Ramona Behshad, MD, FACMS

Present Affiliation

Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Saint Louis University

Medical School

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2007

Residency and Fellowship Training

Residency: Case Western Reserve University, Dermatology Residency, 2008-2011
Fellowship: Laser and Dermatologic Surgery Center, Mohs fellowship, 2011-2012
Other: Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, Intern year in Medicine, 2007-2008

Professional Activities:

Division Director, Mohs Surgery, Saint Louis University, 2018-present
Fellowship Director, MSDO, Saint Louis University, 2018-present
President, Missouri Dermatological Society (MDS), 2021-2022
Vice President, MDS, 2020-2021
President, Saint Louis Metropolitan Medical Society (SLMMS), 2019-2020
Vice President, SLMMS, 2018-2019
Board of Directors, MDS, 2019-present
Annual Meeting Program Chair, MDS, 2020-2021
Vice President, Saint Louis Dermatological Society, 2020-2022
Vice Councilor: District 3, Missouri State Medical Association (MSMA), 2020-present
Treasurer, Young Physician Section, MSMA, 2018-present
Faculty Senate, Saint Louis University, 2018-present
Executive Committee of the School of Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 2021-present
Alpha Omega Alpha Co-councilor, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 2022-present
Executive Committee of the Faculty Assembly, Saint Louis University, 2020-present
President, Saint Louis Derm Journal Club, 2017-2020

American College of Mohs Surgery activities:

Newsletter Committee 2022-2025; 2019-2021
Fellowship Training Committee, 2022-2025
Diversity Task Force, 2020-2022
Tromovitch Award Committee, 2019-2022
Membership Committee, 2019-2021
National Registry Committee, 2015-2018
Private Payor Task Force, 2014-2017

Other national, state and local dermatology society activities:

American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), Curriculum Task Force, member, 2022-2025
AAD, Clinical Guidelines Committee, member, 2019-2022
AAD, Advisory Board Committee, member, 2011-present
American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS), Leadership Development Work Group, President, 2021-2022
ASDS, Research Work Group, member, 2020-2023
ASDS, Professional Conduct Committee, member 2018- present
ASDS, Public Service Work Group, President, 2016-2019
ASDS, Annual Meeting Work Group, member, 2014-2017
ASDS, Membership Work Group, member, 2014-2017
ASDS, Branding and PR Work Group, member, 2013-2016
ASDS, Future Leader’s Network, Mentee, 2013-2014
American Professors of Dermatology (APD), Dermatologic Surgery Section Steering Committee, member, 2019-2021
APD, Membership and Recruitment committee, member, 2019-2021

Medical Society, Government and/or Professional Appointments, Awards and Honors:

Model State Advocacy Award, accepted on behalf of the Missouri Dermatological Society, 2022
“Rare Diseases Photo Art Challenge, Honorable mention,” National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), 2020
Presidential Citation, American Academy of Dermatology, 2013

Publications:

Author of 34 publications

Position Statement:

I am honored to be nominated for the ACMS Board of Directors. My background includes private practice for 4 years, and now academics for the past 7 years. Experience in both environments helps me to understand the issues facing our varied membership.

As an active ACMS member since completing fellowship in 2012, I have served on several ACMS committees. I have served on the Diversity Task Force (2020-2022), the Tromovich Award Committee (2020-2022), the Newsletter committee (2019-2021), the Membership committee (2019-2021), the National Registry Committee (2015-2018), and the Private Payor Task Force (2014-2017). I am currently a member of the Newsletter committee and the Fellowship Training Committee. Participating in these committees has helped me to understand the inner workings of our College. In addition to this committee work, I have held various leadership roles in the ASDS, AAD, APD, in my state and local dermatologic and medical organizations, and as MSDO Fellowship Director and Mohs Surgery Division Director. This diverse experience has equipped me with the experience and background to contribute to the Mohs College. I have worked directly with leaders who have been successful advocates for our profession. I have also realized the importance of working at the local, state and national level to ensure that policy makers and insurance payers know who we are and what we do. By amplifying local voices, the ACMS can reduce the burden of regulations that takes physicians away from seeing patients.

Beyond educating regulators, the ACMS should remain dedicated to educating our members, our fellows in training, and our patients. The ACMS provides numerous resources for continuing education, practice management, and networking for our members, and I strongly believe that we should continue supporting these efforts. I also support increasing grant funding to our research-oriented members, so that we may continue to be thought leaders in dermatologic surgery and oncology, to demonstrate our value to payors, and to provide high level evidence of our excellent patient care and patient safety. Diversity is another important area of growth for our organization. I believe encouraging a diverse membership, whether it be in gender, race, sexual orientation, age, or other minorities, will make the ACMS richer in thought and in impact.

In summary, I hope to provide service to the ACMS in the areas of education/research, legislative work, and coding and reimbursement. My experience, along with my volunteered time and hard work, will guide me if I am given the incredible honor to serve on the ACMS Board of Directors. I understand the gravity and the time commitment of the ACMS Board of Directors, and I would be honored with the opportunity to serve our membership in this capacity.