Media Kit

What is ASLMS?

The American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, Inc. (ASLMS) was founded in 1980 and is the world’s largest professional organization dedicated to promoting excellence in patient care by advancing laser applications and other energy based technologies.

Who belongs to ASLMS?

Membership includes physicians and surgeons representing more than 50 medical specialties, nurses and allied health care professionals, scientists involved with product development, biomedical engineers, biologists, industry leaders and equipment manufacturers.

ASLMS offers students, residents, fellows and PhD candidates free membership for the duration of their training, and waives the annual conference registration fee for them as well.

How many members does ASLMS have?

The Society currently has more than 4,000 members, 20% of which are located outside the United States.

What does ASLMS do?

The vision of ASLMS is to be the world’s preeminent resource for laser research, education, technology and clinical knowledge. The mission of ASLMS is to promote excellence in patient care by advancing biomedical application of lasers and other related technologies worldwide. ASLMS works toward this ambitious mission by:

• Conducting an annual conference for the multidisciplinary exchange of information on the latest discoveries, applications and research involving medical lasers and light energy sources
• Publishing the world’s foremost laser journal, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine
• Raising more than $1 million in the past five years for applied medical laser and related light energy technology research projects and grants
• Establishing practice guidelines and safety standards for physician and non-physician use of lasers and related light-based technologies
• Providing in-service education and testifying before regulatory authorities, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• Sponsoring professional networking opportunities to clinicians and suppliers
• Supporting regional, national and international meetings of laser health care professionals
• Disseminating public information about laser use that enhances patient care, including a website (www.aslms.org) that features a physician locator service, New Beginnings: Radiation Mark Removal Program, and other information about lasers in health care.

What is the ASLMS Annual Conference?

• The annual conference offers the opportunity for all disciplines to come together to learn, share, investigate, and create ideas to advance biomedical application of lasers and energy-based devices.
• One of the primary strengths of the Society is the diversity of membership. The ASLMS Annual Conference is one of the very few conferences driven by a common technology rather than a common specialty. Experts in one field can learn about exciting developments occurring in other fields and integrate them into their own research or clinical practice.
• Hundreds of clinical studies are presented each year to highlight the latest advances and newest devices on the market.
• The conference offers students, residents and fellows the opportunity to meet and learn from the industry leaders and pioneers, as well as the chance to present their research at a world renowned conference. ASLMS offers students, residents and fellows free membership for the course of their training, and waives the conference registration fee for them as well.

What are some key topics presented at the conference?

Hot Topics include:

• The latest in laser therapy for skin conditions and scarring, as well as photoaging
• RF needling devices, picosecond lasers, non-surgical body contouring and skin resurfacing
• Innovative skin treatments by photodynamic therapy (PDT)
• Photobiomodulation as a promising therapy for reducing pain and inflammation, wound healing, and tissue regeneration.
• Advances in pediatric laser medicine, safety and efficacy of laser and energy-based devices in children’s health
• Topic areas also include dental applications, veterinary medicine, optical diagnostics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and women’s health.
• An emphasis on safety guidelines for lasers and other energy-based devices, as well as maximizing patient satisfaction.

What do ASLMS members receive?

• Multi-disciplinary Body of Knowledge
• Discounts on Conference and Course Fees
• Free Subscription to Lasers in Surgery and Medicine (LSM) journal
• Light Talk Podcast Series
• Preceptorship Program
• Physician Locator Service
• Access to Research Grants
• Worldwide Professional Network
• Career Center
• Credentials

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Plenary Session | Friday, April 13 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Dan Harris

Dan Harris is a co-anchor for Nightline and the weekend edition of Good Morning America on ABC News, as well as host of ABC’s 500 Questions. He is also the author of 10% Happier, a #1 New York Times bestselling book about a fidgety, skeptical news anchor who stumbles upon meditation. Recently, Harris launched an app specifically designed to teach meditation to doubters and busy people. This ancient practice – too long associated exclusively with hippies and robed gurus – has been shown by modern science to boost resilience, focus, creativity, emotional intelligence, and overall mental and physical health. With meditation and mindfulness now being embraced by executives, athletes, educators and entertainers, Harris has become a leading voice for pushing for the practice into the mainstream, using plain English and dry humor. He has spoken in front of a variety of audiences—corporations, health and wellness organizations, and schools and universities.

In 10% Happier, Harris tells his story as only a reporter can: through deep research, tough questions, and a healthy dose of irony. The book is part investigation and part immersive journalism: one man’s accidental quest to boost his happiness quotient without losing his professional drive. After learning about research that suggests meditation can do everything from lower your blood pressure to essentially rewire your brain, Harris took a deep dive into the underreported world of CEOs, scientists, and even marines, who are now using it to be calmer, happier, and less yanked around by their emotions. The book takes readers on a ride from the outer reaches of neuroscience to the inner sanctum of network news to the bizarre fringes of America’s spiritual scene and leaves them with a takeaway that could actually change their lives.

