21st Annual SOCS Scientific Symposium
Join us for the 21st Annual Skin of Color Society Scientific Symposium on March 6, 2025, in Orlando, Florida. Delve into cutting-edge discussions and advancements in dermatology as we explore crucial topics related to skin of color.
Stay tuned for more details and registration information coming this Fall!
#SOCS2025 #SOCSScientificSymposium #SkinofColorSociety #InnovatingforEquity
Agenda – March 5-6, 2025
Registration is required for all events listed below, including ticketed registration where applicable.
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
| 4:00 PM - 7:30 PM | *NEW* Early Registration and Badge Pick-up |
Thursday, March 6, 2025
| 7:30 AM | Registration and Badge Pick-up Desks Opens |
| 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM | Medical Student Breakfast |
| 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM | iPoster Galleries: viewing in Foyer |
| 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM | SOCS & SOCS Foundation Annual General Business Meeting (Members only. Lunch for registered attendees.) |
| 12:45 PM - 5:45 PM | 21st Annual SOCS Scientific Symposium: Innovating for Equity |
| 12:55 PM - 1:35 PM | Keynote Session |
| 1:35 PM - 2:16 PM | Presentations |
| 2:16 PM - 2:36 PM | Break 1: Featured iPoster Session (1 of 2) |
| 2:36 PM - 2:40 PM | Innovation Grant Awards Announced |
| 4:07 PM - 4:27 PM | Break 2: Featured iPoser Session (2 of 2) |
| 4:27 PM - 5:22 PM | Presentations |
| 5:22 PM - 5:42 PM | Closing Invited Speaker: Seemal R. Desai, MD, FAAD |
| 5:42 PM - 5:45 PM | Scientific Program Closing Remarks: Victoria H. Barbosa, MD, MPH, MBA, FAAD |
| 5:45 PM - 6:15 PM | Grant and Award Announcements by SOCS Outgoing President |
| 6:15 PM - 8:00 PM | Reception |
Location/ Venue
Hyatt Regency Orlando, 9801 International Dr, Orlando, FL, Room: Regency Ballroom S
Faculty
- Keynote Speaker
- President & Co-Chairs
- Invited Speakers
- Cross-Generational Mentorship
- Improving Diversity in Research
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Uché Blackstock
Our keynote session features a moderated fireside chat with Dr. Uché Blackstock, Founder and CEO of Advancing Health Equity, emergency physician, and New York Times-bestselling author of "Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine."
For more information on Speaker, please visit www.prhspeakers.com.
Keynote Session Details
Start Time: 12:55 PM
Format: 25-minute Fireside Chat moderated by a SOCS leader, followed by a 15-minute audience Q&A
President & Co-Chairs
Victoria H. Barbosa, MD, MPH, MBA, FAAD
Associate Professor of Medicine
University of Chicago Medicine
President, Skin of Color Society
Crystal Aguh, MD, FAAD
Associate Professor
Director, Ethnic Skin Program
Director, Ethnic Skin Fellowship
Department of Dermatology
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Scientific Committee Co-Chair
Cesar Antonio Virgen, MD, PhD, FAAD
Assistant Attending
Dermatology Service
Department of Medicine
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Scientific Committee Co-Chair
Invited Speakers
Adewole (Ade) Adamson, MD, MPP, FAAD
Division of Dermatology
Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin
Seemal R. Desai, MD, FAAD
President, American Academy of Dermatology
Founder & Medical Director, Innovative Dermatology
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology
Tarannum Jaleel, MD, MHSc
Assistant Professor, Duke Department of Dermatology
Director, Duke Dermatology Sponsored Clinical Trials Education
Cross-Generational Mentorship:
Pearls for Ensuring Success for Trainees Panel
This panel will explore the dynamics of cross-generational working relationships, focusing on the mentorship of students, residents, and junior faculty. The discussion will provide insights and strategies for fostering successful mentorship across different generations.
