Dermatology Foundation

2002 Leaders Society Membership Exceeds 1,000 for the Third Consecutive Year

The 2002 Leaders Society Campaign scored two successes by year-end – with a record 1,151 members of the specialty on board as $1,000 supporters and 180 first-time members responding to the Dermik Laboratories $1,000 matching gift challenge.

“There is no doubt in my mind that the hard-working network of Leaders Society Campaign chairs across the country and Dermik’s Leaders Society Challenge combined to produce this growth,” said Michael D. Tharp, M.D., Chairman of the Leaders Society Committee.  “The Foundation has served as the foundation for all of dermatology since 1964 and is ever-mindful that its medical and surgical research program must keep pace with dermatology as it continues to evolve.  This keen awareness has in fact been the reason for increasing the number of multi-year clinical and career development awards.  Of the 54 research awards funded in 2003, 48% are multi-year awards in such areas as dermatologic surgery and health care policy.  The DF’s growth is sustained by generous support from the specialty and industry and is clear evidence that the entire dermatologic community understands the Foundation’s premier and singular role in advancing board-based patient care through research.”

Adding to the impact of the Leaders Society’s achievement were the 139 members of the Annenberg Circle.  Known as the Annenberg One Hundred, this distinguished group grew by over 35% -- a record -- as it welcomed 37 new members from the specialty and the lay public.  Members of the Annenberg Circle are lifetime members of the Leaders Society and have committed $25,000 to research in medical and surgical dermatology.

Total physician support of the Foundation reached exceeded $2 million in 2002 for the first time in the Dermatology Foundation’s history, and a full 63% of all Foundation donors are members of the Leaders Society and Annenberg Circle.

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