1921 – 2022

A native of Houston, John Wolf graduated from Lamar High School and Rice University. At Rice, he earned a degree in History with a minor in English. His collegiate passion for journalism, debate, and creative writing would later pay dividends as a dermatologist. He studied medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) where he earned a master’s degree in anatomy and an MD degree in four years.

Dr. Bolognia is a longtime professor of Dermatology at Yale University. She received her medical degree and trained in dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine. She has served as president of the American Dermatological Association, the Women’s Dermatologic Society, and the Medical Dermatology Society. She was awarded the Gold Medal from the American Academy of Dermatology in 2019. Dr. Bolognia is an honorary member of at least 10 Dermatology organizations.

Hugh Greenway is a pioneer Mohs surgeon who helped bring the dermatology sub specialty into mainstream medicine. After graduating from the University of Georgia and receiving his MD degree from the Medical College of Georgia, he served as a medical missionary in Ghana, West Africa. After a nine-year Navy career, he completed a dermatology residency at the Naval medical center in San Diego which was followed by a Mohs Fellowship in Wisconsin under the direction of Fred Mohs.

Ellen Dorinda Shelley was named after her mother Ellen (Shattuck) Loeffel who was a physician at a time when few women went to medical school. Dr. Shelley grew up in St. Louis and graduated from the John Burroughs School before attending Mount Holyoke College where she graduated with a degree in Zoology. She spent post-doctoral time at Stanford after completing her medical studies and dermatology training at the University of Missouri.

November 23, 1938 – May 13, 2014

Born in Ashville, North Carolina, the son and grandson of physicians, Paul Kelly, MD was an immensely influential dermatologist. Educated at Brown University where he was one of only three African American students, he went to medical school at Howard University where he was mentored by John A. Kenney Jr, MD. Following dermatology training at Henry Ford Hospital, Dr. Kelly moved to the King/Drew Medical center in Los Angeles where he served as Chief of Dermatology for more than 40 years.

February 6, 1917 – January 30th, 2009

Walter Shelley grew up in northern Minnesota as the adopted and only child of a railroad switch operator and his wife. An uncle, who was a physician, was instrumental in influencing his occupational choice. Dr. Shelley overcame early adversity. He did not talk until age 4 and was also asked to repeat the second grade. He eventually became one of the most thoughtful, intelligent, productive, and enduring dermatologists of his time. At 6’4”, Walter Shelley was a tall man who left a high bar for those who were to come after him.

1894 - August 31, 1963

Stephen Rothman was born into a wealthy Jewish family and grew up in Budapest, Hungary, where he received his medical degree. He trained in dermatology with Albert Jesionek (Germany) and Bruno Block (Switzerland). He was one of a series of individuals who became icons in their respective fields after fleeing the oppression of Europe in favor of the United States.

October 8, 1914 – November 29, 2003

John Kenney, Jr. was the oldest of four children born in Tuskegee, Alabama, to parents who were influential figures in African American medicine. Kenney graduated from Bates College, then received his medical degree from Howard University in 1945.

November 22, 1936 – December 5, 2008

Bernard “Bernie” Ackerman was born the son of an orthodontist in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He attended Phillips Academy and graduated from Princeton University. He received his medical degree from Columbia University. In an unusual twist for the time, he completed his dermatology residency by spending a year at each of three different dermatology departments: Columbia, Pennsylvania, and Harvard.