A St. Louis dermatologist and several colleagues have succeeded in convincing the American Academy of Dermatology to vote at its March annual meeting on whether to change the organization’s name to the American Academy of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery.
Dr. Lee Portnoff, who is in private practice and is an assistant professor of clinical medicine at Washington University in St. Louis, said in an interview that he and his colleagues were calling for the change because "it is important that our largest dermatology umbrella organization has a name that represents and promotes the surgical aspect of our practices."
In a position paper submitted to the AAD, Dr. Portnoff and the three signatories – Dr. Harold J. Brody, Dr. William P. Coleman III, and Dr. Raymond L. Cornelison Jr. – noted that a simple majority of AAD members approved just such a name change 14 years ago at an annual meeting but that a two-thirds majority was required for passage.
In addition, even though the AAD Advisory Board backed resolutions over the past 2 years urging the AAD Board of Directors to add "dermatologic surgery" to the academy’s name, the Board of Directors declined to have such a change considered at the annual meeting, saying that it would be too expensive to change and that it would mean establishing a new "brand" for dermatology. Dr. Portnoff said, however, that many specialties are now performing dermatologic surgery and that dermatology should reclaim the distinction.
The position paper calling for the change also says that "we do not see how the addition of the surgical name will alter the branding that exists." Instead, it could make the branding more successful, and also "enhance our specialty tremendously."
The AAD will be taking comments on the proposal until Dec. 1, according to a spokeswoman for the organization.
Members who want to comment can do so via the AAD website, by e-mail, or by mail to the attention of the Secretary Treasurer, Bylaws Statements, 930 E. Woodfield Road, Schaumburg, IL 60173-4729.
Statements cannot be any longer than two typewritten, double-spaced pages.
If the academy votes to change the name, it would take effect 12 months later, unless the Board of Directors and the AAD voted to change the effective date.