Committees
Volunteers are essential to the Society's ability to meet the diverse needs of its members. Each year, the President and President-Elect appoint new members to a variety of committees, marked: Open to Volunteers. If you have considered getting more involved, we may have opportunities that fit your interests.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee provides oversight to the Society for financial statement integrity, financial practices, management and audits, internal control systems, and standards of conduct.
Open to volunteers.
CHAIR Yakir Levin, MD, PhD
MEMBER Mathew M. Avram, MD, JD
MEMBER Thomas M. Beachkofsky, MD
MEMBER Arielle N.B. Kauvar, MD
MEMBER Khalil A. Khatri, MD
MEMBER Nathan S. Uebelhoer, DO
MEMBER Adam J. Wulkan, MD
Awards Committee
The Awards Committee recommends individuals for recognition by the Society, including the Caroline and William Mark Memorial, Ellet H. Drake Memorial, Leon Goldman Memorial, Nursing/Allied Health Excellence Awards, and Kenneth A. Arndt, MD Lifetime Mentorship Award, as well as the Dr. Horace Furumoto Research Awards.
Open to volunteers.
CHAIR Arisa E. Ortiz, MD
MEMBER Suzanne L. Kilmer, MD
MEMBER Arielle N.B Kauvar, MD
MEMBER J. Stuart Nelson, MD, PhD
MEMBER Thomas E. Rohrer, MD
MEMBER Taryn E. Travis, MD, FACS
CE Advisory Committee
The CE Advisory Committee shall support the ASLMS goal to meet or exceed all compliance requirements for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). Committee members assist with providing peer review and unbiased evaluation of ASLMS accredited continuing education (CE) activities as a means of providing general assistance, advice, and support to the ASLMS Provider Unit regarding decisions on how to improve format, structure, planning processes, and content of accredited CE activities to ensure high-quality programming with valid scientific and clinical content.
Open to volunteers.
MEMBER Alissandro R. Castillo, MD, MBA
MEMBER Yan Duan, FNP
MEMBER Peter R. Shumaker, MD
Concepts Committee (2026 - 2027)
The committee’s primary function is to serve in a consultative, non-voting role, consistent with the Society’s agreed upon philosophies and policies. The committee serves as a supportive entity from which the CME Provider Unit - consisting of ASLMS staff, the Director of Continuing Medical Education (CME), and the CME Advisory Committee members - may seek consultation and suggestions. The committee may provide ideas and suggestions related to overall concepts for both educational and non-educational programming and activities (Annual Conference, pre-conference courses, regional courses, social events, etc.).
CO-CHAIR Mathew M. Avram, MD, JD (2027 Program Chair)
CO-CHAIR Walfre Franco, PhD (2027 Program Chair)
CO-CHAIR Lilit Garibyan, MD, PhD (2027 Program Chair)
MEMBER Lesley R. Clark-Loeser, MD (2026 Program Chair)
MEMBER Girish S. Munavalli, MD, MHS, FACMS (2026 Program Chair)
MEMBER Mona Sadeghpour, MD (2026 Program Chair)
MEMBER Jill S. Waibel, MD (Director Government, Communication, and Education)
MEMBER Nathan S. Uebelhoer, DO (Exhibit Chair)
MEMBER Christina M. Jordan, MSN, APN, FNP-C (Nursing/Allied Health Board Representative)
MEMBER Aria Vazirna, MD, MAS (Early Career Board Representative)
MEMBER Briana Halle, MD (Resident/Fellow Representative)
MEMBER Cemre Turk, MD (Resident/Fellow Representative)
MEMBER Giulia Mansutti, PhD (Early Career Scientist Representative)
Constitution and Bylaws Committee
The Constitution and Bylaws Committee deals with all questions related to the Society's governing documents, including requests for amendments.
Open to volunteers.
CHAIR Kachiu C. Lee, MD, MPH
MEMBER Hye Jin (Leah) Chung, MD, MMSc
MEMBER Leslie R. Clark-Loeser, MD
MEMBER Shlomit Halachmi, MD, PhD
MEMBER Thy Huynh, MD
MEMBER Yakir Levin, MD, PhD
MEMBER Anthony M. Rossi, MD, FAAD
Digital Communications Committee
The purpose of the Digital Communications Committee is to assist ASLMS staff in reviewing and recommending activities that increase Society presence on website, social media, and mobile platforms. The committee works to refine existing digital content strategies, develop new strategies to build and maintain online content and communities, and evaluate new platforms.