Ginette Okoye, MD, FAAD
Chair, Department of Dermatology
Howard University College of Medicine
Professor of Dermatology
Howard University College of Medicine
Moderator
Natasha A. Mesinkovska, MD, PhD
Associate Professor
Vice Chair, Clinical Research
Department of Dermatology
University of California Irvine
Roopal V. Kundu, MD, FAAD
Associate Dean for Admissions
Jacob R. Suker, MD, Professor of Medical Education
Professor of Dermatology and Medical Education
Founder/Director Northwestern Center for Ethnic Skin and Hair
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Amit G. Pandya, MD, FAAD
Associate Medical Director for Phototherapy and Dermatologist, Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group
Adjunct Professor, Department of Dermatology
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Improving Diversity in Research:
How to Improve Diversity in Basic and Translational Research Panel
This panel will address the critical need for enhancing diversity in basic and translational research. Experts will discuss strategies for increasing representation and inclusivity within research teams, study designs, and participant populations. The session will provide actionable insights on how to create a more equitable research environment that fosters innovation and addresses the needs of diverse communities.
John E. Harris, MD, PhD, FAAD
Professor and Chair, Department of Dermatology
UMass Chan Medical School
Founding Director, Vitiligo Clinic and Research Center
Founding Director, Autoimmune Therapeutics Institute
Chief Innovation Officer (CINO), Alys Pharmaceuticals
Moderator
Valerie D. Callender, MD, FAAD
Professor of Dermatology, Howard University College of Medicine
President, American Dermatological Association
Founder & Senior Medical Director, Callender Center for Clinical Research, LLC
Tamia A. Harris-Tryon, MD, PhD, FAAD
Associate Professor
Thomas L. Shields Professor of Dermatology
UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas
Shawn G. Kwatra, MD, FAAD
Dr. Joseph W. Burnett Professor and Chair
Department of Dermatology
University of Maryland School of Medicine
- Keynote Speaker
- President & Co-Chairs
- Invited Speakers
- Cross-Generational Mentorship
- Improving Diversity in Research
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Uché Blackstock
Our keynote session features a moderated fireside chat with Dr. Uché Blackstock, Founder and CEO of Advancing Health Equity, emergency physician, and New York Times-bestselling author of "Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine."
For more information on Speaker, please visit www.prhspeakers.com.
Keynote Session Details
Start Time: 12:55 PM
Format: 25-minute Fireside Chat moderated by a SOCS leader, followed by a 15-minute audience Q&A
President & Co-Chairs
Victoria H. Barbosa, MD, MPH, MBA, FAAD
Associate Professor of Medicine
University of Chicago Medicine
President, Skin of Color Society
Crystal Aguh, MD, FAAD
Associate Professor
Director, Ethnic Skin Program
Director, Ethnic Skin Fellowship
Department of Dermatology
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Scientific Committee Co-Chair
Cesar Antonio Virgen, MD, PhD, FAAD
Assistant Attending
Dermatology Service
Department of Medicine
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Scientific Committee Co-Chair
Invited Speakers
Adewole (Ade) Adamson, MD, MPP, FAAD
Division of Dermatology
Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin
Seemal R. Desai, MD, FAAD
President, American Academy of Dermatology
Founder & Medical Director, Innovative Dermatology
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology
Tarannum Jaleel, MD, MHSc
Assistant Professor, Duke Department of Dermatology
Director, Duke Dermatology Sponsored Clinical Trials Education
Cross-Generational Mentorship:
Pearls for Ensuring Success for Trainees Panel
This panel will explore the dynamics of cross-generational working relationships, focusing on the mentorship of students, residents, and junior faculty. The discussion will provide insights and strategies for fostering successful mentorship across different generations.
