Dr. Henry Lim Named American Academy of Dermatology’s New President

The American Academy of Dermatology has sworn in a new president. Henry W. Lim of Detroit has assumed the highest position in the world’s largest dermatologic organization. Presidents only serve for one year, and Lim will replace Abel Torres, MD, JD, who headed up the AAD in 2016.

The AAD represents more than 18,000 physicians in a wide range of specialties — from surgical to cosmetic. Lim is no stranger to AAD. Aside from serving as vice president in 2007, he was also the society’s chair of dermatology for 20 years before stepping down last month. His presidency was announced at AAD’s 2017 Annual Meeting the first weekend of March.

Lim previously served as the chair of the Department of Dermatology at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. This is the third instance a chair of the Detroit-based research hospital has been given a top position at the AAD, others include Clarence Livingood, MD as president in 1967 and Edward Krull, MD, as vice president in 1987.

This isn’t Dr. Lim’s first major appointment. In 2012, he was elected president of the American Board of Dermatology. Lim began his career in New York after graduating from the State University of New York at Brooklyn and completed his dermatology residency at the New York University School of Medicine, where he later became Professor of Dermatology. He also served as Chief of Staff at the New York VA Medical Center.

Dr. Lim touts a series of accolades and clinical interests including vitiligo, phototherapy, photosensitivity, and psoriasis. He’s authored more than 400 articles and has editing credit to seven textbooks.