Open to volunteers.
CHAIR Mona Sadeghpour, MD
MEMBER Wanda Erinle'
MEMBER Spencer Hawkins, MD
MEMBER Lana Kashlan, MD
MEMBER Monica Li, MD
MEMBER Azadeh Shirazi, MD
MEMBER Shelley Uppal, MD
STUDENT OBSERVER Priya Uppal, MD
Early Career Committee
The charge of the committee is to attract and retain future leaders of the ASLMS by focusing on the educational and networking needs of early career professionals interested in the field of lasers and energy-based devices.
Open to volunteers.
CHAIR Swati Kannan, MD
MEMBER Rachel Christensen, MD
MEMBER Mary Dick, MD
MEMBER Thy Huynh, MD
MEMBER Nicole Salame, MD
MEMBER Aria Vazirnia, MD, MAS
MEMBER Adam J. Wulkan, MD
STUDENT OBSERVER Rebecca Quinonez, MD, MS
Ethics and Conflicts of Interest Committee
The Ethics and Conflict of Interest Committee makes recommendations to the Board regarding any matters concerning ethics or conflict of interest referred to the Committee by the Board, administrative staff, or members.
Open to volunteers.
CHAIR Maral K. Skelsey, MD
MEMBER Imran Amir, MD
MEMBER Vaughan Daniels-Hepnar
MEMBER Sungat K. Grewal, MD, FAAD
MEMBER Yakir Levin, MD, PhD
MEMBER Jill S. Waibel, MD
MEMBER Daniel Yanes, MD
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee is responsible for making recommendations regarding fiscal policy for the Society and will review yearly budgets prepared by the Treasurer, who is a member of the committee.
Open to volunteers.
CHAIR Michael Abrouk, MD
MEMBER Marc R. Avram, MD
MEMBER Martin Buta, MD, MBA, MS
MEMBER Rishi Chopra, MD, MS, FAAD
MEMBER Shlomit Halachmi, MD, PhD
MEMBER David M. Ozog, MD
MEMBER Thomas E. Rohrer, MD
Industry Relations Committee
The Industry Relations Committee will focus on connecting ASLMS to industry partners to be mutually beneficial for both organizations and to promote opportunities for collaboration in the form of exhibitions, sponsorship, and advertising for in-person and online year-round activities.
Open to volunteers.
CHAIR Fernanda H. Sakamoto, MD, PhD
MEMBER Rawaa Almukhtar, MD, MPH
MEMBER Eric F. Bernstein, MD, MSE
MEMBER Martin Buta, MD, MBA, MS
MEMBER Anne M. Chapas, MD
MEMBER Leslie R. Clark Loeser, MD
MEMBER Bianca Y. Kang, MD
MEMBER Suzanne L. Kilmer, MD
MEMBER Monica Li, MD
MEMBER Alexander J. Makowski, PhD
MEMBER Vladimir Paul-Blanc, BA
MEMBER Hyemin Pomerantz, MD
STUDENT OBSERVER Lori S. Kim, MD
Gift Acceptance Committee
The Gift Acceptance Committee is charged with the responsibility of reviewing all gifts proposed to be made to the ASLMS, properly screening, accepting or declining those gifts, and making recommendations to the Board on gift acceptance issues when appropriate. The Gift Acceptance Committee will also approve and/or direct the allocation of investment proceeds that support and carry out the mission of the ASLMS. The committee consists of the ASLMS President, President-Elect, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Chair of the Finance Committee. The ASLMS will seek the advice of legal counsel in matters relating to acceptance of gifts when appropriate.
CHAIR Omar A. Ibrahimi, MD, PhD
MEMBER Michael Abrouk, MD
MEMBER H. Ray Jalian, MD
MEMBER Kristen M. Kelly, MD
MEMBER Yakir Levin, MD, PhD
MEMBER Girish S. Munavalli, MD, MHS, FACMS
MEMBER Molly Wanner, MD, MBA
Human Resources Committee
This committee shall evaluate and make recommendations to the Board regarding human resources issues, staffing, and other related needs of the Society. Members will include the President, Secretary, and Treasurer. If a Treasurer-Elect is serving, he or she will serve as a non-voting member of the Committee.
