Dermatology experts highlight climate risks and healthcare access gaps | AAD 2026

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) continued its 2026 annual meeting this morning with a policy-focused session titled Advocacy in Dermatology with the Experts: Intersections to Safeguard the Specialty, highlighting the growing role of advocacy in addressing systemic challenges across the field. Speakers explored issues ranging from rural access disparities to the far-reaching effects of climate change on skin health and healthcare delivery.

The session featured seven speakers, each addressing a distinct policy or societal pressure shaping the dermatology landscape. Together, their presentations underscored the need for dermatologists to engage beyond the clinic, through policy, education and community outreach, to preserve both patient care and the future of the specialty.

Opening the session, Klint Peebles, M.D., vice chair of the LGBTQ+ Section at the American Medical Association, emphasized the importance of trust and unity within organized medicine in the presentation, Preserving the Patient-Physician Relationship: Leading Through Advocacy. Peebles highlighted how strengthening relationships, both with patients and within the profession, can serve as a foundation for effective advocacy and long-term sustainability in dermatology.

Peebles was followed by Mary E. Logue, M.D., who delivered a compelling presentation titled Rural Access to Dermatology: Ensuring We Don’t “Fly Over” Opportunities. Logue, a practicing dermatologist in Spearfish, South Dakota, is also the founder and president of the Rural Access to Dermatology (RAD) Society, a nonprofit organization established to address geographic barriers to care and to support physicians and trainees interested in rural practice.

Drawing from both her clinical experience and her upbringing in rural Illinois, Logue outlined stark disparities in access to dermatologic care. She noted that only approximately 10% of dermatologists in North America practice in rural areas, while more than 40% are concentrated in the 100 most densely populated regions. These imbalances leave many communities without the care they need.

“Most counties with Black, Hispanic and American Indian majorities have zero derms,” Logue said. She added that dermatologists are more likely to practice in areas with higher median incomes, even within underserved regions, further widening gaps in care.

These disparities have significant consequences. Patients in rural areas often face long travel times for appointments, which can delay diagnoses and treatment. As a result, conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and even melanoma may present at more advanced stages, contributing to worse outcomes and increased mortality.

“Some of my patients now drive 12 to 14 hours round trip to maintain continuity of care with me,” Logue said.

Motivated by these realities, Logue founded the RAD Society in 2024 to foster connections among rural providers and encourage more dermatologists to serve these communities. “Real impact comes from building trust, learning culture and showing up again and again,” she said. “This is the life I choose, and while it’s demanding, it is also deeply rewarding.”

The session then turned to environmental concerns, with Eva R. Parker, M.D., DTMH, presenting Climate Advocacy in Dermatology: Protecting Skin Health and Equity in a Warming World. Parker, an assistant professor of dermatology and faculty member in the Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, highlighted how climate change is increasingly shaping patient outcomes and healthcare systems.

“Climate change acts as a threat multiplier for health equity and health systems,” Parker said, noting that the skin, being the body’s largest organ and primary interface with the environment, is especially vulnerable. She emphasized that rising temperatures, increased UV exposure and shifting environmental conditions are already influencing the prevalence and severity of many dermatologic conditions.

Parker also pointed to the healthcare sector’s environmental footprint. The United States healthcare system accounts for roughly 5% of global emissions, making it one of the most carbon-intensive service sectors worldwide. Dermatology contributes to this burden through energy-intensive procedures and high volumes of medical and product waste.

“We should not shy away from discussing this topic with our patients, with our colleagues, staff, trainees and our communities,” Parker said.