Newswise — SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (December 20, 2012) — The American Academy of Dermatology and American Academy of Dermatology Association (Academy) today named Elaine Weiss, JD, as executive director and chief executive officer, effective February 7, 2013.
“On behalf of the more than 18,000 members of the American Academy of Dermatology, we welcome Elaine Weiss as our new executive director and CEO,” said Daniel M. Siegel, MD, FAAD, president of the American Academy of Dermatology. “The past year has been one of steady strategic and operational growth for the Academy, and we look forward to continuing our momentum and service to our members in the years to come,” said Dr. Siegel.
“I am honored to be selected for this position with the Academy,” said Elaine Weiss, JD. “Today, the dermatology profession is facing an array of challenges related to health care reform and the rapidly changing health care environment. The Academy has a critically important role to play in helping its members navigate through these changes while continuing to provide quality education to its members and keeping the public informed about an array of relevant health concerns and the importance of dermatologists in addressing these issues. The Academy has a reputation as a premier association and serving as its executive director and CEO is a true privilege,” she said.
Weiss joins the Academy from the Illinois CPA Society (ICPAS) where she has served as president and CEO since 2002. The Illinois CPA Society is the fourth largest state CPA society in the U.S. with 24,000 members. During her tenure with ICPAS, Weiss provided effective leadership which resulted in stemming a multi-year membership decline and increasing membership while strengthening the financial operations of the association. In addition, under Weiss’s leadership, ICPAS provided effective advocacy on behalf its members, enhanced member communications, initiated new ways to provide quality continuing education utilizing state-of-the-art technology, and developed new initiatives to better meet the needs of younger CPA professionals and students.
In 2004, Weiss was identified by Accounting Today as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the CPA Profession, and in 2012 she was honored as one of the Most Powerful Women in Accounting by CPA Practice Advisor and the American Society of Women Accountants.
Weiss also brings to the Academy a strong understanding of and experience in the world of health care related issues. In 1993, Weiss was appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve as Regional Director for the United States Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). In this position, Weiss represented the Administration on all health care policy matters and served as a liaison with Midwest governors, mayors, congressional delegations, special interest groups and the public on health care matters as well as other HHS related initiatives and programs.
Prior to joining ICPAS, Weiss served as associate executive director for the American Bar Association. In that role, she also effectively addressed declining membership, increasing ABA membership for six consecutive years. In her senior management role at the ABA, Weiss created a market research department to better understand and meet the needs of the ABA’s 400,000 members, and she oversaw the charitable fundraising efforts to support the ABA’s Fund for Justice & Education.
Weiss is a respected leader in the association community of Chicago where she served as Chair of the Association Forum of Chicagoland from 2011-12 and received an award for distinguished leadership to the Association community in 2007.
Weiss holds a bachelor of science degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and a juris doctorate from the National Law Center at George Washington University.
Eileen Murray, CAE, MM, CFRE, has served the Academy as acting executive director for the past nine months and will remain part of the executive leadership team after Elaine Weiss assumes her position as CEO.
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Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. A sister organization to the Academy, the American Academy of Dermatology Association is the resource for government affairs, health policy and practice information for dermatologists, and plays a major role in formulating policies that can enhance the quality of dermatologic care. With a membership of more than 18,000 physicians worldwide, the Academy is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. For more information, contact the Academy at 1 (888) 462-DERM (3376) or visit www.aad.org. Follow the Academy on Facebook (American Academy of Dermatology) or Twitter (@AADskin).
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