CHAIR Omar A. Ibrahimi, MD, PhD
MEMBER Ashish C. Bhatia, MD, FAAD, FASLMS
MEMBER H. Ray Jalian, MD
MEMBER Kristen M. Kelly, MD
MEMBER Girish S. Munavalli, MD, MHS, FACMS
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee
The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Committee will work to create a diverse, equitable, accessible, and inclusive culture for our members, industry colleagues, and potential members. This committee will seek to re-examine our professional values, modify our existing policies and procedures, and remove barriers to being diverse and inclusive.
Open to volunteers.
CHAIR Oge C. Onwudiwe, MD
MEMBER Rewan Abdelwahab, MD
MEMBER Jeanie B. Downie, MD, FAAD
MEMBER Michelle F. Henry, MD
MEMBER Ardalan Minokadeh, MD, PhD
MEMBER Lily Park, DO, FAAD
MEMBER Vishal Vinod, MBBS student
STUDENT OBSERVER Eleni Pilitsi, MD
International Affairs Committee
The International Affairs Committee considers any business of the Society related to its affiliation and cooperation with other societies on an international basis.
Open to volunteers.
CHAIR Merete Haedersdal, MD, PhD, DMSc
MEMBER Sami N. Alsuwaidian, MD
MEMBER Virginia M. Benitez, MD
MEMBER Chang Cheng Chang, MD, PhD, FACS
MEMBER Bo Chen, PhD
MEMBER Vaughan Daniels-Hepnar
MEMBER (Shawn) Cheng-Shiao Ho, MSE, MBA
STUDENT OBSERVER Pearl Ugwu-Dike, MD
Investment Committee
The Investment Committee assures that the investments of the Society meet the Society's investment goals. The Committee shall consist of the Secretary, Treasurer, Executive Director, current chair of the Finance Committee, and a member appointed by the President-Elect to serve a three (3) year term.
CHAIR H. Ray Jalian, MD
MEMBER Michael Abrouk, MD
MEMBER Ashish C. Bhatia, MD, FAAD, FASLMS
MEMBER Kristen M. Kelly, MD
MEMBER Yakir Levin, MD, PhD
MEMBER Michelle Morrison, ASLMS Executive Director
MEMBER Aria Vazanria, MD, MAS
Marketing and Public Relations Committee
The Marketing and Public Relations Committee oversees public relations and marketing activities that support the vision, mission, and policies of the Society. Activities include facilitating membership recruitment and retention, enhanced membership services, communications, and promoting the Annual Conference and other activities sponsored by the Society.
Open to volunteers.
CHAIR Ashish C. Bhatia, MD, FAAD, FACMS
MEMBER Ali Alajmi, MD, FRCPC, FAAD
MEMBER H. Ray Jalian, MD
MEMBER Kristen M. Kelly, MD
MEMBER Lori S. Kim, MD
MEMBER Girish S. Munavalli, MD, MHS, FACMS
Membership Committee
The Membership Task Force assists ASLMS staff in reviewing and recommending activities that promote and retain members. The task force will develop new member communication strategies to keep members engaged. The task force will also evaluate member recruitment and retention programs, utilizing a variety of measures including membership satisfaction and membership trends.
Open to volunteers.
CHAIR Molly Wanner, MD, MBA
MEMBER Saira Agarwala, MD
MEMBER Imran Amir, MD
MEMBER Richard Bankowski
MEMBER Joshua Burshtein, MD
MEMBER Martin Buta, MD, MBA, MS
MEMBER Brooke Corbett, MD
MEMBER Mary Dick, MD
MEMBER Delaney Ding
MEMBER Ronda S. Farah, MD
MEMBER Shilpa Ghatnekar, MD, MBA
MEMBER John E. Hoopman, CMLSO
MEMBER Nisrine Kawa, MD
MEMBER Jina Kim
MEMBER Zoe M. Lipman, MD, BS
MEMBER Morgan B. Murphrey, MD, MS
MEMBER Patti A. Owens, MHA, BSN, RN, CMLSO, CNOR, FAORN
MEMBER Haya Raef, MD
MEMBER Jennifer L. Sawaya, MD
MEMBER Xiaoming Shang, PhD
MEMBER Linda Rozell-Shannon, PhD
MEMBER Nicole Salame, MD
MEMBER Taryn E. Travis, MD, FACS
MEMBER Daniel Yanes, MD
MEMBER Ahmed Yousaf, MD
Mentorship Committee
The Mentorship Committee is responsible for the development and oversight of mentorship programs to ensure that participants have an enriching learning experience that contributes to their personal and professional growth and development. The committee will develop mentorship programs to match early career members seeking learning opportunities, guidance, and support from senior members willing to dedicate time and knowledge to enhance the skills of mentees.
