Valerie D. Callender, MD, FAAD
SOCS Past President & Co-Chair
Professor of Dermatology, Howard University College of Medicine
Founder & Senior Medical Director, Callender Center for Clinical Research, LLC
Valerie M. Harvey, MD, MPH, FAAD
SOCS Past President & Co-Chair
Co-Director, Skin of Color Research Institute, Hampton University
Carole Bitar, MD, FAAD
Stafford G. Brown, III, MD, MBA, MS
Cheryl Marie Burgess, MD, FAAD
Angel Byrd, MD, PhD
Alexandra P. Charrow, MD, FAAD
Seemal R. Desai, MD, FAAD
Candrice R. Heath, MD, FAAD
Tarannum Jaleel, MD
Amy McMichael, MD, FAAD
Chidubem A. V. Okeke, MD
Kanade Shinkai, MD, PhD
Hema Sundaram, MD, FAAD
Junko Takeshita, MD, PhD, MSCE, FAAD
Jonathan S. Weiss, MD, FAAD
Jane Yoo, MD, FAAD
In collaboration with
SOCS Advocacy Committee
Prince Adotama, MD, FAAD - Co-chair
Elizabeth Kiracofe, MD, FAAD - Co-chair
The CHORD COUSIN Collaboration
Join us for the 22nd Annual Skin of Color Society Scientific Symposium on March 26, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO. This meeting is in conjunction with the 2026 AAD Annual Meeting.
The 22nd Annual SOCS Scientific Symposium, themed Championing Evidence-Based Dermatology and Collaboration, will explore how dermatologists can lead with evidence and integrity and showcase how collaboration across specialties can effectively combat complex patient issues. With a focus on evidence-based care and leadership, our scientific program champions the essential role of the dermatologist as a scientific leader, trusted educator, and collaborative partner who stands at the forefront of advancing health equity and restoring public trust.
The SOCS Scientific Meetings Committee, led by Drs. Janiene D. Luke and Temitayo Ogunleye, looks forward to welcoming you to an extraordinary program.
Named by Time magazine as one of the "Nation's 50 Future Leaders Age 40 and Under," Regina M. Benjamin, MD, MBA, is Founder and CEO of the BayouClinic in Bayou La Batre, Alabama.
Following graduation from Xavier University, Morehouse School of Medicine, and the University of Alabama School of Medicine, Dr. Benjamin chose to return to the region in which she grew up, opening a family practice in Bayou la Batre, a small shrimping village along the Gulf Coast. In an area where need, not money, is prevalent, most of Dr. Benjamin's patients hold low-paying jobs that do not provide them with any health insurance.
Since 1990, Benjamin has been the sole family physician in this impoverished Gulf Coast town of 2,500 residents. She kept her clinic financially afloat by moonlighting in emergency rooms and nursing homes. When Hurricane Georges wrecked the building in 1998, she spent the next two years treating patients out of her Ford pickup. After earning her MBA from Tulane University, Dr. Benjamin converted her office to a rural health clinic dedicated to serving the community.
|
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Early Check-in / Badge Pick-up |
|
7:00 AM - 7:00 PM Registration and Badge Pick-up Desks Open |
|
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM Medical Student Breakfast Center for Leadership Committee |
|
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM View iPosters Galleries |
|
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM SOCS & SOCS Foundation Annual General Business Meeting SOCS Members only |
|
1:00 PM - 1:06 PM Welcome Remarks and Industry Champion Sponsor Videos Nada Elbuluk, MD, MSc, FAAD |
|
1:06 PM - 1:10 PM Introduction to the Program and Keynote Speaker Janiene Luke, MD, FAAD |
|
1:10 PM - 1:50 PM Keynote Session Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA |
|
1:50 PM - 2:00 PM Cultivating Leadership Excellence Susan C. Taylor, MD, FAAD |
|
2:00 PM - 2:20 PM Investigating the Molecular Differences of Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphomas in Black Women for Personalized Therapeutic Options Courtney M. Johnson, MD, PhD, FAAD |
|
2:20 PM - 2:28 PM Perioperative Racial Disparities in Patients with Acral Lentiginous Melanoma Undergoing Mohs Micrographic Surgery Umayr R. Shaikh, MPH |
|
2:28 PM - 2:46 PM Early Career Innovations Grant Presentations by Finalists + Voting TBD |
|
2:46 PM - 3:06 PM Featured iPoster Session (Break 1) |
|
3:06 PM - 3:10 PM Innovation Grant Announcement Dhaval Bhanusali, MD, FAAD and EltaMD |
|
3:10 PM - 3:30 PM Limitations for Gender Affirming Care in Challenging Times Klint Peebles, MD, FAAD |
|
3:30 PM - 4:10 PM Holistic Patient Care & Advocacy Michelle Oboite, MD, FAAD Moderator: Heather Woolery-Lloyd, MD, FAAD |
|
4:10 PM - 4:19 PM Distinct Metabolic Pathways of Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Severity-Associated Biomarkers Kingsley Osei-Karikari, BA |
|
4:19 PM - 4:39 PM Featured iPoster Session (Break 2) |
|
4:40 PM - 4:48 PM Risk of Psychiatric Comorbidities in Scarring vs Non-Scarring Alopecia: A Retrospective Cohort Study Nicole J. Baker, BS |
|
4:48 PM - 5:08 PM Leveraging AI to Build a More Sustainable Dermatology Practice Vinod E. Nambudiri, MD, MBA, FAAD |
|
5:08 PM - 5:58 PM Physician Care & Wellness: Practical Strategies for Sustainable Practice Naana A. Boakye, MD, FAAD Moderator: Noreen Galaria, MD, FAAD |
|
5:58 PM - 6:00 PM Closing Remarks Nada Elbuluk, MD, MSc, FAAD |
|
6:00 PM - 6:30 PM Grant and Award Announcements Nada Elbuluk, MD, MSc, FAAD |
|
6:30 PM - 8:15 PM Reception |
Registration for the 22nd Annual SOCS Scientific Symposium is open!
