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Committee Corner: The SOCS Professional Education Committee

Dr. Morayo Adisa (left) and Dr. Mona Shahriari, Co-chairs, SOCS Professional Education Committee

For this month’s Committee Corner, we are pleased to feature the SOCS Professional Education Committee, co-chaired by Drs. Morayo Adisa and Mona Shahriari.

This active and important committee is dedicated to advancing the knowledge and expertise of healthcare professionals in skin of color dermatology, with a particular focus on meeting the unique and diverse needs of patients with skin of color.

Formerly known as the Physician Education Committee, the Professional Education Committee is primarily focused on three key areas:

• Evaluating Medical Education Companies (MECs)
• Developing clinician-focused content for the website and other SOCS channels
• Overseeing clinical content for the SOCS podcast, Skin of Color Savvy

Meet the Co-chairs
Dr. Morayo Adisa is Medical Director, Dermatology Physicians SC, Chicago and Kenilworth, Illinois.

Dr. Mona Shahriari is Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, Associate Director of Clinical Trials CCD Research, and Founding Partner, Central CT Dermatology.

As Drs. Adisa and Shahriari jointly share, “Our vision for the coming year is clear: to make the Skin of Color Society the premier, gold-standard destination for all educational content related to skin of color. This year, we’re focused on strengthening our digital presence by significantly enhancing the educational offerings on the SOCS website—curating content that is not only evidence-based but also practical, relevant, and reflective of real-world clinical challenges.”

In addition to reviewing educational proposals from Medical Education Companies (MECs) to ensure quality and alignment with our values, this committee collaborates across other SOCS committees to bring forward innovative programming through The Exchange x SOCS and the Skin of Color Savvy podcast.

From the co-chairs’ perspectives, “Our aim isn’t just to inform—but to lead. That means contributing not only trusted clinical content, but also novel, forward-thinking material you won’t find anywhere else. We also recognize the importance of raising awareness about SOCS as a go-to resource and will continue to prioritize dissemination of our work and the broader mission of the organization. By working hand-in-hand with our fellow SOCS committees, we’re building a foundation of educational excellence that supports clinicians and ultimately improves care for patients of color. As co-chairs, our goal is to foster a learning environment where culturally competent care is not just emphasized—but expected. This work is personal, purposeful, and necessary.”

Call to Action
Drs. Adisa and Shahriari invite all SOCS members to engage with the committee’s educational offerings, share their expertise, and collaborate on future programming. Whether through speaking opportunities, mentorship, or resource development, your voice helps shape the next generation of leaders in skin of color dermatology.

SOCS members are encouraged to invite others to join the conversation—especially trainees, residents and fellows. By introducing them to the Society’s abundant resources early, we can ensure this content continues to serve as a trusted foundation throughout their careers. Our shared goal is to create a lasting, evolving educational platform that not only meets the needs of today’s clinicians, but also inspires and equips those of tomorrow.

Committee Corner: The Global Council and Collaborations Committee 

Drs. Michelle Rodrigues and Michael Waul, Global Council and Collaborations Committee Co-Chairs

For this month’s Committee Corner, we are pleased to highlight our newly established Global Council and Collaborations Committee, co-chaired by Drs. Michelle Rodrigues and Michael Waul. 

This committee serves as a vital link between the Skin of Color Society and international and national organizations with a focus on skin of color, including those in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, South and Central America, and other regions.  

The committee works to build strong partnerships and foster collaboration with groups such as the National Medical Association (NMA), the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS) and other relevant bodies. It also supports the Society’s presence at international meetings, promoting global engagement and the exchange knowledge in dermatology related to skin of color. Through these efforts, the committee aims to strengthen connections and advance the Society’s mission on a global scale. 

Meet the Co-Chairs 

Michelle Rodrigues, MBBS (Hons), FACD, is Associate Professor, University of Melbourne, and Founder and Director, Chroma Dermatology, Australia. As co-chair of this exciting new committee, Dr. Rodrigues remarks that she looks forward to “working with her co-chair, Dr. Waul, and their committee to advance awareness, education, and clinical excellence in skin of color dermatology globally —driving health equity and delivering world-class care for all skin types, with the hopes achieving this through collaboration with other dermatologic organizations and key continuing medical education events across the globe in 2025.” 

As Dr. Rodrigues shares, “SOCS has played a pivotal role in my career development and one of the greatest sources of professional fulfillment. Just over a decade ago, current SOCS President, Dr. Nada Elbuluk and I were given the task of establishing the mentoring program for SOCS. Seeing it flourish and be the source of inspiration for so many around the world is heartwarming. Many collaborative research projects, awareness programs and improvements in patient care have stemmed directly from my involvement with SOCS but it is the deep personal connections that have and continue to be one of the greatest things about being a member of SOCS. I encourage all young medical students, doctors, dermatologist and industry partners who want to innovate, collaborate and advance our specialty, to join SOCS and consider volunteering on one of the many committees that make SOCS what it is today and follow the dermatologists who are passionate about this area to continue to learn more.” 

Michael Waul, MD, FAAD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Waul comments, “I am honored to serve as co-chair of the Global Council and Collaborations Committee, and to be an ambassador for SOCS on the international stage. I am thrilled to see the impact of our work - so far this year we have established novel connections with several professional organizations within the US and worldwide, including Dubai Derma and the American Telemedicine Association. I look forward to working with my co-chair and committee members as we develop the Global Council, and continue to promote excellence within skin of color dermatology.” 

Dr. Waul points out that an important focus this year is on the Global Council Initiative, which will connect international dermatological societies focused on skin of color, sharing best practices and addressing regional dermatological needs. The committee will help form the Global Council by recommending professional societies and developing its structure (e.g. charter, protocols, potential bylaws). 

The co-chairs encourage all SOCS members with connections to other international dermatologic societies to contact them, as they are always excited to develop new professional networks and expand SOCS' global impact. 

CONTACT CO-CHAIRS 

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SOCS is excited to introduce its new Sliding Scale International Membership Dues Categories. This sliding-scale dues structure, based on the World Bank income classification, allows SOCS to reach Dermatologists around the globe at a fair cost associated with their local economic conditions. By offering a range of dues categories, SOCS aims to make membership more accessible to dermatologists worldwide, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their country's economic status, can benefit from the organization's resources and network.

Applicants must ensure that their medical license corresponds to the country code from which they are applying. The license must be issued by the same country listed in their application, in alignment with the World Bank classification used to determine membership dues.

This structure is designed to provide flexibility while maintaining a commitment to supporting the global dermatology community. With this change, SOCS hopes to further its mission of advancing dermatologic education, research, and collaboration across all regions.

Below are the regions the World Bank has classified for income levels, which will help determine the appropriate membership dues for dermatologists.