Dermatology Foundation

William A. Caro, M.D. Selected as 2002 Dermatology Foundation Clark W. Finnerud Honoree

William A. Caro, M.D. has successfully combined private clinical practice, research and teaching throughout his 35-year career at Northwestern University Medical School.  Because of his many contributions to dermatology, Dr. Caro will be honored as the 2002 Clark W. Finnerud Award recipient on Saturday, March 22, at the Annual Meeting of the Dermatology Foundation during the annual convention of the American Academy of Dermatology in San Francisco.

Clark W. Finnerud, M.D. was a member of the faculty at Chicago’s Rush-Presbyterian- St. Luke’s Medical Center for 47 years.  His generosity helped launch the Dermatology Foundation in 1964, and the Trustees created the named Award in 1971 as a means of honoring those members of the specialty whose contributions as clinical educators and mentors are exemplary.   

Dr. Caro holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and an M.D. from the University of Illinois College of Medicine.  He was a dermatology resident at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the Earle D. Osborne Fellow in Dermal Pathology at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Washington, DC prior to becoming a Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Northwestern University Medical School. 

Dr. Caro has served on a number of committees for the American Academy of Dermatology, the most recent of which was the Ethics Committee.  He also has been President of the American Society of Dermatopathology, Chicago Dermatological Society and the American Board of Dermatology.  He served on the Northwestern Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees from 1986-87 and the Board of Directors from 1988 to 1991 and the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Northwestern Memorial Corporation, the Hospital’s parent organization in the 1990s.

Dr. Caro was cited by one of his nominators for his dedication to the students he teaches.  “His half time in the department has been a full half day, during which time he has done dermatopathology and taught extensively to medical students and residents.  What is remarkable is that he really represents the glue of the department in that he has stuck with it during the many ups and downs that have occurred.”

The Dermatology Foundation was created in 1964 by a group of concerned physicians in order to advance patient care through research.  The nonprofit organization raises funds from members of the specialty and the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and surgical industries to support a broad-based program of research investigations.

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