The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association (ASDSA) presented its Patient Safety Hero Awards at the annual American Society of Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) meeting in November. The awards recognize physicians who have actively promoted and protected patient safety in cosmetic medical procedures.
- State Dermatological Society Patient Safety Hero: The Minnesota Dermatological Society helped to pass a ban on indoor tanning by people under 18, and worked to block legislation that would have significantly weakened protections for patients undergoing laser procedures.
- Physician Patient Safety Hero: ASDSA members Bruce A. Brod, MD, and Ashley A. Smith, MD, highlighted consumer preferences on truth in medical advertising through a 2014 podcast and infographic. The dermatologists conducted a 2013 consumer survey, which showed that patients preferred to know the level of licensure of potential providers and that consumers wanted licensure, including the board certification of those conducting procedures, stated in advertisements and on name badges worn by the doctors.
- State Legislative Patient Safety Hero: Georgia State Senator Judson Hill successfully facilitated funding for a bill mandating proof of training and physician oversight for laser medical procedures. Approved in 2009, the bill finally went into effect in April 2014 thanks to Hill’s exhaustive efforts.
“This year’s honorees helped protect patients undergoing laser procedures, kept teens out of tanning booths and advocated for truth in medical advertising,” said George J. Hruza, MD, MBA, president of the ASDSA. “All too often, these advocacy activities go unrecognized and unnoticed. We applaud these heroes who work so hard to safeguard the health and safety of others.”
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The ASDS honored eight members with the President’s Award, recognizing physicians who contributed to the specialty and/or the Society in an extraordinary or unique way. Mitchel P. Goldman, MD, president of the ASDS, presented awards to the following recipients:
- Jean D. Carruthers, MD, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, for increasing public support and contributing her time and expertise to ASDS.
- Henry H.L. Chan, MD, of Hong Kong, for his work as a contributing editor for Dermatologic Surgery, member of the International Membership Work Group and international educator.
- David M. Duffy, MD, of Torrance, California, for his ongoing commitment to ASDS as a charter member, a contributing editor for Dermatologic Surgery and a regular faculty member at annual meetings.
- Gregory J. Goodman, MD, of South Yarra, Victoria, Australia, for advancing dermatologic surgery as a contributing editor to Dermatologic Surgery and international educator.
- Doris Hexsel, MD, of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, a worldwide contributor to ASDS and dermatologic surgery. She is a contributing editor for Dermatologic Surgery, a regular faculty member at annual meetings and a former member of the International Membership Work Group.
- Stephen H. Mandy, MD, of Miami Beach, Florida, for his work as a Future Leaders Network mentor; ASDS board member; annual meeting faculty member; committee member; historian and president.
- Peter R. Shumaker, MD, of San Diego, California, in recognition of the care he and the Department of Dermatology at Balboa Naval Hospital have provided to service members worldwide, performing scar revision treatments for traumatic injury victims.
- Margaret A. Weiss, MD, of Hunt Valley, Maryland, for her work authoring sclerotherapy consensus documents and as a contributing editor for Dermatologic Surgery, member of the Membership Work Group and regular faculty member at annual meetings.
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