DAVID T. HARVEY, MD, FAAD, FACMS

1615 Highway 34 E, Suite B

Newnan, GA  30265

Ph: 904-465-5925   

​

 

February 15, 2025

Dear Colleagues,

 

It is an honor to be considered for the position of director for the American Academy of Dermatology. Our specialty is in dire need of energetic and thoughtful leadership to help us navigate through these difficult times. Payment cuts, scope of practice challenges, and the negative public perception that we have garnered from recent coverage in the press is creating unwanted stress and uncertainty for us all.

 

It is important that our leaders exhibit the stamina and heart to address these issues head on. I have shown such resolve in my past tenures as the president of three state dermatology societies. While serving as the President for the Florida Academy of Dermatology, we protested and eliminated an AK cutback proposal by picketing at the Blue Cross Blue Shield building in downtown Jacksonville. It is crucial that we actively show up, rather than simply paying lip service to achieve positive outcomes, and I am ready to stand up for the future of our field.

 

If elected, I would take an aggressive position against payment cuts through establishing coalitions with other doctor groups, patients, and employers. Our line of work brings great value and benefit to society. We bridge the gap between aesthetics, surgery, and medicine and our wide scope of practice needs to be seen and respected by the community at large. Ultimately, the lifelong care of our patients is at the core of what we do, treating and empowering them to be the best version of themselves in every stage of life. The public needs to continue to witness our commitment to them through programs such as Camp Discovery, the AAD’s firefighter skin cancer checks, and grants such as the DermElevate Scholarship Initiative, which I helped create to fund underserved minorities at the high school and college level.

 

Effective leadership requires sacrifice, wisdom, and steadfastness, and I believe that I have demonstrated these characteristics in my previous leadership roles. As a director, I would use my energy, tenacity, and experience to fight for and alongside of you, my valued colleagues. I want to thank you for your consideration of my candidacy and would be grateful to work with you for the future of our beloved specialty.

 

Respectfully submitted,

​

David T. Harvey

​

DAVID T. HARVEY, MD, FAAD, FACMS

The views and opinions in this letter are my own and do not reflect those of the Academy or its policies.