DermWorld Academy Insider: Shorter election window in 2026
Jan. 1, 2026
A small but meaningful change is coming to the AAD Election: a shorter timeline. This change, recommended by the Ad Hoc Task Force on Election Oversight, will take effect starting with the 2026 AAD Election.
In this exclusive DermWorld Academy Insider interview, Darrell Rigel, MD, FAAD, member of the ad hoc task force that recommended the change, discusses the new timeline, why it was implemented, and how it will impact the Academy and AAD members.
DermWorld: What is the new timeline for the AAD elections?
Dr. Rigel: We’re excited about this new timeline, because it is designed to enhance the overall quality and efficiency of the Academy’s election process. The revised schedule will streamline the election by moving the candidate announcement much closer to the election, rather than the previous lead time of several weeks. Candidates will deliver their speeches and outline their policies on Friday during the Opening Ceremony of the Annual Meeting. Voting will take place during the event and close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, March 31. As a result, the voting window will now span only five days instead of weeks.
DermWorld: Why was this change implemented?
Dr. Rigel: The election process previously spanned more than a year, but it has been gradually streamlined over time. In recent years, the election began during the Annual Meeting and extended for two weeks to allow members adequate time to submit mail-in ballots. However, as members have transitioned to electronic voting, mail-in ballots have represented only a small fraction of total votes. Consequently, they were phased out during last year’s election. Given that the voting process is now fully digital, a several-week timeline is no longer necessary.
DermWorld: How will this change affect the Academy and its members?
Dr. Rigel: I think this will be very positive for the Academy and its membership. It will be easier to oversee and less expensive to run. It will also put the AAD in line with the majority of other associations across the country that use similar short timelines. The extra energy and resources that have been previously used by the candidates, the Board of Directors, the members, and the Academy’s staff to navigate the longer process can be spent on more useful things to benefit the AAD and help members care for their patients.
It’s also important to understand that the AAD election is not two opposing parties running against each other. The candidates are usually two people with pretty similar views who both genuinely want what’s best for the Academy. By shortening the window, we’re making it less taxing on the candidates and reducing the angst they may feel, as well as reducing the friction between the candidates. In the past, it wasn’t uncommon for non-winning candidates to become less energetic toward the AAD following the election. With the new, shorter timeline, they will still have the energy they need to be devoted to growing the AAD and supporting its members.