Previously, Harris was the anchor of the Sunday edition of World News. He regularly contributes stories on ABC for such shows as 20/20, World News Tonight with David Muir, and the weekday edition of Good Morning America. Harris has reported from all over the world, covering wars in Afghanistan, Israel/Palestine, and Iraq, and producing investigative reports in Haiti, Cambodia, and the Congo. He has also spent many years covering America’s faith scene, with a focus on evangelicals—who have treated him kindly despite the fact that he is openly agnostic.

Harris has been at ABC News for 16 years, receiving Murrow and Emmy awards for his reporting. Prior to joining ABC, he was in local news in Boston and Maine.

Harris grew up outside of Boston and currently lives with his wife, Bianca, and their son, Alexander, in New York City.

AWARD PRESENTATIONS

Caroline and William Mark Memorial Award

David J. Goldberg, MD, JD

Dr. Goldberg earned his medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine.  He completed his dermatology residency and dermatologic surgical fellowship at New York University Medical Center. He has served as President as well as Chairman of both the Ethics and International Committees of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS). Dr. Goldberg was the first ever recipient of the ASLMS Leon Goldman award named after the founder of laser medicine. He has served on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, the International Society of Dermatologic Surgery and the American Society of Lasers in Medicine and Surgery. He is also Director or Co-director of the annual 5CC meeting in Spain, the Aesthetic Extender Symposium in FL and the New Frontiers in Cosmetic Medicine meeting in NJ. Dr. Goldberg is on the editorial boards of the Lasers in Surgery and Medicine and Dermatologic Surgery.  He is current Senior Chief-Editor of the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy.  Finally, Dr. Goldberg is an attorney and  an Adjunct Professor of Law where he has taught  a course entitled “Advances in Health Care Law.”

Leon Goldman Memorial Award

Kristen M. Kelly, MD

Dr. Kelly is a board-certified dermatologist and Professor at the University of California (UC), Irvine. She attended UC, Los Angeles as both an undergraduate and medical student. She completed an internship in internal medicine and a dermatology residency at UC Irvine. After residency, Dr. Kelly completed a fellowship in photomedicine and biomedical optics at the Beckman Laser Institute and then obtained an academic appointment in the departments of dermatology and surgery at UC Irvine. She currently serves as the Vice Chair of Dermatology and the Dermatology Residency Program Director at UC Irvine.  Her research has helped to optimize cutaneous vascular lesion treatment, evaluate cutaneous angiogenesis, and develop and evaluate novel dermatologic light based imaging and therapeutic options. She has given over 175 lectures at local, national and international conferences and events and has authored 97 scientific papers and 15 book chapters. Dr. Kelly is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and her research has been funded by the ASLMS, Sturge Weber Foundation, Dermatology Foundation and National Institutes of Health.  Dr. Kelly has been an active ASLMS member since 1998 and is a past President of the society.

Throughout her career, Dr. Kelly has been guided and taught by many people who are members of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery. Others in the society have received similar gifts of skills and knowledge, which we can use to provide light and hope through mentoring and clinical treatments. Let there be light!

Ellet H. Drake Memorial Award

Jill S. Waibel, MD

Dr. Waibel practices as a board-certified dermatologist specializing in general dermatology,  cutaneous laser surgery and cosmetic dermatology for adults and children.   She is in private practice in Miami, Florida and Coral Gables, Florida. She is currently the medical director and owner of the Miami Dermatology and Laser Institute in Miami.   Dr. Waibel is the subsection chief of Dermatology at Baptist Hospital.   In addition, Dr. Waibel serves as a Clinical Voluntary Assistant Professor at the University of Miami. She is a world-recognized leader in dermatologic laser surgery and lectures all over the world to train other physicians.  In her practice she has over 40 laser devices and treats a wide variety of cutaneous disease.  Dr. Waibel is active in basic science clinical trials at the University of Miami and has a clinical trials division Miami Dermatology and Research. One of Dr. Waibel’s primary passions is the treatment of scars by applying today’s latest cutaneous laser technologies. She has successfully developed industry-leading procedures and techniques with lasers, received numerous awards for her contributions to medicine, and published numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and several textbook chapters. She was named “Person of the Week” on ABC World News Tonight in 2015, and was recently granted a Cutting Edge Research Grant by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. She has received numerous awards for her contributions to medicine, including an award given by Surgeon General Koop.  The 2016 JDD Humanitarian Award has been given to Dr. Waibel for her innovative work in using lasers to treat patients with traumatic burn injuries. Dr. Waibel lectures, collaborates and trains military physicians to help the wounded warriors. Dr. Waibel makes her home in Coral Gables with her husband and four children.

Excellence in Laser Nursing/Allied Health Award

John E. Hoopman, AAS, CMLSO

John began his clinical experience at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas in 1998.  He is now the administrator of the UT program (now some 300+ lasers strong) including the disciplines of medical/surgical specialties including Cardio-Thoracic, Dermatology, Plastic Surgery, Ophthalmology, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Oral Surgery, Orthopedics, Otorhinolaryngology, Urology, General and Neurologic Surgery.  With his academic and developmental involvement in light medicine John has a unique ability to gauge and review most of the new and emerging light and noninvasive technologies being brought to bear in today’s ever changing surgical/clinical world.  He has had the honor and pleasure to be involved with revolutionary new laser and light applications in the past few years that significantly affected both the quality and duration of patient’s lives.

