John Kenney Jr., MD Lifetime Achievement Award and Lectureship Grant

John Kenney Jr., MD Lifetime Achievement Award and Lectureship Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: American Academy of Dermatology
Amount: US $10,000
Last Updated: January 12, 2026

Summary

The John Kenney Jr., MD Lifetime Achievement Award and Lectureship honors the legacy of Dr. John Kenney, a trailblazer in dermatology and the first African American member of the AAD. Established in 2021, this award recognizes dermatologists dedicated to enhancing care for underserved populations, particularly skin of color patients. The recipient, an expert clinician, will receive a $10,000 cash prize and present a lecture at the AAD Annual Meeting, celebrating their commitment to improving healthcare access.

Overview

The award is named for Dr. John Kenney, who was the first African American member of the AAD and the 1995 recipient of the Master of Dermatology Award. Dr. Kenney was a distinguished physician in private practice and as a professor at Howard University for almost four decades where he created a separate dermatology department at Howard's Freedmen’s Hospital and served as chief of the division of dermatology and founding chairman of the department of dermatology. Dr. Kenney also served as the assistant editor of the Journal of the National Medical Association from 1947 to 1952, and as president of the National Medical Association from 1962 to 1963. In his 2003 obituary, The Washington Post estimated that of the about 300 black dermatologists practicing in the United States at that time, Kenney had mentored or trained about one-third of them. The John Kenney Jr., MD Lifetime Achievement Award and Lectureship was created in 2021 to recognize outstanding dermatologists, who throughout their career have been committed to improving the treatment of patients from underserved populations including skin of color patients. The selected lecturer will receive a cash award of $10,000 and present a lecture of approximately 30 minutes at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting Plenary session.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The individual selected must be a dermatologist and member of the AAD.The recipient should be an acknowledged, expert clinician focused on improving access and outcomes in skin of color patients and under-served populations.The emphasis must be in selecting a person who has been a practicing clinical dermatologist (including dermatopathologists and dermatologic surgeons) regardless of their area of practice.The recipient should have a significant career of accomplishments and contributions to improving care for skin of color patients and/or underserved populations.The recipient must have proven communication skills. You must be a member of this organization to apply for this award - become a member.