Fostering A Spirit of Education and Community
2026 DF Clinical Symposium
March 2026
During his address at the Dermatology Foundation’s 23rd annual Clinical Symposium, held January 29-30 in Naples, Florida, DF Advisory Council member George Cotsarelis described donations to the Foundation as “the seeds” that sets in motion a chain of events, beginning with research and leading to breakthroughs, which benefit the dermatology community and, ultimately, patients. Research, he said, requires “a relentless pursuit of knowledge and a deep commitment.“
His message resonated with the more than 425 participants in attendance, including 50 residents attending the Symposium for the first time. This year also marked the first time the Foundation welcomed sponsors and exhibitors to the meeting.
Eleven extraordinary leaders in dermatology — Drs. Crystal Aguh, Jean Bolognia, Yvonne Chiu, Shawn Gaurav Kwatra, Haley Naik, Adam Rubin, Cory Simpson, Susan Taylor, Marta Van Beek, Ruth Ann Vleugels, and Jiade Yu — presented across six mini-symposia: Solving Dermatology’s Toughest Challenges, The Skin-Ternist, Essential Updates, Enhancing Your Skillset, New Drugs and Molecular Pathways, and Adnexal Adventures. Eight of the 12 speakers are current or past recipients of a DF research award.
This year also marked the first time the Foundation welcomed exhibitors — Leo Pharma, Elekta, InfuCare Rx, Castle BioSciences, and the Society for Investigative Dermatology, and sponsors — AbbVie, UCB, Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Castle Biosciences, and L’Oréal Dermatological Beauty (L’Oréal) to the meeting.
L’Oréal sponsors the annual Residents’ Luncheon and supports it with educational grants. In attendance this year were Alex Posavec, vice president of integrated medical communications and marketing, and Brian Bodner, principal scientist, for North America in research and innovation photo protection.
The Clinical Symposium is the Foundation’s premier, peer-reviewed national continuing medical education event, but it reflects a much broader mission. As the largest private funder of dermatology research in the US, the Foundation’s impact extends well beyond the accredited CME experience.
The DF Research Award Program, the organization’s primary pillar, fuels innovation, bridges critical funding gaps, and launches early-career investigators whose work often goes on to secure NIH support. With 16 award categories spanning basic, clinical, and translational research, the program has advanced patient care for more than six decades by investing in discovery and strengthening a vibrant dermatology community.
Proceedings from all 23 presentations will be published in June.
Join the Foundation and experience the impact of the DF Clinical Symposium firsthand.