I am excited to start in my new role as the 2012 Colorado Dermatologic Society president and contribute to this important professional group.  The CDS has grown into a productive organization since its inception in 1959 and each year has seen its membership increase in number and participation.  It has provided its members with quality educational activities which offer CME, networking opportunities, community service events and has engendered legislative initiatives.

The CDS hosts 6 educational meetings a year at the University of Colorado with live patient interaction and a Grand Rounds format discussion, as well as guest lectures.  It also hosts an annual day-long meeting in September each year with nationally recognized speakers.  Members can accrue up to 23 hours of AMA and AAD approved CME by attending these meetings; participants need to register in order to claim these hours of credit.

The AAD awarded our society with two special recognition awards this past year: Outstanding State Society Website and Innovative Skin Cancer Awareness Event. These prestigious credits are part of the overall AAD Model State Award program.  Each year the CDS hosts an educational event in the community to promote sun safety awareness; it has been held at the Denver Zoo, as well as at the Denver Botanical Gardens, and is always generously staffed with volunteers from the CDS and dermatology residency program.  We encourage you all to participate in this yearly event which has earned us this recognition.  Also be sure to visit the CDS website and register as a user at coloradodermatology.org and increase your online visibility by uploading your profile to the site. There is a new career center which offers a job search section for job seekers and employers alike. 

The CDS has been working to strengthen relationships with policymakers and other state medical societies in 2011 and this year we will set a foundation for the passage of legislation limiting tanning for minors in the state of Colorado.  This is a complicated and time consuming process and to be successful we need the support and engagement of our members.  You will be kept posted on our progress and on ways you can help.