Ginette Okoye, MD, FAAD
Chair, Department of Dermatology
Howard University College of Medicine
Professor of Dermatology
Howard University College of Medicine
Moderator
Natasha A. Mesinkovska, MD, PhD
Associate Professor
Vice Chair, Clinical Research
Department of Dermatology
University of California Irvine
Roopal V. Kundu, MD, FAAD
Associate Dean for Admissions
Jacob R. Suker, MD, Professor of Medical Education
Professor of Dermatology and Medical Education
Founder/Director Northwestern Center for Ethnic Skin and Hair
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Amit G. Pandya, MD, FAAD
Associate Medical Director for Phototherapy and Dermatologist, Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group
Adjunct Professor, Department of Dermatology
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Improving Diversity in Research:
How to Improve Diversity in Basic and Translational Research Panel
This panel will address the critical need for enhancing diversity in basic and translational research. Experts will discuss strategies for increasing representation and inclusivity within research teams, study designs, and participant populations. The session will provide actionable insights on how to create a more equitable research environment that fosters innovation and addresses the needs of diverse communities.
John E. Harris, MD, PhD, FAAD
Professor and Chair, Department of Dermatology
UMass Chan Medical School
Founding Director, Vitiligo Clinic and Research Center
Founding Director, Autoimmune Therapeutics Institute
Chief Innovation Officer (CINO), Alys Pharmaceuticals
Moderator
Valerie D. Callender, MD, FAAD
Professor of Dermatology, Howard University College of Medicine
President, American Dermatological Association
Founder & Senior Medical Director, Callender Center for Clinical Research, LLC
Tamia A. Harris-Tryon, MD, PhD, FAAD
Associate Professor
Thomas L. Shields Professor of Dermatology
UT Southwestern Medical Center Dallas
Shawn G. Kwatra, MD, FAAD
Dr. Joseph W. Burnett Professor and Chair
Department of Dermatology
University of Maryland School of Medicine
2024-2025 Scientific Committee
Co-Chairs
Crystal Aguh, MD, FAAD
Cesar Antonio Virgen, MD, PhD, FAAD
Members
Bryan T. Carroll, MD, PhD, FAAD
Janet A. Fairley, MD, FAAD
Marwa Hakimi, MD
Courtney M. Johnson, MD, PhD, FAAD
Jun Kang, MD, FAAD
Lynn McKinley-Grant, MD
Vineet Mishra, MD, FAAD
Stavonnie Sheri Patterson, MD, FAAD
Maritza I. Perez, MD, FAAD
William D. Shipman III, MD, PhD, FAAD
Neelam Ajit Vashi, MD, FAAD
Jessica Shiu, MD, PhD
Olayemi Sokumbi, MD
Morvarid Zehtab, MD
Our Sponsors
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CHAMPION
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ALLY
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PARTNER
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SPECIAL RECOGNITION
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Registration
Online registration for this event will open December 2024.
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
| 4:00 PM - 7:30 PM | *NEW* Early Registration and Badge Pick-up |
Thursday, March 6, 2025
|
7:30 AM |
Registration and Badge Pick-up Desks Opens |
Abstract Presentations & iPoster Galleries
iPoster Online Live Sessions: February 27 - March 4, 2025
For iPoster gallery only, poster uploads are due December 11, 2024 by 11:59 a.m. (CST). Please refer to your iPoster upload instructions emailed to you for more details.
Activity Timeline and Status
| Activity | Deadlines |
Status |
|
Call for Abstracts |
August 1 - October 1, 2024, 12:00 PM CT |
Closed |
|
Scientific Committee Review |
October - November 2024 |
Completed |
|
Notifications to Abstract Submitters |
November 2024 |
Completed |
|
Accepted Authors: iPoster Upload |
November 15 - December 11, 2024 |
Active |
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Featured iPoster Notifications |
Late January 2025 |
|
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iPoster Online Live Chat & Video Sessions (Virtual) |
February 27 - March 4, 2025 |
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 27, 2025, 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.
Important Information:
- iPoster Upload: Starts on November 18, 2024, and ends on December 11, 2024
- iPoster Online Live Sessions: February 27 - March 4, 2025
- iPosters will be reviewed and rated in December and January, with the top 10 iPosters selected as featured iPosters at the Symposium on March 6th. Notifications will be sent out in February.
- Please note that abstract changes are not permitted for submitted and accepted abstracts.
