Service is a core part of the mission and reflects our commitment to advancing dermatologic education, outreach, mentorship, and community impact both locally and globally.
Through service-driven initiatives, SOCS members engage in programs designed to support the next generation of physicians, expand access to dermatologic education, address disparities affecting skin of color, and strengthen connections within the communities we serve.
These efforts provide opportunities for members to lead meaningful outreach activities, educational programming, and collaborative initiatives that align with the Society’s mission and strategic goals.
Visit SOCS Serves to see how SOCS members are leading service-focused outreach and making a meaningful impact in dermatology and the community.
SOCS Serves is a dual-armed service initiative designed to create meaningful impact along the dermatology pathway and within communities.
Through structured programming and standardized toolkits, SOCS members can lead initiatives that:
Inspire students to pursue careers in medicine and dermatology
Increase dermatologic literacy in underserved communities
Address health disparities affecting skin of color
Strengthen SOCS’ impact across the globe
(Year 1: Mentorship Committee Lead)
SOCS Serves the Pathway introduces students—from K–12 through medical school—to careers in dermatology and healthcare.
By providing early exposure, mentorship, and educational programming, members help build a more diverse, informed, and representative future physician workforce.
Focus Areas:
Classroom presentations and career panels
Hands-on exposure to dermatology concepts
Mentorship connections and pathway guidance
Supporting underrepresented and underserved students
(Year 1: Public Education Committee Lead)
SOCS Serves the Community delivers culturally relevant dermatologic education to minority and underserved populations.
Through outreach events, partnerships, and public education efforts, members provide essential skin health guidance that improves awareness, prevention, and care.
Focus Areas:
Community health fairs and educational workshops
Public awareness campaigns on conditions affecting skin of color
Distribution of educational materials and referral resources
Collaboration with community-based organizations
Introducing the SOCS Global Council!
We proudly announce the SOCS Global Council, a strategic initiative that unifies leaders from international dermatology organizations who share a mission to advance skin of color dermatology.
Global Council Calendar of Events
Click the event to learn more:
| 08–10 Sep 2026 Dubai Derma |
| 24–26 Sep 2026 11th International Congress Edition of the Medical Excellence in Dermatology and Aesthetic Medicine |
| 30–03 Sep 2026 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress 2026 |
| 13–14 Jan 2027 Regional Dermatology Training Centre |
| 21–26 Jun 2027 26th World Congress of Dermatology |
| 22–25 Sep 2027 European Academy of Dermatology and Venerealogy Congress 2027 |
The Global Council aims to:
Thank you to Novartis for supporting this initiative!
Help offset membership fees for colleagues in developing and resource-limited countries
Thank you for considering a donation to the SOCS Foundation. Your contribution is a direct investment in the SOCS mission, which is to promote awareness of and excellence within skin of color dermatology through research, education, mentorship and advocacy.
As we work to expand the work of SOCS globally, we are committed to bringing in colleagues from around to world to join our work to advance skin of color dermatology to achieve health equity and excellence in patient care worldwide.
Your support of the Global Access Membership Fund helps cover the cost of our international colleagues' membership in nations where resources are scarce. This support allows them to benefit from belonging to our Society so that they can take the knowledge, insights, and experiences gained from SOCS back to their communities.
Together, we can expand the reach and impact of the vital work of SOCS and advance patient care around the world.