Date: March 26, 2026
Location: Centennial Ballroom D-H, Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center
Register today!
To access the discounted member registration rate, log in using the “Login” icon at the top of the Members-only page. Once logged in, renew your 2026 SOCS membership dues to unlock your member rate based on your membership type.
Be part of this thought-provoking and enriching experience, where evidence meets collaboration, and dermatology leads the way forward.
Note: Onsite registration rates will increase, so be sure to register soon!
Click here to read the SOCS' Event Policy.
| 8:00 – 8:30 AM |
Breakfast |
| 8:30 – 8:35 AM | Welcome Remarks Nada Elbuluk, MD, SOCS President 25-26 |
| 8:35 - 8:45 AM | Journey with Me Personal reflections of dermatologist's journey |
| 8:45 – 9:10 AM | Pathway to Dermatology Panel “The Match & Mentorship Journey” |
| 9:10 – 9:40 AM | Audience Q&A Live questions |
| 9:40 – 9:45 AM | Clinique Sponsor Spotlight Remarks from Kelly Fanning of Clinique |
| 9:45 – 10:00 AM | Brief Closing Victoria Barbosa, MD, CFL Co-Chair |
Scientific iPoster Activity Timeline and Status
|
Activity |
Timeline |
Status |
|
Call for Abstracts |
August 4 - October 6, 2025 (Noon CT) |
Closed |
|
Scientific Committee Review |
October - November 2025 |
Done |
|
Notifications to Abstract Primary Authors |
November 2025 |
Done |
|
Accepted Authors: iPoster Upload |
November 20 - December 15, 2025 |
Done |
|
Featured iPoster Notifications |
Early February 2026 |
On Schedule |
|
Scientific and Industry iPoster Galleries Go Live |
February 17, 2026 |
|
|
iPoster Online Live Chat & Video Sessions (Virtual) |
March 15 - 18, 2026 |
For the Scientific iPoster gallery only, scientific poster uploads are due December 15, 2025 by 11:59 AM (CST). Please refer to your iPoster upload instructions emailed to you for more details.
Selected abstracts will be invited to present at the Scientific Symposium with either an oral abstract presentation or a digital iPoster via iPoster Sessions. Industry partners* will have an opportunity to also create interactive iPoster with various content, including high-resolution images, videos, audio, and more. The Scientific and Industry iPoster Galleries will be available from February 17, 2026, and will remain available for one year after the event.
Participants can engage with the content and leave messages. Authors will have the flexibility to select the iPoster Online Live Session dates and times within the iPoster platform.
*Based on sponsorship level.
For help with tutorials, guides, and samples, please visit the iPosterSessions Resources page. Should you need any additional assistance, please consult the iPosterSessions AI Chatbot. Any questions unable to answered by the chatbot can be escalated to human support.
iPoster Sessions enhances accessibility and inclusivity at research events by providing a web-based platform that complies with WCAG and ADA standards, ensuring full participation for individuals with disabilities. The system supports diverse learning styles with multimedia features and promotes inclusivity by eliminating barriers for underrepresented groups. This allows attendees to engage with content from any internet-connected device, making scientific communication more dynamic and equitable. Click here to learn more.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
We sincerely thank our sponsors for their invaluable support of the 22nd Annual Scientific Symposium. Your contributions play a vital role in the success of this event and our ongoing efforts to advance innovation, collaboration, and excellence in dermatology.
Champion:
Ally:
Partner:
Friend:
Interested in becoming a sponsor?
View our sponsorship prospectus:
IMCAS World Congress 2025 Events:
IMCAS World Congress 2025:
January 30 - February 1, 2025
Paris, France, Palais des Congrès de Paris
IMCAS Americas 2025:
April 11 - April 13, 2025
Sao Paulo, Brazil, The World Trade Center Sao Paulo
IMCAS Asia 2025:
June 6 - June 8, 2025
Bangkok, Thailand, The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel
We are pleased to once again collaborate with the 5 Continent Congress as a Scientific Partner at the 17th 5CC World Congress, happening in Lisbon, Portugal on May 29-31, 2025.
SOCS members who are interested in attending this conference are eligible to receive a special registration discount, which will be valid until April 30, 2025.
To take full advantage of the member discount, follow these steps:
SOCS Regional Networking & Educational Symposium in Washington, D.C.
Date: March 20th, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Address: Lincoln Restaurant, 1110 Vermont Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20005
Talking With Your Patients About JAK Inhibitors for Atopic Dermatitis: Available until 3/26/2025; Online CME Activity.
Atopic Dermatitis: Practice Clinician Decision-Making in Virtual Patient Cases: Available until 4/26/2025; Online CME Activity.
2024 AAD Leadership Development Programs: Online applications are available on the AAD website.
