Women's Dermatologic Society

What Women's Dermatologic Society does

The Women's Dermatologic Society (WDS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional medical society founded in 1973 and headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, with management services provided by AMR Management Services. It serves female dermatologists, dermatology residents and fellows, and industry partners through a mission centered on mentorship, networking, service, and education. Its core products include the WDS Mentorship Program (since 1991, ~900 mentor-mentee relationships), the Play Safe in the Sun public outreach initiative (since 2004), and the Women's REACH Initiative for shelter-based dermatologic outreach (since 2018). Supporting offerings include a webinar series, the WDS Education Series, the International Journal of Women's Dermatology, multiple named awards, an Annual Meeting, regional networking events, and a Resident Liaison Program (currently under review).

WDS operates a community-led GTM motion, acquiring members through its website (womensderm.org), conference presence (notably the AAD Innovation Academy), and word-of-mouth across the dermatology community. Revenue is generated primarily through annual membership dues (Physician/Associate/Affiliate $225, Resident/Fellow $25 with free first year, Corporate $350, Joint WDS/Indian $150) and a multi-tier corporate sponsorship program (Diamond, Platinum, Silver, Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Bronze) backed by 30+ named industry partners spanning pharma (AbbVie, Pfizer, Sanofi, Novartis, Eli Lilly, Galderma, Regeneron) and consumer skincare (L'Oreal, Neutrogena, EltaMD, Beiersdorf). The society is governed by a Board of Directors, led by President Dr. Ashley Wysong and Executive Director Jennifer Duckworth, JD, CAE, with a headquarters staff of approximately 10–15.

Name

Women's Dermatologic Society

Legal name

Women's Dermatologic Society

Website

https://womensderm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Women's Dermatologic Society, founded in 1973, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional medical society serving female dermatologists, residents, and trainees through mentorship, networking, public-service outreach, and educational programming, funded by membership dues and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Medical Society / Dermatology Membership Organization

NAICS

Business Associations (81391), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAD)

Keywords

• Professional dermatology society
• Dermatology mentorship program
• Women dermatologists membership
• Dermatology service outreach
• Medical society networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: WDS generates revenue primarily through annual membership dues from multiple membership categories including physicians, associates, residents/fellows, corporate members, and affiliate members. Physician members pay $225 annually, residents/fellows pay $25 annually, and corporate members pay $350 annually.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Women's Dermatologic Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional medical society that provides dermatologists with mentorship, networking, educational programming, and community service opportunities to help women in dermatology fulfill their greatest potential. The organization sells annual memberships across multiple tiers (physician, resident/fellow, corporate, affiliate, international) and delivers flagship programs including the Mentorship Program, Play Safe in the Sun outreach, and the Women's REACH Initiative.

Product overview

Women's Dermatologic Society (WDS) is a professional medical society for dermatologists founded in 1973. It offers a suite of member services organized around three core pillars: Mentorship, Networking, and Service. The core offerings include the Mentorship Program (including the Mentorship Award for funded rotations), the Play Safe in the Sun outreach initiative (since 2004), and the Women's REACH Initiative for shelter outreach (since 2018). Supporting products include educational programming via the WDS Webinar Series and WDS Education Series, professional recognition through the WDS Awards Program, publications including the International Journal of Women's Dermatology and blog, the Resident Liaison Program for trainee engagement, networking events such as the Annual Meeting and Forum/IVWG, and corporate partnership/sponsorship opportunities. The society operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and provides membership categories for physicians, residents, corporate entities, and international members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WDS Membership
• WDS Mentorship Program
• Play Safe in the Sun
• Women's REACH Initiative

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 900 mentor-mentee relationships since 1991
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

