Career & Community Advancement Award | Women's Dermatologic Society

DERMATOLOGY • CAREER • COMMUNITY
Awards of up to $10,000 to help members grow professionally to further contribute to the specialty and society

The WDS Career and Community Advancement Award encourages projects and initiatives focusing on community service, career enhancement, and advancement of the specialty of dermatology. Qualified projects may cover a wide range of member needs and interests. Some examples, drawn from activities previously initiated by WDS members, are shown below.

CAREER ENHANCEMENT/DERMATOLOGIC ADVANCEMENT FOCUS PROJECTS:
To attend an executive education course or conference to help further develop professional skills in areas such as management, leadership, communications, research, etc.

To embark on a course of study at centers of learning for specialized training that is not provided through traditional means.

COMMUNITY FOCUS:
To develop a community-based program. One example is providing free tattoo removal for former gang members and at-risk youth who want to “erase the past” and pursue a better life, in exchange for community service.

A second example is offering treatment in an impoverished region for those inflicted with a rare skin disease and to create an educational video documentary aimed at raising awareness and improving dermatologic treatment of the condition.

GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA:

Applicant must be a member in good standing of the WDS for three (3) consecutive years; award applications must be focused on improving professional skills and/or improving knowledge of community-based dermatologic conditions or promoting dermatologic health.
Awards will be designated for particular areas of professional skill development, infrastructure development, or goal-oriented projects. Examples of acceptable requests include but are not limited to the attendance of educational meetings or conferences and/or to support the development and implementation of community-based dermatologic health programs. Enduring projects are encouraged.
Criteria for awards will include the merit of the proposal, the perceived need and the qualifications of the applicant. Two letters of recommendation are required. One letter must be from a WDS member. Documentation of requested course content may also be required.
In the Statement of Purpose, applicants should identify the specific skills she/he wish to acquire and/or describe a community-based dermatology program and its specific goals and potential benefits to dermatology and the community in general.
Applications must be submitted to the award program committee at least three months prior to the date of the project. Awardees are expected to attend the Annual Meeting to acknowledge receipt of the award.
Up to $10,000 will be awarded. An individual may only receive one award, regardless of identified need for additional programs or changes in career goals. However, under exceptional circumstances, the Committee will review applications for a second award (for maximal total award of $15,000 to any member) if accompanied by a clear statement (with budget) explaining rationale for additional funding for the original project.
Budgets may include request for reasonable travel expenses, tuition, and appropriate housing expenses necessary to complete training. Awardees may also request for reasonable equipment-related purchases that is strictly for the implementation of the planned program.
Award is not intended to cover academic indirect/overhead costs.
Awardees will provide WDS with a photo and a brief summation of project for publication in the WDS Newsletter within one month of the conclusion of the project. Projects may be featured at the WDS Annual Meeting Luncheon..

TO APPLY:

You may apply for the WDS Career & Community Advancement Award in one of two ways:

Apply online at: Career & Community Advancement Award Application
Applications are reviewed twice a year: June 30, 2010 & December 31, 2010
(Exceptions may be made for time sensitive requests)
Send the application and required materials to:
WDS Career & Community Advancement Award
Women’s Dermatologic Society
700 N Fairfax Street, Suite 510
Alexandria, VA 22314

FAX: (571) 527-3105 (download the PDF version)
Questions? Please email us at: wds@womensderm.org • (tel: 571-527-3115)

PURPOSE OF AWARD:

The WDS Career & Community Advancement Award provides financial support for members for either career development or for development of community-based dermatologic activities.

Funds may be used:

To acquire specific skills to enhance professional development through “hands-on” training or other educational activities;
For the design and conduct of community-based dermatologic activities intended to enhance our understanding of dermatologic conditions;
To promote dermatologic health and well-being.

Download Brochure
(Viewing Help)

My Thoughts on Women and Mentoring

by Deborah MacFarlane MD, MPH

Two years ago I received a WDS Career Development Award to study the topic of “Women and Mentoring” with Mary Maloney, MD. Mary kindly let me stay at her home in Massachusetts for two weeks and in the evenings we would sit and mull over the topic. I remember trying to compile a list of what I considered to be the challenges female physicians face during their careers...
(Full Article Online Here)

TAKE YOUR CAREER TO THE NEXT LEVEL:

Here are some examples of awards that have been provided and what some award recipients have said about the Career & Community Advancement Award:

Established an International Training Program
	“I have discovered that we are embarking on an era of rediscovering purpose in dermatology and that this purpose will be found in our contribution to global dermatologic public health, individually and collectively as a specialty.”
		– Kim Dernovsek, MD, Pueblo, CO
Studied New Techniques Abroad
	“The Career Development Award affords women the opportunity to maintain interest in one’s field, review certain aspects or develop new skills after formal training and even years in practice or academics.”
		– Ellen Mooney, MD, Reykjavik, Iceland
Attended Conference on a Specialized Topic
	“I have been a dermatologist in Sydney for the last seven years, but have not had the opportunity to attend any meetings about epidermolysis bullosa (EB). This grant provided me with 10 days of learning about how other experts manage their EB patients and I made excellent contacts in the field. I am extremely grateful.”
		– Dedee Murrell, MD, Sydney, Australia

SOME OF OUR AWARD RECIPIENTS:

	Alexandra B. Kimball, MD Boston, MA Award Focus: To pursue a course at Harvard Business School: Strategic Finance for Smaller Businesses Award Class of 2006 (see more)
	Kim Dernovsek, MD Pueblo, CO Award Focus: Set-up of a training program aimed to improve dermatologic education and care in Uganda Award Class of 2003 (see more)
	Evangeline Handog, MD Metro Manila, Philippines Award Focus: To study 2nd generation tools in Cosmetic Dermatology; Dermatologic Surgery and Lasers Award Class of 2005 (see more)
	Ellen Mooney, MD Reykjavik, Iceland Award Focus: To study at Sydney Melanoma Unit Award Class of 2001 (see more)
	Dedee F. Murrell, MD Sydney, Austrailia Award Focus: To study epidermolysis bullosa Award Class of 2003 (see more)

The WDS Career & Community Advancement Award is supported by Galderma Laboratories.