35th WDS Annual Meeting Luncheon


Excitement filled the ballroom at the 35th WDS Anniversary Luncheon.
[full size image] • Sunday, March 7, 2010 • 12:00 p.m.
Loews Miami Beach Hotel - Americana Ballroom • Miami, FL

WDS Celebrates 35 Years with Tributes to Extraordinary Women
By Rochelle Torgerson, MD, PhD

The Women’s Dermatologic Society’s 35th Emerald Anniversary Annual Meeting Luncheon was a shining example of history and substance providing a grand effect. Amid less pomp and circumstance than recent years, business was dispatched, honors were bestowed, Petals & Pearls was unveiled, and history was underscored.

The business meeting, presided over efficiently by outgoing president, Wendy E. Roberts, MD, highlighted a year of tremendous work unifying the Society and the WDS Foundation and making the types of administrative and financial changes needed to position the WDS for a strong future.

The award presentations provided the opportunity to shine a spotlight on career achievements. We, as attendees, were able to show our appreciation, and the honorees were able to share the moment with their families. This is one of the unique opportunities the Annual Luncheon provides. An additional acknowledgment was made this year by presenting a red rose and a copy of the WDS landmark book, Petals & Pearls, to each of the past presidents in attendance. Seeing these strong women standing together on a single stage was profound.

Petals & Pearls, a book project that blossomed in size since its inception to include contributions from 164 members, was unveiled with great excitement. Copies were distributed to attendees, and will be provided to all WDS members and to each graduating dermatology resident in the country. Petals & Pearls makes a beautiful coffee table book, but it is meant to be read. It is both a book of collective wisdom and history. It is difficult to stop reading once you start, and many recipients began reading theirs in the foyer immediately after the meeting.

The video, “Rare Gems—Extraordinary Women in Medicine” was premiered during dessert. A wonderful complement to Petals & Pearls, it was for many attendees the crowning jewel of the event. Although the history of the WDS is well known to some members, the film was an educational tour de force for the majority of the younger members and first time attendees. It drove home, like only visual media can, the strides taken by the founding members of the organization and the tremendous contributions the WDS has made to dermatology over 35 years.

As attendees filed out of the ballroom at the conclusion of the meeting, many could be overheard saying it was the best WDS event they had ever attended. I couldn’t help but think how wonderful it is that this was being said about an event that simply focused on the great individuals who comprise the WDS.


Please enjoy the WDS commemorative video,
“Rare Gems: Extraordinary Women in Medicine”—which pays tribute to pioneering women in dermatology.
[Download Movie]
Lisa Garner, MD, Incoming President receives the presidential gavel from Wendy E. Roberts, MD.
[full size image]
Wilma Bergfeld, MD proudly holds Petals & Pearls as WDS President Wendy E. Roberts, MD thanks and congratulations all who contributed to the creation of this stellar book.
[full size image]
Prof. Jean Hillaire Saurat, President of the International League of Dermatological Societies, presented Jean Bolognia, MD with the ILDS Certificate of Appreciation.
[full size image]
Lisa Garner, MD thanks Emerald Anniversary Luncheon co-chairs Marta Rendon, MD (left) and Lisa Connelly, MD and their committee for all their hard work in planning this commemorative event.
[full size image]
Mentorship Committee chair Tina Alster, MD (fourth from left) shown with some of her mentees.
[full size image]
Incoming President Lisa Garner, MD and Sandy Read, MD share a hug.
[full size image]
WDS Committee meetings at the Annual Meeting:
An engrossed task force absorbed in their sneak preview of Petals & Pearls, shown from left, Sig Bergfeld, Becki Tung, MD, Patti Farris, MD, (Seated) Michael Ming, MD, Wilma Bergfeld, MD and Mary Lupo, MD.
[full size image]
WDS Committee meetings at the Annual Meeting:
Changing of the guard with outgoing WDS newsletter editor Shelly Torgerson, MD (left) and new editor Jenny Murase, MD.
[full size image]
In a walk through history, WDS Past Presidents lined up on stage, with Petals & Pearls in one hand and a long-stemmed rose in the other. Pictured from left: Wilma Bergfeld, MD, Lynn Drake, MD, Marcia Tonneson, MD, Wesley Galen King, MD, Gloria Graham, MD, Sandy Read, MD, Marianne O’Donoghue, MD, Susan Weinkle, MD, Barbara Gilchrest, MD, Jean Bolognia, MD, Elizabeth McBurney, MD, Mary Lupo, MD, Suzanne Connolly, MD and Wendy E. Roberts, MD.
[full size image]


DOCUMENT ARCHIVE FROM THE EVENT:

BROCHURE: Download the brochure now (pdf) WELCOME: Welcoming Letter from WDS President Wendy E. Roberts, MD (pdf)
SCHEDULE: Download the schedule now (pdf) PRE-EVENT: Details available online