About Us

The Illinois Dermatological Society (IDS) is a professional medical society composed of dermatologists -- medical doctors who specialize in diseases and conditions of the skin.  The IDS provides its members with legislative advocacy, help with practice management issues and public education.  If you are interested in joining the IDS, please contact our administrative office at 847-752-9548.

The Advocate for Illinois Dermatology

The Illinois Dermatological Society (IDS) exists to empower dermatologists, ensuring they have the legislative and professional support necessary to provide exceptional care to the patients they serve. As the state’s premier 501(c)(6) advocacy organization established in 1974, we operate as the sister society to the Chicago Dermatological Society (founded 1906), forming a unified front for the advancement of the specialty in our region.

Legislative Victories in Illinois 

As a proactive advocacy group, IDS leads legislative efforts to improve patient health outcomes specifically within Illinois. Our track record includes:

• Setting National Precedents: IDS successfully advocated for Illinois to become the first state in the country to designate skin cancer screenings as a mandated preventive benefit for commercially insured patients.
• Expanding Access for Children: In partnership with the ASDS SUNucate program, we spearheaded legislation to increase access to sunscreen in Illinois schools and summer camps, allowing use without a prescription to protect children from UV exposure.

Distinguished Leadership

The IDS Board of Directors represents the full spectrum of the specialty, uniting voices from both top-tier academic institutions and independent private practices. Our board members are recognized leaders who have held prominent positions in major medical organizations, including:

• American Academy of Dermatology (AAD)
• American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS)
• American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS)
• American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS)
• American Independent Medical Practice Association (AIMPA)
• Association of Academic Cosmetic Dermatologists (AACD)
• Skin of Color Society (SOCS)
• Chicago Dermatological Society
• Blade and Light Society
• Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS)
• Illinois State Medical Disciplinary Board

Strategic Partnerships & Political Action 

To amplify our impact on state legislative issues, we maintain deep collaborative networks:

• State Medical Alignment: We are group members of the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS).
• Political Action: We operate an affiliated political arm, the Illinois Derm PAC, to support legislative champions of dermatology.
• Coalition Building: We actively collaborate with the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS), ISMS, and other specialty societies in Illinois to drive policy that supports the dermatologic profession.

National Representation

IDS maintains official representation on the AAD Advisory Board. As a constituent society, we elect a voting representative and an alternate representative to the Board. This body serves as the voice of the independent practitioner to the Academy, ensuring the perspectives of private practice dermatologists are integrated into national dialogue.

Membership Application -- This will link you to a pdf file of the IDS membership application.

Board of Directors--This will connect you to a list of current IDS board members.

View a list of IDS's past-presidents

IDS Bylaws (adopted 2017)

IDS Policy statements