As the Skin of Color Society’s 15th anniversary year draws to a close, we look back on 2019, and proudly say that it has been quite a banner year, with many exciting highlights!

• In March, we presented our 15th Annual SOCS Scientific Symposium to the largest-ever audience, with outstanding expert speakers and a wide cross-section of attendees from all over the world.
• 223 new members were approved in 2019.
• SOCS membership represents 31 different countries around the world!
• Hundreds of SOCS members and dermatology colleagues gathered for six Networking & Educational Symposia held around the US in 2019, including: 
  • March in Miami, Florida, co-hosted by Drs. Heather Woolery-Lloyd andA Chere Lucas Anthony;
  • April in Los Angeles, co-hosted by Drs. Pearl Grimes and Nada Elbuluk;
  • July in New York City, co-hosted by Drs. Susan Taylor and Andrew Alexis (held during the Summer Academy meeting);
  • July in Honolulu, co-hosted by Drs. Candrice Heath and Donald Glass, II (held during the National Medical Association Annual Convention & Scientific Assembly);
  • September in Chicago, co-hosted by Lynn McKinley-Grant MD, FAAD; Amit G. Pandya, MD, FAAD, and Stavonnie Patterson, MD (preluding preluding the American Academy of Dermatology’s Diversity Champion Workshop at the Association of Professors in Dermatology (APD) Annual Meeting);
  • October in Williamsburg, Virginia, hosted by: Valerie M. Harvey, MD, MPH

Thank you to our hosts of these enriching regional events, and special thanks to Pfizer for supporting this popular Networking & Educational Symposia series! Read recaps and see photos from these well-attended events here.

• Thanks to support from Procter & Gamble, the Skin of Color Society was able to send members Janiene D. Luke, MD, as mentor, and Melanie E. Tawfik, MD, as mentee, to the 17th Annual Procter & Gamble Science Behind Symposium (also known as the Dermatology Technology Symposium) at the company’s headquarters. Read about their fantastic experience  here.
• SOCS and the International Master Course on Aging Science (IMCAS) successfully co-organized and co-presented a first-ever course, “Melasma & Skin of Color,” in August at the IMCAS 2019 meeting in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. Presenting SOCS members included: Dr. Sahar Foad Ghannam, Dr. Babar K. Rao, Dr. Kesha Buster, Dr. Valerie M Harvey, and Dr. Claudia Marcela Arenas Soto. Our collaboration with IMCAS began in 2018 under Dr. Seemal R. Desai’s presidency of the SOCS (2017-2019), inspired by his vision to expand SOCS’ presence globally.
• In the Fall, we launched a collaborative partnership with Medscape, that has resulted in a continuing medical education program, “Transforming the Management of Rosacea in Skin of Color,” featuring Skin of Color Society leaders Andrew Alexis, MD, MPH, Seemal R. Desai, MD, and Susan C. Taylor, MD. Special thanks to Galderma for supporting this educational program and to Drs. Alexis, Desai and Taylor for sharing their expertise on this important topic. This highly informative program can be accessed here.
• Read more about all that our vibrant, growing organization accomplished this year through ongoing programs and activities by visiting: skinofcolorsociety.org and connecting with us on social media! Watch for some thrilling news about new initiatives for 2020!