Open to volunteers.
CHAIR Gary P. Lask, MD
MEMBER Catherine M. DiGiorgio, MD
MEMBER Swati Kannan, MD
MEMBER Farah A. Moustafa, MD
MEMBER Nazanin Saedi, MD
MEMBER Kelly J. Stankiewicz, MD, FAAD
MEMBER Jill S. Waibel, MD
STUDENT OBSERVER Haya Raef, MD
Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee will identify individuals who are capable, talented, interested, and willing to serve as directors and Society or division offices. The Nominating Committee shall consist of seven (7) voting members of the Society, one of which shall be the immediate Past President who shall serve as chairperson, three (3) shall be appointed by the Board of Directors at its annual meeting and the remainder shall be elected by the membership.
CHAIR Ashish C. Bhatia, MD, FAAD, FASLMS
MEMBER Sami N. Alsuwaidan, MD
MEMBER Paul M. Friedman, MD
MEMBER Khalil A. Khatri, MD
MEMBER Nazanin Saedi, MD
MEMBER E. Victor Ross, MD
MEMBER Robert A. Weiss, MD, FAAD
Philanthropy Committee
The Philanthropy Committee supports partnerships and programs approved by the Board. The Committee can make recommendations to the Board regarding future partnerships or programs.
Open to volunteers.
CHAIR Paul M. Friedman, MD
MEMBER Tina S. Alster, MD, FAAD
MEMBER Eliot F. Battle Jr., MD
MEMBER Alissandro R. Castillo, MD, MBA
MEMBER Courtney Chau
MEMBER Lesley R. Clark-Loeser, MD
MEMBER Emilee A. Herringshaw, MD, MBA
MEMBER Nisrine Kawa, MD
MEMBER Hasina Maredia, MD
MEMBER Arisa E. Ortiz, MD
STUDENT OBSERVER Alexis E. Carrington, MD
Public Policy Committee
The Public Policy Committee supports the Public Policy Director with advocacy initiatives relating to the advancement of laser technology for use in medicine and surgery. Committee members shall assist the Public Policy Director in identifying and prioritizing relevant state and federal legislative and regulatory proposals that relate to this purpose and impact members of the ASLMS. The Public Policy Committee is responsible for coordinating and partnering efforts with other like-minded healthcare organizations. The activities of the Public Policy Committee shall be limited to activities that ASLMS is permitted to engage in under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code and the tax-exempt status ASLMS has elected under the Code.
Open to volunteers.
CHAIR George J. Hruza, MD, MBA
MEMBER Christopher S. Carlton, MBA
MEMBER John E. Hoopman, CMLSO
MEMBER Nisrine Kawa, MD
MEMBER Vineet Mishra, MD
MEMBER Kelly J. Stankiewicz, MD, FAAD
Research and Development Committee
The Research and Development Committee leads the development and implementation of the Society's student and non-student research initiatives.
Open to volunteers.
CHAIR Patricia M. Richey, MD, FAAD
MEMBER Bo Chen, PhD
MEMBER Mai Elsheikh, PhD
MEMBER Ardalan Minokadeh, MD, PhD
MEMBER Jill S. Waibel, MD
MEMBER Ying Wang, MD, PhD
Safety Awareness Committee
The Safety Awareness Committee will make recommendations to the Board to provide education for and promote the safe, effective, and ethical use of energy-based devices.
Open to volunteers.
CHAIR John E. Hoopman, CMLSO
MEMBER Richard A. Gama, CMLSO, CST
MEMBER Ariel N.B. Kauvar, MD
MEMBER Jessica G. Labadie, MD
MEMBER Tracey L. Mancuso, BSc-HS, CMLSO
MEMBER Aria Vazirnia, MD, MAS
Women in Energy-Based Devices Committee
The Women in Energy-Based Devices Committee will highlight the excellence of women involved in the ASLMS, implement strategies to advance networking and training opportunities, and promote the professional development of women using energy-based technologies at all career and training levels through teaching, mentoring, and organization leadership.
Open to volunteers.
CHAIR Suzanne L. Kilmer, MD
MEMBER Tina S. Alster, MD, FAAD
MEMBER Lesley R. Clark-Loeser, MD
MEMBER Eujin Cho, MD, PhD
MEMBER Lauren Mohan, MD
MEMBER Jennifer L. Sawaya, MD
MEMBER Kelly J. Stankiewicz, MD, FAAD
STUDENT OBSERVER Andrina V. Paul, MD