Award Recipients

Victor Newcomer, MD Memorial Lecture Award

Victor D. Newcomer (April 5, 1916 - March 15, 2002) was a Clinical Professor of Medicine in Dermatology at UCLA's School of Medicine and a clinician in private practice in Santa Monica, California. A gifted teacher and leader, Dr. Newcomer received countless accolades including the prized Golden Apple Award from both UCLA and the California Medical Association. Dr. Newcomer was an esteemed and beloved educator, mentor and role model throughout the Dermatologic community and amongst his students. His life exemplified his dedication and commitment to excellence in teaching and academics. CalDerm has established the Victor D. Newcomer, M.D. Memorial Lecture to honor his legacy and encourage new practicing clinicians of Dermatology to strive for excellence in their own work.

Honorees

2017
Gary Lask, MD

2016
David Woodley, MD

2015
Suzanne Olbricht, MD

2014
Timothy Berger, MD

2013
Vera Price, MD

2012
Dirk Elston, MD

2011
Mark Lebwohl, MD

2010
Richard Scher, MD

2009
Richard Odom, MD

Kathleen Adair, MD Advocacy Award

Established in 2007, this award is presented to a CalDerm member who has made significant advancements for the Society's legislative and regulatory program.

This award is given in honor of the late Dr. Kathleen R Adair, who was a past CalDerm president and active member of both CalDerm and LA Metro Dermatology. She was in private practice in Santa Monica and affiliated with USC Department of Dermatology. An issue had arisen with the Southern California Medicare carrier regarding appropriate use of the destruction of premalignant lesion (AK) code. This code would have been severely modified but for the efforts of Dr. Adair (and Dr. Lenore Kakita, the first recipient of the Adair award). They successfully convinced the Medicare carrier that the proposed changes would be detrimental, (to California and several other western states) by lobbying him directly. They convinced the Medicare carrier to reverse the impending decision. The untimely death of Dr. Adair at age 56 and the magnitude of her accomplishment as well as the zeal with which she and Dr. Kakita lobbied for California dermatology, constituted the basis for this Award, which is only given on an “as deserved” basis at the direction of CalDerm’s lobbyist and Legislative Chair.