The Past, Present and Future of Dermatology in the United States

Both the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and the Society for Investigative Dermatology (SID) have recently celebrated their 50th anniversaries. During these fiftyyears, the field of Dermatology has undergone a period of unparalleled growth in the United Staes as well as worldwide. The founding of the SID filledthe obvious need of the dermatological research community, and as one reviews the last fifty years, itis obvious that the SID has played a dominant role in the growth of academic Dermatology. The SID's role has extended beyond the United States startingin 1972 when the SID held its firstjoint meeting with the Europかan Society for Dermatological Research and subsequently with joint meetings with the Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology。 The AAD was founded at a time when it was < that the AMA Section of Dermatology was not responsive to the needs of the roughly 500 practicing dermatologists. While the AAD was started as an educational organization, its role, particularly over the last decade, has changed as m吃jor socieconomic factors began to impact on the practice of medicine. The AAD also plays an international role since 10% of the members are 丘omoverseas。 In this persentation, l intend to review the changes that have occurred in Amarican Dermatology; many of these changes are closely related to the AAD and the SID organizations, but they are also tied to other organizations, such as the American Board of Dermatology and the American Dermatological Association. In addition, l will review the eχternalforces which are impacting on Dermatology, as the specialty adapts to the changing economic factors that are influencig medical practice in the United States。