1. What are the three most important values AAD board members should possess? 

The three most important values that an AAD board member should possess are
honesty, passion, and selflessness. A board member should be able to look a colleague
in the eye, be truthful, and speak intelligently when answering a question or providing
an opinion. There is no place for arrogance or dismissiveness in this important role.
Passion is another important characteristic for the board member to hold. He or she
should be able to argue confidently and sensibly for their constituents. In dermatology,
our battle against Medicare cuts will require a fervent approach to reverse the current
trends. Finally, selflessness is an important value which a board member should
embody. This allows the individual to consider all position before acting and to openly
value others’ opinions.

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2. What does a board member look like inside and outside the boardroom?

Inside the boardroom, a board member should actively listen before speaking and
maintain a calm and confident demeanor. In this setting, one might encounter a deluge
of hot topics and temperamental personalities which can create a chaotic environment.
A poised and focused approach is essential when dealing with controversial subjects.
The board member must be able to stay on topic, exhibit patience when needed, and
show a willingness to cooperate. Outside of the boardroom, a board member should be
approachable and inquisitive. He or she must display competency in multiple areas as
they are representing over 20,000 dermatologists worldwide with different backgrounds
and concerns Again, it is very important to acknowledge and listen first before tackling
any question in an honest and forthright manner.

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3. Describe why you are the right candidate for this position at this time?

With over 30 years’ experience as a practicing dermatologist, academician, and business
owner, my focus today is to give back. I have enjoyed serving on the AAD’s payment
committee, teaching dermatology residents at Emory, and creating the DermElevate
Scholarship Initiative which will help needful minorities at the high school level to learn
more about dermatology. Finally, having served as the president of three state
dermatologic societies, I have a thorough understanding of what it takes to run a
successful professional organization. As a candidate for director, I would encourage us
to take a more aggressive approach to fight against Medicare cuts and prior
authorization obstacles. I believe that my experience, dedication and commitment to
you, my valued colleagues, would serve me well in this role.