Miller School Faculty Become President and Vice President of the American Academy of Dermatology

After the conclusion of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting, held March 21, Terrence Cronin, Jr., M.D., associate voluntary professor of dermatology, and Robert Kirsner, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Dr. Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery at the Miller School of Medicine, officially became president and vice president, respectively, of the AAD.

The roles will last one year and offer another opportunity for collaboration between Drs. Cronin and Kirsner. Both have not only served in previous positions within the AAD but were residents in the University of Miami/Jackson Health System dermatology program, where Dr. Kirsner was the chief resident.

“As president and vice president, we will be able to extend the impact of our department nationally and internationally,” Dr. Kirsner said. “This is going to be a great collaboration, and knowing each other previously has built trust and assurance that we have our hearts in the right place to better serve the specialty, patients and AAD members. United, I think we can and will make a major difference in dermatologists’ and patients’ lives.”

Reforms and Quality Initiatives in Dermatology

Before assuming the role of president, Dr. Cronin served in various leadership roles within the AAD. Since 2006, he has been past chair of the academy’s advisory board and served on the board of directors and executive committee. As president, Dr. Cronin will be the AAD’s primary spokesman and the chairman of the board of directors, where he is expected to guide policy development and lead the business end of the organization.

Priority initiatives for Dr. Cronin’s term will deal with Medicare payment reforms. He aims to establish a positive annual inflation adjustment, supporting a system that replaces or eliminates budget neutrality requirements to the physician fee schedule. He also wants to reform the Quality Payment Program to increase physician input and improve patient care without overly burdensome documentation and compliance activity.

“Being elected president of the AAD is the pinnacle of service to our specialty,” Dr. Cronin said. “I wanted to be president to help protect the profession from the forces trying to diminish the value of our expertise. In my role, I look forward to leading our initiatives creatively and forcefully on behalf of all physicians and the patients we represent.”

Effecting the AAD’s Goals

Dr. Kirsner’s previous roles with the AAD include serving on the board of directors, where he helps craft the academy’s strategies and chairing the AAD’s Council on Education. As chair of the Dr. Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, he has been a leader in the academic side of the specialty, recognized for his work with translational research and published works in wound healing, disparities and skin cancer epidemiology.

In the role of vice president, Dr. Kirsner will help the president and the leadership team direct the implementation of activities to meet their goals. Several of the major focuses this year will be to help dermatologists provide optimal patient care by advocating for fair reimbursement, reducing practice administrative burdens and enhancing quality education.

“Dermatology is a passion for me. I have been blessed to be able to care for patients, teach and train others to advance the field, and perform and enable research to transform care,” Dr. Kirsner said. “To serve as vice president of the AAD is an honor and privilege, as I have the opportunity to help AAD members enjoy the happiness and career satisfaction I have had, now and for years to come. Serving with Terry makes it an even greater honor.”

Tags: Dr. Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, Dr. Robert Kirsner, Dr. Terrence Cronin