American Society for Dermatologic Surgery

What American Society for Dermatologic Surgery does

The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit professional membership organization headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois, representing board-certified dermatologic surgeons. The organization is paired with a 501(c)(6) advocacy arm, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association (ASDSA), which handles policy and legislative activity. ASDS serves a membership of 6,400+ physicians who collectively deliver more than 10 million cosmetic procedures and 3.5 million skin cancer treatments annually, while also serving the general public as a patient education and physician-finder resource through the Skin Experts brand and the Find a Dermatologic Surgeon directory tool.

ASDS operates a platform-plus-services model with diversified offerings spanning professional education (ASDS Learn On-Demand Courses, Cosmetic Dermatologic Surgery Fellowship, Preceptorship Program, Emerging Leaders Initiative), peer-reviewed publication (Dermatologic Surgery Journal), member communications (Currents, Member News, DermSurgery Digest Podcast), consumer-facing media (TRUE Skin Experts Podcast, Skinnovation events, YouTube/TikTok presence), public health programs (SPF For All, Sun Safe Sports, Skin Cancer is Color Blind, Stylists Against Skin Cancer, Good for the Sol), and the flagship ASDS Annual Meeting. Revenue mechanics are typical of a professional society: membership dues, annual meeting registration, fellowship and course tuition, advertising/exhibit sales, Industry Advisory Council sponsorships (including Allergan Aesthetics' sponsorship of the Emerging Leaders Initiative), and publication revenue, with no disclosed financial figures.

The organization's strategic differentiation rests on three pillars: (1) regulatory influence, exemplified by the SUNucate model legislation now passed in 30+ states and the newly formed Medical Spa Safety Coalition addressing an unregulated $5B+ market; (2) brand authority as the largest specialty organization exclusively representing dermatologic surgeons, validated by multiple industry awards; and (3) career-spanning member engagement from residency through leadership. Leadership transitioned in November 2025 with Kavita Mariwalla, MD as President, and the organization continues to invest in media (TikTok, podcasts) to capture next-generation patient and member audiences.

Name

American Society for Dermatologic Surgery

Legal name

American Society for Dermatologic Surgery

Website

https://asds.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery is a 501(c)(3) non-profit professional medical society representing 6,400+ board-certified dermatologic surgeons, providing education, advocacy, public health programming, and patient referral services through its Schaumburg, Illinois headquarters and Schaumburg-located ASDSA advocacy arm.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Rolling Meadows

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ASDS is a professional medical society that provides board-certified dermatologic surgeons with continuing education, fellowship training, leadership development, peer-reviewed publications, and advocacy representation. Through its advocacy arm (ASDSA), the organization drafts and promotes model state legislation such as SUNucate and Medical Spa Safety. For the public, ASDS operates the Find a Dermatologic Surgeon directory and publishes extensive patient education content on skin conditions, treatments, and sun-safe behaviors.

Product overview

The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) operates a comprehensive member-focused organization rather than a single product, offering a platform-plus-services model. Core offerings include the Find a Dermatologic Surgeon directory tool, professional education programs (ASDS Learn On-Demand Courses, Cosmetic Dermatologic Surgery Fellowship, Preceptorship Program, Emerging Leaders Initiative), educational podcasts (TRUE Skin Experts Podcast, DermSurgery Digest), and advocacy initiatives (SUNucate legislation, Medical Spa Safety Coalition). Public-facing resources include extensive skin conditions and treatments information, public service programs (SPF For All, Sun Safe Sports, Skin Cancer is Color Blind, Stylists Against Skin Cancer, Good for the Sol), and publications (Dermatologic Surgery Journal, Currents). The organization also hosts the annual ASDS Annual Meeting and Skinnovation media events for professional development and public education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Skin Experts: Public-facing brand for consumer skin health information and patient education
• DermSurgery Digest
• TRUE Skin Experts Podcast
• Skinnovation
• SUNucate
• Medical Spa Safety Coalition

Products and services

• Find a Dermatologic Surgeon

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• SUNucate CoalitionflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Coalition of multiple medical specialty associations, patient advocacy groups, and other organizations working collectively to support ASDSA's model SUNucate bill as it moves through the legislative process. Grew to include 49+ partners including the Personal Care Products Council.
• Allergan Aesthetics (an AbbVie company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGraciously supports the Alastair Carruthers Emerging Leaders Initiative (ELI), a program designed to cultivate the next generation of leaders in dermatologic surgery through structured leadership development.
• Personal Care Products CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner in SUNucate initiative advocating for sunscreen use legislation in schools.
• Council of State Governments (CSG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASDSA became an associate member of CSG and strongly supported including SUNucate based legislation in the Shared State Legislation Volume.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• American Academy of Dermatology (AAD): The largest U.S. dermatology professional association, representing all dermatologists (not only dermatologic surgeons). AAD is a broad incumbent that overlaps with ASDS on CME, advocacy, and public education, but serves a wider clinical specialty.
• American Medical Association (AMA): The largest U.S. physician membership organization, providing broad advocacy, education, and practice resources. AMA competes for physician attention and sets policy positions that affect ASDS member practices on reimbursement and scope of practice.
• American College of Surgeons (ACS): Large professional association for surgeons across all specialties. ACS is a broad incumbent that encompasses dermatologic surgeons within a wider surgical community and overlaps on surgical education and advocacy.

Emerging players

• American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology (ACMS): Specialty society for Mohs surgeons, focused on a specific skin cancer procedure that is also a core ASDS member competency. ACMS overlaps with ASDS on skin cancer education, fellowship accreditation, and advocacy.
• Skin Cancer Foundation: Patient-facing nonprofit focused on skin cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment education. Comparable to ASDS's public education programs (SPF For All, Skin Cancer is Color Blind, Sun Safe Sports) and competes for public mindshare on sun safety.

Direct peers

• American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (The Aesthetic Society): Specialty society for board-certified plastic surgeons specializing in aesthetic procedures. Directly competes with ASDS for cosmetic procedure patients, member surgeons performing aesthetics, and aesthetic medical education.
• American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS): The largest specialty organization for plastic surgeons in the U.S., with overlapping scope in cosmetic and reconstructive procedures. ASPS competes with ASDS for physician membership, patient referrals, CME, and advocacy on scope-of-practice and medical spa regulation.

Regional players

• Dermatology Nurses' Association (DNA): Nursing specialty association serving dermatology nurses and allied health professionals. A smaller, adjacent professional society that collaborates with ASDS in the dermatology ecosystem but does not compete directly for physician membership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/ASDSSkinMD
• Facebookfacebook.com/asdsskinexperts
• TikToktiktok.com/@asdsskinmd
• Xx.com/asdsmeeting
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-society-for-dermatologic-surgery

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Society for Dermatologic Surgery