The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology held its first meeting in 1957. It was an organizational meeting that elected Dr. A.P. Ulbrich, President and Dr. Sidney Rothman, Secretary-Treasurer. The College was formulated primarily to get "new blood" into an old American Osteopathic Board of Dermatology that had certified only three dermatologists in eight years.
The old board consisted of five members that resigned en mass in 1957, when they realized the newly formed College could nominate and elect new members to serve on the board. After the old Board resigned, the American Osteopathic Association asked Dr. A.P. Ulbrich to form a new American Osteopathic Board of Dermatology, which he did in 1957-1958. The Board consisted of three dermatologists; Anthony Scardino, Sr., D.O. from Kansas City, President; Donald Gardner, D.O. from California, Vice President; and A.P. Ulbrich, D.O. from Detroit, Secretary-Treasurer.
The new Board gave their first examination in the fall of 1958, in Washington, D.C. Eight applicants took the examination, and all passed. These eight dermatologists increased the certified members to a grand total of twenty-one. Standards and guidelines for training and eligibility to sit for the certifying exam were set by the new board and continue to be revised and updated.
To date, approximately 282 physicians have been certified by the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, with our membership presently consisting of
319 physician members, 85 dermatology residents, and 80 student
members. Residents are trained in fully approved and accredited training universities and teaching hospitals throughout the United States.
In honor of Dr. Ulbrich, the "Albert P.Ulbrich, D.O. Lifetime Achievement Award" was established in 1989.
This is the AOCD's highest professional honor bestowed upon one
of their members for a lifetime dedication to the College and to
the field of Osteopathic Dermatology. This award is not
granted on a regular basis; rather it is bestowed when a
dermatologist who has dedicated his or her professional life to
the College has either semi-retired or retired from practicing
dermatology. The honorable recipients of this award include Harry B. Elmets, D.O. in 1990, Daniel Koprince, D.O. in 1992, Thos. H. Bonino, D.O. in 1994,
James D. Bernard, D.O. in 1996, David Brooks Walker, D.O. in
2002, and David C. Horowitz, D.O. in 2003. In honor of Dr. Koprince, The "Daniel Koprince, D.O. Educational Award" was established in 1987 to recognize three residents for excellence in academic presentations made during the annual and midyear meetings, which is judged by the Awards Committee using established criteria.
The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology has grown tremendously over the last five decades to become a strong and influential specialty college. Our presence is well established in academic and clinical settings throughout the United States, as well as in the many political arenas. American Osteopathic College of Dermatology is an affiliate of the American Osteopathic Association, and is dedicated to promoting the practice of osteopathic dermatology on a national level.
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