker, CAE, Wilma Bergfeld, MD, Valerie Callender, MD, Cheryl Burgess, MD, Neil Sadick, MD, Rutledge Forney, MD, Sarah Weitzul, MD, Marie-France Demierre, MD, Karen Burke, MD, Alysa Herman, MD, Diane Berson, MD, Dan Siegel, MD, Kavita Mariwalla, MD, Erin Warshaw, MD, Mary Spellman, MD, Ginat Mirowski, MD and Lauren Hughey, MD.
(Hi-Resolution Download)


President
Wendy E. Roberts, MD (2009-10)
Rancho Mirage, CA

President-Elect
Lisa A. Garner, MD (2009-10)
Garland, TX

Vice-President
Janet G. Hickman, MD (2009-10)
Lynchburg, VA

Treasurer
Suzanne M. Olbricht, MD (2008-11)
Burlington, MA		 Secretary
Kathryn Schwarzenberger, MD (2007-10)
Burlington, VT

Historian
Wilma Fowler Bergfeld, MD (2008-11)
Cleveland, OH

Immediate Past-President
Suzanne M. Connolly, MD (2009-10)
Scottsdale, AZ

Executive Director / Ex-Officio
Kerry Parker, CAE
San Francisco, CA


Cheryl M. Burgess, MD (2007-11)
Washington, DC
Valerie Callender, MD (2006-10)
Mitchellville, MD
Fran Cook-Bolden, MD (2009-13)
New York, NY
Marie-France Demierre, MD (2006-10)
Boston, MA
Virginia Rutledge Forney, MD (2007-11)
Atlanta, GA
Kathleen J. Hectorne, MD (2009-13)
Austin, MN
Alysa R. Herman, MD (2008-12)
Miami, FL
Alexa Boer Kimball, MD, MPH (2009-13)
Boston, MA		 Ginat W. Mirowski, DMD, MD (2008-12)
Carmel, IN
Daniel M. Siegel, MD, MS (2008-12)
Smithtown, NY
Mary C. Spellman, MD (2007-11)
San Francisco, CA
Neil S. Sadick, MD (2009-10)
New York, NY
Rochelle R. Torgerson, MD, PhD (2009-11)
Rochester, MN
Erin M. Warshaw, MD, MS (2006-10)
Minneapolis, MN
Sarah B. Weitzul, MD (2008-12)
Dallas, TX
Lorraine C. Young, MD (2009-13)
Los Angeles, CA

International Representative
Torello Lotti, MD (2009-11)
Florence, ITALY

Resident Representative
Kristen Mia Stewart, MD (2009-10)
Washington, DC

Young Physicians Representative
Annie Chiu, MD (2009-10)
Beverly Hills, CA

Parliamentarian
Sabra Sullivan, MD (2009-10)
Ridgeland, MS

Immediate Past-President
Suzanne M. Connolly, MD (2009-10)
Scottsdale, AZ

Executive Director/Ex-Officio
Kerry Parker, CAE
San Francisco, CA

Historian Emeritus
E. Dorinda Shelley, MD
Toledo, OH



WDS Ethics Committee

WOMEN’S DERMATOLOGIC SOCIETY GUIDELINES FOR INDUSTRY RELATIONSHIP

BE IT RESOLVED THAT:  The professional integrity, independence, and autonomy of the Society and its members will be protected and preserved in its relationship with Industry.

  1. Any relationship should support WDS’s Mission & Vision Statement
    * A WDS mission-oriented function must be served or a benefit to our specialty shall ensue
    * A benefit to patients or the public must be served
  2. The clinical and professional judgment of the Society’s members should not be adversely influenced by the relationship.
  3. The primacy of the patient’s well-being should be preserved in the relationship.
  4. All grants should be unrestricted with program designation determined by the WDS and the sponsor.
  5. There should be no promise or even encouragement of expectation that members will use or recommend products or services to patients because of industry sponsorship or relationship.
  6. The Society can recognize companies, but not endorse, recommend, or sponsor products or services because of industry sponsorship or relationship.
  7. The Society should retain control of the content, promotion, development, and implementation of all WDS activities. These would include events, meetings, retreats, or conferences.
  8. Relevant conflicts of interests by members of the Society should be disclosed.
  9. Industry sponsors may not promote products or services in connection with their sponsorship of Society activities, but products or services may be listed in a non-qualitative manner. Sponsors may not use the name of the WDS without the express consent of the WDS.
  10. The Society may permit program materials and activities to include acknowledgments of financial and other support from organizations. Such acknowledgments may identify and describe the company’s products or product lines in neutral terms and may include the sponsor’s name, logo, slogan, locations, telephone numbers, or website addresses as long as such acknowledgments do not include (a) comparative or qualitative descriptions of the company’s products, services, or facilities; (b) price information or other indications of savings or value associated with the company’s products or services; (c) a call to action; (d) an endorsement; or (e) an inducement to buy, sell, or use the sponsor’s product or service.
  11. Any proposed corporate arrangements must be reviewed and approved by the Society’s Executive Committee to ensure that such arrangements are consistent with these guidelines. Any potential conflicts of interest shall be avoided by having the Ethics Committee review as needed.
  12. The Society reserves the right to terminate any corporate arrangement if the sponsor or its representatives or agents engage in any conduct, including but not limited to product promotion activities, that would lead the Society to reasonably determine that its continued participation in the arrangement with a particular company would adversely affect the goodwill and reputation of the Society or its affiliates. In the event of any such termination, Society will relinquish the sponsor's contribution and return all unused funds. Upon expiration or termination, no further use may be made by the sponsor of Society’s name without the written approval of Society.

Adopted by the WDS Board of Directors August 1, 2008



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