Membership Information

Any physician who resides in the United States or Canada and is board certified or eligible for board certification by the American Board of Dermatology or its Canadian equivalent is eligible to apply. The application requires proof of a medical license and a full Curriculum Vitae (CV). Fellow members may identify themselves as a 'Fellow of the Skin of Color Society' and have full privileges to vote, run for elective office, and serve on committees or task forces.

Items required for application

• Proof of medical license
• Complete Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Dermatologists residing outside of the United States or Canada who have demonstrated knowledge and skill in the treatment of skin of color. International Fellows must have completed medical education at an institution certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). Application requires a full CV, proof of medical license and either one letter of recommendation from a Fellow SOCS member or one letter from the leadership of the applicant’s home dermatology society. The applicant’s home society letter must attest to membership in good standing in the society and summarize the applicant’s qualifications for SOCS membership. Medical license verification is required. International Fellows have full privileges to vote, be a candidate for elective office and may serve on committees.

Items required for application

• Proof of medical license (translated into English)
• Complete CV
• One letter of recommendation from a Fellow SOCS member OR one letter from the leadership of the applicant’s home dermatology society

Physicians who reside in the United States or Canada who have demonstrated active interest in skin of color dermatology but are not board certified nor eligible to be board certified by the American Board of Dermatology or its Canadian equivalent. Application requires proof of medical license, full CV, two letters of recommendation from current SOCS members (one of which must be a SOCS Fellow Member).

Evaluation criteria may include certification in applicant’s own specialty, clinical contributions to skin of color dermatology, contributions to skin of color education and research and participation in the national societies in the applicant’s chosen specialty. Associate members have the privilege to vote and serve on committees, but they are not eligible to be elected to office. 

Items required for application

• Proof of medical license
• Complete CV
• 2 letters of recommendation from current SOCS members (one of which must be a SOCS Fellow Member)

Non-Physicians (e.g. NOT a MD/DO/MBBS or MBChB) who have demonstrated an active interest in skin of color dermatology including but not limited to PhDs., physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, hospital or clinic administrators. Application requires full CV, letters from two physician sponsors (both of which must be from SOCS Fellow members). Affiliate members do not have voting privileges or the right to be elected to office, but they may serve on selected committees. 

Items required for application

• Letters from two physician sponsors (both of which must be SOCS Fellow members)
• Complete CV

Physicians must be currently accepted to or enrolled in an accredited dermatology residency training program in the United States or Canada and hold a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree from the United States or a recognized international equivalent.

Membership is limited to three years or the duration of the residency program, whichever is shorter. Residents do not have voting privileges or the ability to hold office but may serve on selected committees.

Items required for application

•  Letter of Good Standing on official letterhead from training program.

Individuals who are actively engaged in clinical research focused on skin of color and in good-standing at a SOCS Institutional Research Fellowship or an accredited institution in the United States or Canada. Application requires full CV, names of two physician sponsors (one of which must be a SOCS Fellow member). Research Trainees have the privilege to vote and serve on committees, but they are not eligible to be elected to office. 

Items required for application

• Names of two physician sponsors (one of which must be a SOCS Fellow member)
• Complete CV

Individuals enrolled in an accredited Allopathic or Osteopathic medical school in the United States or Canada, leading to an MD or DO degree. The application requires a Letter of Good Standing on official letterhead from your training program and a 500-word statement detailing how you will contribute to SOCS. Please note that students do not have voting privileges or the ability to hold office but may serve on selected committees. 

Items required for application

• Letter of Good Standing on official letterhead from training program.
• 500 word statement describing how you will contribute to SOCS.