Dr. Horace Furumoto Innovations Professional Development - Young Investigator Award

Zeev Zalevsky, PhD

Dr. Zalevsky received his B.Sc. and direct Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Tel-Aviv University in 1993 and 1996 respectively. Zeev is currently a full Professor in the faculty of engineering in Bar-Ilan University, Israel. His major fields of research are optical super resolution, biomedical optics, nano-photonics and electro-optical devices. Zeev has published more than 450 refereed journal papers, about 300 conference proceeding papers, has more than 50 issued patents, 6 authored books, 3 books as an editor and 30 book chapters. For his scientific activity Zeev has received many national and international prizes such as the Krill prize, the International Commission of Optics (ICO) prize and Abbe medal, the Juludan prize, the international SAOT (School for Advanced Optical Technologies) Young Researcher Prize, the Lean and Maria Taubenblatt Prize, the young investigator award in nanoscience and nanotechnology given by the Israel National Nanotechnology Initiative (INNI) together with the Ministry of Economics, the international Wearable Technologies (WT) Innovation World Cup 2012 Prize, the Image Engineering Innovation Award of the Society for Imaging Science and Technology (IS&T), the Outstanding Young Scientist Award (OYSA) of NANOSMAT, the Serial Innovator Award, SPIE Startup Challenge Prize,  IAAM Scientist Medal of 2017 and more.  Zeev is a fellow of SPIE, OSA, EOS, IET, IOP and NANOSMAT.

Dr. Horace Furumoto Innovations Professional Development - Distinguished Contributor Award
G. David Baxter, TD, DPhil, MBA

Dr. Baxter is Professor at the University of Otago, and Director of New Zealand’s National Science Challenge for Ageing Well. He is a Visiting Professor at Ulster University (UK), where he completed his doctoral training; he also holds an MBA from the University of London. David’s current projects include research on the effectiveness of photobiomodulation in the management of breast cancer-related lymphoedema. He has authored or co-authored over 250 peer-reviewed research papers in peer-reviewed journals and contributed to various textbooks. David is Editor in Chief of Physical Therapy Reviews and serves on the Editorial Boards of Laser Therapy and Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. He has presented multiple platform or poster presentations and educational workshops at national and international meetings. David is a Chartered Physiotherapist and has been recognized as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland, and of the American Society for Lasers in Medicine and Surgery; he received a Presidential citation from ASLMS in 2015. He was recognized for his research achievements with award of the Chaffer Medal by the Otago Postgraduate Medical Society in 2017.

April 12 | 5:30 PM

FEATURED SPEAKER

Merete Hædersdal, MD, PhD, DMSc

Dr. Haedersdal is consultant in dermatology and clinical professor at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. She is Visiting Scientist at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School focusing on the project “Laser-Assisted Drug delivery” in collaboration with Dr. R. Rox Anderson and his team. Dr. Haedersdal received her M.D. degree from the Medical School program of the University of Copenhagen, Denmark and was authorised as a specialist in dermato-venereology in 2004. Dr. Haedersdal received her Ph.D degree in 1997 and became Dr. of Medical Science in 1999. Her theses covered aspects of side effects from dermatological laser procedures in animal and human experimental studies. Professor Haedersdal publishes and lectures internationally and her research team focuses on translational medicine in the field of laser dermatology, fractional laser-assisted drug delivery, photodynamic therapy, and treatment of skin cancer with light-based devices.

AWARD PRESENTATION

ASLMS Leadership, Mentorship & Public Advocacy for Women in Medical Science Award
Tina S. Alster, MD

Dr. Alster is the founding director of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery and is a clinical professor of dermatology at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, DC. She received her B.S. and M.D. degrees with highest honors from Duke University and completed her dermatology residency at Yale University. She is a world-recognized leader in dermatologic laser surgery and has published hundreds of articles and 8 textbooks on the subject. Dr. Alster has held and maintains leadership and board positions in numerous professional and national organizations including ASLMS (Board of Directors 2000-2003). She has served as a consultant to several skin care and device companies, including Lancôme and La Mer. Her commitment to teaching and mentoring others is evident in her establishment of scholarship endowments for women pursuing careers in medicine at Duke University. Dr. Alster has received numerous accolades by her peers including the prestigious ASLMS Leon Goldman Lectureship Award (2001), American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Presidential Citation Award (2017), and Women’s Dermatologic Society (WDS) Mentorship (2009) and Legacy (2014) Awards. In addition to serving as an expert on TV and radio, she has been acknowledged in America’s Top Doctors, Town & Country’s Best Cosmetic Surgeons, America’s Elite 1000, Allure’s Influencer of the Year, Elle Genius Awards and Washingtonian’s Best Doctors and is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 1 percent of physicians in dermatology in US News & World Report.