The Wilma Bergfeld, MD Visionary and Leadership Award was created in 2000 at the 25th Anniversary celebration of the WDS to recognize dermatologists of national prominence who have been trailblazers for women in some aspect of our specialty.

The Award is not given on an annual basis, but on such occasion as the Awards Committee and Board of Directors of the Society feel that there is an individual who is especially deserving of this honor. In 2006, it was determined that there was such a person, Antoinette F. Hood, M.D., and she is the second recipient of this award. The first recipient of the award was June Robinson, MD in 2002.

Dr. Hood is a Professor of Dermatology and Pathology and Chair of the Department of Dermatology as well as Director of the Dermatopathology Unit at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, she spent her early years traveling with her military family. After graduating with a B.A. in Biology from Stanford University, she matriculated at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine where she obtained her degree in 1967. Following a year of internship in Internal Medicine, she then worked at a tuberculosis hospital in Florida and a student health center in California. Her Dermatology training was obtained in the Harvard program, and she remained in Boston for a two-year fellowship in Dermatopathology at the Massachusetts General Hospital with Dr. Martin C. Mihm, Jr. She was on faculty for 13 years at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and for two years was an Assistant Dean for Admissions. She joined the faculty of the Indiana University School of Medicine in 1993 where she was Director of Dermatopathology for 9 years. She moved to Virginia in 2002 to join her husband, Evan R. Farmer MD, who had been recruited as Dean and Provost at Eastern Virginia Medical School.

Dr. Hood is the author of over 120 peer-reviewed articles and is the co-author of four books. She has held leadership positions in several national medical organizations including the American Academy of Dermatology (Board of Directors; Vice President), the American Society of Dermatopathology (Secretary-Treasurer; President), and the American Board of Dermatology (Board of Directors; current Executive Director).
Her academic interests include dermatopathology, the cutaneous complications of chemotherapy and immunosuppression, drug reactions, and medical education.

These honors and accomplishments have come to Dr. Hood because of her leadership skills, willingness to serve, hard work and dedication to her profession. She serves as a model for all physicians.