Ilona Frieden, MD - 2009 Rose Hirschler Award Recipient (Hi-Resolution Download)

Dr. Frieden is Professor of Dermatology and Pediatrics and currently serves as Chief of Pediatric Dermatology at the University of California- San Francisco, where she attended medical school and in 1977 began residencies in both dermatology and pediatrics. She has served on the WDS board of directors, as president of the Society of Pediatric Dermatology, on the board of directors for the American Board of Dermatology, and as Chair of the AAD’s task force on guidelines of care for hemangiomas.

She was presented with the WDS Mentor of the Year award in 2005, and has authored more than 175 publications in dermatology. She is co-editor of the Journal of Pediatric Dermatology and has co-edited an outstanding textbook on pediatric dermatology.

As Dr. Adelaide Hebert presented the Rose Hirschler award, she emphasized how Dr. Frieden has successfully managed to be a mother, leader, friend, and colleague to us all. Growing up, Dr. Frieden said her parents would not allow a television in the home. As a result, she read constantly. She credited Nancy Esterly MD for inspiring her to do pediatric dermatology, and teaching her that “we too, could describe new diseases if we just looked closely enough.”

She referred to the book Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell, saying “I’ve learned that success is not the result of genius and power but small advantages to make sense of the world in ways that others don’t.” She added, “I continued to grow, from hard work, not necessarily genius, and by surrounding myself with smart, curious, affable people. I try to be optimistic, without being cynical.” At the conclusion, she encouraged us all to pursue teaching and mentoring, exclaiming, “…your own life will be enriched!”

Here’s to Ilona Frieden, MD and all of the phenomenal women who have made incredible contributions to the Women’s Dermatologic Society and to the profession! Congratulations!

For further information about Women’s Dermatologic Society, visit: www.womensderm.org www.playsafeinthesun.org Contact Kerry Parker, Executive Director, at 1-877-WDS-ROSE