News

Supporting research, career development, mentorship and observership are core aspects of the Skin of Color Society mission. To this end, we are proud to offer several outstanding opportunities for physicians-in-training and early-career dermatologists, as exclusive benefits to your SOCS membership. We are currently in the height of “application season” for various exciting programs with deadlines coming up in the next period, as outlined below.

Dermatology Research Awards The SOCS Dermatology Research Award provides up to three annual research grant (s) (up to $15,000) to promote dermatology research within the field of skin of color. This grant is intended to assist young dermatologists in furthering their academic careers. Two of the research awards will be given to applications that focus on inflammatory dermatologic diseases in skin of color.

SOCS Career Development Award

The Skin of Color Society is pleased to invite applicants for a new funding opportunity for investigators. The recipient(s) will receive an award up to $100,000 which can be used over a two-year period and which is non-renewable. Up to two Career Development Awards will be given this year. The award will fund basic, translational, or clinical research related to inflammatory disorders in skin of color. It is the expectation that the recipient(s) of these awards will be tomorrow’s leaders in dermatology, helping to shape the future of the specialty.

The SOCS Dermatology Research Award

The SOCS Dermatology Research Award will provide annual research grants (up to $20,000) to promote dermatology research within the field of skin of color. The grants are intended to assist young dermatologists in furthering their academic careers.

As leaders and members of the Skin of Color Society know firsthand, various dermatologic conditions can manifest differently on darker skin, ranging from subtle to dramatic variances. Recognizing these differences and discerning the nuances are essential to avoid misdiagnosis, mistreatment or serious complications involving patients of color.

The historical dearth of images in medical literature depicting various dermatologic conditions in skin of color is slowly changing, thanks largely to the seminal contributions of many SOCS leaders, including skin of color dermatology textbooks, book chapters and journal articles; original images to dermatology organizations as well as VisualDx; and social media content to raise awareness and educate fellow dermatologists, derms-in-training, other physicians, patients and the media.