AAD Announces Newly Appointed Leadership Officers

Image Credit: © Penn Medicine

Kicking off its first day of the 2025 annual meeting, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has announced the installation of new officers and board members. As the largest dermatologic society in the world, the AAD represents nearly 21,000 physicians specializing in skin, hair, and nail conditions. The newly appointed officers and board members will play a crucial role in advancing the field of dermatology through advocacy, education, and clinical practice improvements.¹

Susan C. Taylor, MD, FAAD, Appointed as AAD President

Philadelphia-based board-certified dermatologist Susan C. Taylor, MD, FAAD, has been appointed as the new president of the AAD for a 1-year term. Taylor, the sixth woman and first African American clinician to hold this position, will also serve as the president of the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA), the AAD’s sister organization focused on government affairs and health policy.¹

Taylor has a distinguished career in dermatology, currently serving as the Bernett Johnson professor of Dermatology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania, earned her medical degree from Harvard University, and completed both an internal medicine residency at Pennsylvania Hospital and a dermatology residency at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. Her previous leadership roles within the AAD include serving as vice president from 2020 to 2021, in addition to holding multiple committee, council, and task force positions. In recognition of her contributions to dermatology, she received the John Kenney Jr., MD Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.

“I am honored to serve the AAD membership as their next president and I thank them for trusting me to fight for them and for the dermatology specialty over the next year and beyond,” said Taylor. “I look forward to tackling head on some of the most important issues facing dermatology today, including access to care for patients, making the Academy more accessible for members, and focusing on ensuring members feel like their Academy is taking care of them so they can better take care of their patients through important Academy activities like federal, state, and grassroots advocacy, the extensive educations opportunities both online and in person, the wide-ranging suite of practice management tools, and more.”

Other Newly Appointed Officers

Joining Taylor in leadership roles are:²

• Kevin D. Cooper, MD, FAAD, Vice President: Cooper is a professor and chair of dermatology at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University, and University Hospital Seidman Cancer Center. He previously served on the AAD Board of Directors and has been involved in various Academy councils and committees.
• Keyvan Nouri, MD, MBA, FAAD, Secretary-Treasurer: A professor at the University of Miami, Nouri specializes in Mohs, dermatologic, and laser surgery and has held several leadership roles within the AAD, including serving as assistant secretary-treasurer.
• Sabra Sullivan, MD, PhD, FAAD, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer: A clinical adjunct professor at the University of Mississippi Medical School, Sullivan has been actively involved in health policy and advocacy efforts, having served as chair of the AADA Council on Government Affairs and Health Policy.

New Members of the AAD Board of Directors

The AAD has also appointed 4 new board members, each serving a 4-year term:²

• Andrew F. Alexis, MD, MPH, FAAD: A professor at Weill Cornell University in New York City, Alexis is an editorial board member for the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and has previously served on the Board of Directors of the American Dermatological Association. Additionally, Alexis is a proud member of the Dermatology Times Editorial Advisory Board.
• A. Shadi Kourosh, MD, MPH, FAAD: A director of community health in the Department of Dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital and an associate professor at Harvard, Kourosh is known for her advocacy work, including chairing the AAD’s Task Force on Dermatological Resources for the Prevention of Human Trafficking.
• Seth L. Matarasso, MD, FAAD: A clinical professor at the University of California, San Francisco, Matarasso has an extensive background in dermatologic surgery and Mohs chemosurgery. He currently serves as chair of the AAD’s Bylaws Committee and is a member of the Dermatology Times Editorial Advisory Board.
• Joseph Merola, MD, MSc, FAAD: Chair of Dermatology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, Merola is board-certified in dermatology, internal medicine, and rheumatology. His academic and clinical expertise spans multiple disciplines, enhancing the intersection of dermatologic and systemic diseases.

Advancing Dermatology Through Leadership

The newly appointed AAD officers and board members bring a wealth of experience and leadership to the organization. Their collective expertise will guide the Academy’s initiatives in improving dermatologic care, advancing research, and advocating for policies that benefit both practitioners and patients. Under Taylor’s leadership, the AAD is poised to continue addressing critical issues such as patient access to dermatologic care, professional development opportunities for members, and the enhancement of practice management tools.

As the organization moves forward, the contributions of these leaders will be instrumental in shaping the future of dermatology and ensuring high-quality care for patients worldwide.

References

1. Susan C. Taylor, MD, FAAD, assumes presidency of the American Academy of Dermatology. News release. AAD. Published March 7, 2025. Accessed March 7, 2025. https://www.aad.org/news/susan-c-taylor-assumes-presidency
2. American Academy of Dermatology installs new officers, board members. News release. AAD. Published March 7, 2025. Accessed March 7, 2025. https://www.aad.org/news/new-officers-board-members-2025