- The platform supports interactive multimedia content, and attendees can engage with you virtually during live session chat hours.
Technical Support:
For tutorials, guides, samples, and additional information, please visit the iPosterSessions Resources page for assistance. If you have any questions, please contact the iPoster Support Desk at
*Based on sponsorship level.
Accessibility and Inclusivity:
iPosterSessions 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.
Call for Abstracts
We are no longer accepting submissions for this program.
The 21st Annual Skin of Color Society Scientific Symposium, held in conjunction with the 2025 AAD Annual Meeting, invites submissions for abstracts. The Symposium will take place on March 6, 2025, in Orlando, FL.
Please review the submission guidelines below before submitting your abstract via AwardForce. Note that submitting your abstract does not register you to attend the Symposium. If selected for an oral or poster presentation, registration for the Symposium is required.
General Information
- Eligibility: The presenting author must be a SOCS member and available to present the abstract at the Symposium. For abstracts submitted by medical students, residents, and research trainees, the presenting author’s attending, mentor, last author or principal investigator must also be a SOCS member.
- Membership: This program is reserved for Skin of Color Society members and pending members with a complete membership application. Non-members should submit a complete membership application by Monday, September 30 to meet eligibility requirements. Apply for membership here.
- Submission Deadline: Tuesday, October 1, by 12:00 PM CT.
- After this date/time, the submission site will close automatically and can no longer accept submissions.
There will be no exceptions to this policy.
- After this date/time, the submission site will close automatically and can no longer accept submissions.
- Notification: Acceptance and rejection notices will be sent to the submitter in November 2024.
- Registration: All accepted presenters must register for the 21st Annual Skin of Color Society Scientific Symposium to be included in the program.
Presenting Author Responsibilities
The first author listed for each abstract will serve as the presenting author and primary contact for all correspondence regarding the abstract.
Responsibilities:
- Ensure all authors have read the abstract and agreed to be co-authors.
- Obtain disclosure information from all authors.
- Submit the abstract application via AwardForce.
- Forward all correspondence to all authors.
- If selected, register for the Scientific Symposium.
Submission Guidelines
The Skin of Color Society encourages the submission of original studies or observations of interest to dermatologists, particularly those focused on skin of color.
Presentation Types:
- Oral Abstract Presentations: Exclusively available to members in the Resident, Research Trainee, and Medical Student categories.
- Poster Presentations: Available to members eligible for oral presentations and those in the Fellow, International Fellow, and Associate member categories.
Abstract Requirements:
- Abstracts must address scientific or clinical questions, detail clinical observations, or contain primary scientific data.
- Incomplete abstracts or those lacking data will not be considered.
- Case studies or reports will not be accepted.
Ineligible Data:
- Data published by the abstract submission deadline.
- Data presented at the AAD Annual Meeting in the same calendar year.
- Encore presentations, including those previously presented at SOCS as a poster or oral presentation.
- Data submitted by industry.
Clinical Trials:
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Interim analysis must align with the original protocol and be statistically valid.
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Follow-up data must present significant new information.
Compliance:
- All research involving human and animal subjects must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki of the World Medical Association.
Additional Information:
- No revisions are allowed after the submission deadline.
Submission Requirements
All submissions must include:
- Abstract: A clear, concise, and structured abstract of no more than 250 words in English, adhering to sections for Introduction/Background, Methods, Results, Discussion, Limitations, and Conclusions.
- Title: A title in Title Case.
- Author Information: Full names of all authors and their institutional affiliations.
- Membership:
- The presenting author must be a SOCS member.
- The presenting author’s attending, mentor, last author or principal investigator (where applicable) must be a SOCS member.
- References: Up to five references or citations, formatted according to any major academic citation style.
- Conflict of Interest: Disclosure of conflicts of interest for all authors
Abstract Withdrawal
- Withdrawal Requests: Written requests for withdrawal must be submitted by January 10, 2025.
Policy Compliance
- SOCS reserves the right to withdraw abstracts that violate its policies, including those involving previous publication, scientific unsoundness, or inaccuracies.