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By Jean Bolognia, MD
 t was clear to all who attended the WDS Annual Meeting Luncheon in New Orleans on Sunday, February 20th that the energy in our society is palpable and the sense of purpose on the part of our members is increasing every year. Over the next year and beyond, it will be important for this spirit of volunteerism to continue to grow, resulting in successive waves of positive experiences. Realizing that the accomplishment of goals requires some degree of focus, I have chosen to concentrate on three key areas of development in the coming year:
Building upon the premise of Immediate Past President Dr. Sandra Read that we, as a society, have “come of age” and therefore need to look beyond ourselves to community service is very appealing to me. This course of action reflects both our maturity as an organization as we enter the equivalent of adulthood as well as a healthy sense of who we are as a group. Equally important is the need to think of projects as multi-year and spanning several presidencies, thus allowing new initiatives time to grow and blossom. Hopefully, this will ensure their success. Dr. Suzanne Connolly has already begun her work as chair of the new Service Committee. Over the coming year, she and her committee will be organizing community outreach projects across the country that focus on educating families about the importance of healthy skin. Major support for this initiative has come from the 3M Foundation, as was announced at our annual luncheon meeting.
As  the largest women’s dermatological society in the world, we have an obligation to interact in a more active way with our colleagues from around the world. Our professional concerns and need for communication are universal. This year I am proposing that the Membership Committee consider adding a new category of electronic membership, in which all communication is done via email and the WDS website. This would allow the society to offer membership at a reduced rate to individuals from emerging countries. We are very fortunate as an organization to have an extremely inviting and information-packed website as well as a top-of-the-line newsletter that is posted on that website. Furthering our international cooperation, initial steps towards partnering with the European WDS were taken this past fall and hopefully will progress over the coming year.
As an organization, the WDS has been very successful at a national level, but as we reflect on how to improve, our attention moves to the two ends of the spectrum. Ideas for enhancing the international end are outlined above, so the focus here must turn to the local level. Consider hosting a WDS Networking Reception! On the WDS website (www.womensderm.org), courtesy of our Networking and Website Committees, there is an icon called 'Networking Reception' and with just two clicks, a simple online application form for financial and planning support appears. Networking Receptions can be large or small, and they can be centered on camaraderie, a guest lecturer, discussion of a novel, or a review of journal articles as is done in the Washington, DC area and New Orleans.
If an analogy can be made between the WDS and a garden…while planting new types of flowers can be exciting, it is equally important to tend to one’s favorite perennials. In the case of the WDS these would, of course, include our mentorship and career development programs and networking events at national and regional meetings. These programs are the equivalent of our core values. Furthering the gardening analogy, there is also a need for fertilizing and pruning. We want to actively involve new and young members while evaluating existing and potential partnerships. This year, over half of the members named to a WDS committee are participating for the first time. I hope it will be as rewarding for them as it has been for me. If you are interested in participating in any program or committee, please email me or Dr. Elizabeth McBurney. She is already compiling a list for next year’s committee openings.
Jean Bolognia, MD
WDS President
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| Current Message from Our President HERE |
Past Messages from Our President:
- FEBRUARY 2008 (Mary Lupo, MD)
- NOVEMBER 2008 (Mary Lupo, MD)
- MAY 2007 (Mary Lupo, MD)
- DECEMBER/JANUARY 2007 (Elizabeth McBurney, MD)
- OCTOBER 2006 (Elizabeth McBurney, MD)
- MAY 2006 (Elizabeth McBurney, MD)
- JANUARY 2006 (Jean Bolognia, MD)
- NOVEMBER 2005 (Jean Bolognia, MD)
- JULY 2005 (Jean Bolognia, MD)
- APRIL 2005 (Jean Bolognia, MD)
- DECEMBER/JANUARY 2005 (Sandra J. Read, MD)
- SEPTEMBER 2004 (Sandra J. Read, MD)
- APRIL 2004 (Sandra J. Read, MD)
- DECEMBER/JANUARY 2004 (Marianne Nelson O'Donoghue, MD)
- APRIL 2003 (Marianne Nelson O'Donoghue, MD)
- FEBRUARY 2003 (Lenore S. Kakita, MD)
- SEPTEMBER 2002 (Lenore S. Kakita, MD)
- MAY 2002 (Lenore S. Kakita, MD)
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