32 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AbbViecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAbbVie is a Diamond-level sponsor of WDS, supporting the organization's mission to advance women in dermatology through sponsorship of events and programs.
• AllergancoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAllergan (now part of AbbVie) sponsors WDS events and programs as part of its commitment to dermatology education and women's advancement.
• AMR Management ServicescoreOthersAMR Management Services provides professional management services for WDS headquarters operations, including administrative support and organizational management.
• AlmirallcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAlmirall is a pharmaceutical company specializing in dermatology that sponsors WDS as part of its commitment to advancing skin health.
• ArcutiscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerArcutis is a dermatology-focused pharmaceutical company that sponsors WDS events and initiatives.
• BeiersdorfcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBeiersdorf, parent company of skincare brands like Nivea and Eucerin, sponsors WDS programming.
• BiofronteraminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBiofrontera, a dermatology pharmaceutical company, is a WDS sponsor.
• Castle BiosciencesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCastle Biosciences provides dermatology diagnostics and sponsors WDS events.
• CliniqueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerClinique, the skincare and cosmetics brand, sponsors WDS through its corporate partnership program.
• CO2LiftminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCO2Lift is a skincare company that supports WDS through sponsorship.
• ColorescienceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerColorescience, a skincare brand focused on sun protection, sponsors WDS initiatives.
• Distribute RxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDistribute Rx is a pharmacy services company that sponsors WDS.
• EltaMDcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEltaMD is a leading skincare brand specializing in medical-grade sun care products that sponsors WDS.
• GaldermacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGalderma is a global dermatology company that sponsors WDS as part of its commitment to advancing skin health.
• IncytecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerIncyte is a biopharmaceutical company focused on dermatology that sponsors WDS events.
• ISDINcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerISDIN is a dermatology-focused pharmaceutical company and skincare brand that sponsors WDS.
• Johnson & JohnsoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerJohnson & Johnson, through its dermatology portfolio, sponsors WDS as part of its commitment to advancing skin health and supporting women in dermatology.
• LEO PharmacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLEO Pharma is a pharmaceutical company specializing in dermatology and thrombosis that sponsors WDS.
• Eli Lilly and CompanycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEli Lilly, through its dermatology portfolio, sponsors WDS programs and events.
• L'OrealcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerL'Oreal is a platinum-level sponsor of WDS, hosting the L'Oreal Day of Discovery event. The company supports women's advancement in dermatology through this partnership.
• Lovely SkinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLovely Skin is a skincare retailer and brand that sponsors WDS.
• NeutrogenacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNeutrogena, the skincare brand under Kenvue, sponsors WDS through its corporate partnership program.
• NovartiscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNovartis, through its dermatology portfolio, is a WDS corporate sponsor.
• NutrafolminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNutrafol, a company focused on hair health, sponsors WDS events and initiatives.
• OrganoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOrganon is a global healthcare company that sponsors WDS as part of its commitment to women's health.
• Ortho DermatologicsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOrtho Dermatologics is a dermatology brand that sponsors WDS programs.
• PfizercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPfizer, through its dermatology portfolio, sponsors WDS as part of its commitment to advancing healthcare.
• Regeneron PharmaceuticalscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegeneron is a biotechnology company that sponsors WDS events and programs.
• Revance TherapeuticsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRevance Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on aesthetic medicine, sponsors WDS.
• SanoficoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSanofi is a global pharmaceutical company that sponsors WDS through its dermatology portfolio.
• Sun Pharmaceutical IndustriesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSun Pharma is a global pharmaceutical company that sponsors WDS programs.
• Takeda PharmaceuticalscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTakeda is a pharmaceutical company that sponsors WDS as part of its commitment to dermatology.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Society for Dermatologic Surgery: National medical specialty society for dermatologic surgeons. Comparable to WDS as a US dermatology professional society providing CME, member networking, and advocacy; WDS members frequently hold joint ASDS involvement.
• Skin of Color Society: A dermatology-focused professional society dedicated to promoting awareness, education, and research in skin of color. Directly comparable to WDS as a niche U.S. dermatology society with a defined member identity, mentorship programming, and annual meeting footprint.
• Dermatology Foundation: A nonprofit organization supporting dermatology through research grants, fellowship funding, and education. Comparable to WDS in operating a dermatology-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofit with corporate sponsor support and physician leadership.
• Society for Pediatric Dermatology: A subspecialty dermatology professional society organized around pediatric dermatology. Operates a similar model to WDS — nonprofit membership organization offering CME, mentorship, and annual meetings for a defined dermatology sub-community.
• American Academy of Dermatology: The largest professional dermatology society in the United States. WDS maintains a strategic collaboration with AAD through shared conference presence (AAD Innovation Academy) and overlapping membership; both serve dermatologists with continuing education, advocacy, and community programming.
• American Medical Women's Association: The leading U.S. professional organization for women physicians across all specialties. Directly comparable to WDS in mission (advancing women in medicine), structure (membership tiers, mentorship, networking events), and historical depth as a women-focused medical society.
• National Medical Association (Dermatology Section): The largest national organization representing African American physicians and their patients, with a dermatology section. Operates as a comparable specialty-focused membership society with CME, mentorship, and advocacy programming paralleling WDS's structure.
• American Dermatological Association: An invitation-only U.S. dermatology society focused on research, education, and leadership. Comparable as a small, prestigious dermatology professional society with selective membership and a long institutional history similar to WDS's 50+ year legacy.

Emerging players

• Association of Dermatology Administrators & Managers: A nonprofit membership organization for dermatology practice administrators. Comparable to WDS in the dermatology professional-association ecosystem, with a tiered membership model and annual conference, though serving a non-physician audience.
• Women's Healthcare Innovation and Leadership Association: A broader women's-health professional networking organization. Comparable to WDS at the intersection of women's advancement and healthcare community-building, though operating across specialties rather than focused on dermatology.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WomensDerm
• Facebookfacebook.com/womensdermsociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/women's-dermatologic-society
• Instagraminstagram.com/womensdermsociety

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Women's Dermatologic Society