WDS Creates Strategic Plan at Leadership Retreat at The Old Mill Inn

WDS leaders gathered for a one-day “Leadership Retreat” to develop a strategic plan for the organization. Pictured here were those who arrived the night before to enjoy a lovely dinner together at the Old Mill Inn.

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The Women’s Dermatologic Society is approaching the 30th Anniversary of its founding! “Our baby is now a 30-year-old and we couldn’t be prouder,” said WDS President, Sandra Read, MD. “Thanks to brilliance of many strong and foresighted women, and more than a few men, we’ve accomplished many of the founders’ goals, and made a great start on others. Our success and continued wonderful support within the Academy and the skin care community generally also encourage us to consider how best to build on our first generation. “Time for the dreaded STRATEGIC PLAN,” she said with a smile, remembering some of the initial reactions to the idea. “But those who had suffered through the strategic planning process with more institutionalized organizations, groups less concensus driven, were pleasantly surprised.”

The plan, developed by leaders of the WDS during the WDS Leadership Retreat on June 17, 2004 in Toronto, Canada, reviews strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities; presents a series of statements relating to WDS’ vision, mission, values and objectives; and sets out proposed strategies and goals for the WDS. “I think the WDS started as a rose bud and now it blossomed. Now we have gardens all over,” said Elizabeth McBurney, MD, one of the eighteen WDS leaders who participated in the planning retreat. Dr. Kathy Schwarzenberger has been a member for twelve years and at the retreat she explained why WDS has been relevant in her career: “WDS took me from being a resident to being a member of the professional dermatology community — this is the way you become one of the grownups.”

The new WDS strategic plan is a roadmap to guide the organization, the leadership and staff. It offers a message that the organization has a worthy mission and goals to fulfill and provides a clear set of priorities for the growth of the WDS. Action on these priorities has already occurred. We are indeed a responsive and nimble organization.

Through sponsorship support provided by Danine Summers of Connetics, WDS hired Nancy Fitzgerald, a public relations and communications expert, to facilitate the leadership retreat. The primary purpose of the retreat was to develop the strategic plan for the organization. In the course of one day, the WDS leadership embarked on a journey which began with understanding WDS’ founding principles, appreciating the organization’s current achievements, and, as part of the natural evolution of this 30-year old organization, developing a vision for the future to meet significant needs for members and for the broader community.

Drs. Elizabeth McBurney and Kathy Schwarzenberger at the WDS Leadership Retreat

Through the exciting and thoughtprovoking process of brainstorming, group discussion, and small work-groups, aided by clever graphic guides for easy organization of thought, participants reached consensus on the need to better articulate and shape the image of WDS, the need to enhance networking within the WDS as an avenue for retaining and attracting members, and the desire to incorporate “Service” into the organization’s mission. The identification of these goals spurred numerous excellent recommendations for strengthening WDS programs, activities and services for the future.

The WDS Board of Directors is in the process of reviewing the Strategic Plan and it is expected to be adopted by the Board at its next meeting. “This is a great step forward for the WDS and this plan is certain to help us focus our energies and resources in the years ahead,” said Dr. Read. “I’m indebted to the WDS leaders who participated in this process and brought this plan to life – please join me in thanking them for their great work that will certainly benefit all of us.”

They included: Jean L. Bolognia, MD, Anne E. Burdick, MD, MPH, Suzanne Marie Connolly, MD, Lisa Garner, MD, Keith A. Greathouse, Janet G. Hickman, MD, Lenore Setsuko Kakita, MD, Elizabeth I. McBurney, MD, Marianne N. O'Donoghue, MD, Kerry Parker, CAE, Suzanne Olbricht, MD, Barbara R. Reed, MD, Wendy E. Roberts, MD, Linda Ruetsch-Neri, RN, Kathryn Schwarzenberger, MD, Sabra Sullivan, MD, PhD, Susan H. Weinkle, MD.

WDS Renewal Retreat at THE OLD MILL INN
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