June 18, 2024

How Will You Leave a Legacy?

Many of you have given countless hours to SOCS by supporting mentorship, research, advocacy, leadership, and ultimately helping to improve outcomes in dermatology patients with skin of color. Thank you for ALL you have done and do to invest in the future of dermatology and culturally competent quality care in the U.S. and abroad.

How else are you planning to leave a legacy?

It is estimated that $70 trillion will pass down from older generations to younger generations (and organizations doing incredible work that share a common vision) over the next two decades. 

The New Theodore K. Lawless, MD Legacy Circle of the SOCS Foundation

Would you consider joining a prestigious group of your peers—the Theodore K. Lawless, MD Legacy Circle of the Skin of Color Society Foundation today—by identifying SOCS as a recipient of a gift in your estate or retirement planning? Will you let our team know that you have made those plans so we can thank you properly?

Because more of your peers are beginning to ask questions about how to leave a gift to SOCS during estate or retirement planning, we’ve developed information on our newly redesigned website that might help here.

Theodore Kenneth Lawless, MD, (1892-1971), renowned Black dermatologist, medical pioneer, and philanthropist.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact our team at 630-578-3991 or mdegroff@skinofcolorsociety.org

SOCS Observership and Research Spotlight on

Dr. Crystal Aguh and Dr. Issac Li-Chi Chen

SOCS Leader Dr. Crystal Aguh with Dr. Issac Li-Chi Chen, who completed a two-week SOCS Observership rotation with Dr. Aguh at Johns Hopkins, leading to the recently published study and two other manuscripts.

We are always delighted to highlight published research by Skin of Color Society leaders and members, and especially thrilled when published work is connected with a SOCS Observership or Mentorship experience, as was the case in the recently published JAAD article, “Emergence of Janus kinase inhibitors led to increase in proportion of severe alopecia areata patients receiving treatment: A retrospective cohort study.”

This JAAD article shows that following the first case report of Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) use in patients with alopecia areata (AA) in 2014, the proportion of patients with AA totalis/universalis seen in derm clinics increased significantly. This is 8 years before the first JAKi was approved to treat AA.

Dr. Chen, a post-doctoral research fellow at Lahey Hospital and Medical Center and Massachusetts General Hospital, was a 2024 SOCS Observership Award recipient. This award supported his two-week rotation working closely with Dr. Crystal Aguh at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

As Dr. Aguh noted, “Isaac was an exceptional rotator, he blended seamlessly into our clinic and displayed a keen interest in conditions affecting skin of color patients.” She explained that three manuscripts arose from their two weeks together, including the JAAD article, as well as two other manuscripts focusing on disparities in access to treatments for patients suffering from alopecia areata and unique presentations of autoimmune hair loss in Black patients.

We extend great appreciation to Dr. Aguh for serving as the mentor in this SOCS Observership and congratulate everyone involved in this vitally important work!

SOCS 1-Slide for Summer Presentations

For SOCS members who are planning on delivering presentations in the coming months, please note that we have a single SOCS slide that can be included in your talks, which summarizes the mission and work of SOCS, and provides a QR code to learn more and join the Society!

We also have a longer presentation, Get to Know the Skin of Color Society, which is available upon request.

Help us spread awareness about SOCS as the world’s leading skin of color dermatology organization!

IG Live on Juneteenth: Black Family Cancer Awareness

Join us on Juneteenth (Wednesday, 6/19) at 2 pm CT for an Instagram Live conversation between SOCS President Dr. Victoria Barbosa and Melissa Wilson, PA-C, MPAS, representing our friends at Aim at Melanoma.

They'll be discussing skin cancer in Black people, acral melanoma, and the importance of early detection.

Tune in to the SOCS Instagram channel @skinofcolorsociety or Aim at Melanoma’s channel @aimatmelanoma to learn and ask your questions.

In the World of Skin of Color Dermatology

SOCS at the Recent 5 Continent Congress (5CC) in Lisbon, Portugal

Longtime SOCS leaders Drs. Valerie D. Callender and Dr. Cheryl M. Burgess represented SOCS at the 5CC/SOCS Scientific Partner Symposium on Skin of Color at the 16th 5 Continent World Congress (5CC) held recently in Lisbon, Portugal.

The collaborative program was moderated by SOCS Founding Member and Past President Dr. Callender, who provided an introduction and discussed Skin Aging Prevention & Treatment Options for People of Color, followed by Dr. Burgess’ presentation on Filler Complications and How to Avoid Them in Skin of Color Patients, and a Q & A session.

We greatly appreciate your participation on the global stage on behalf of SOCS!

Check us out on social media!