The Society for Investigative Dermatology was born out of a vision to serve a segment of science previously unrepresented by the medical societies of the United States:  investigative dermatology. The founders saw a need for an organization with a devotion to cutaneous investigation, rather than clinical work, and to promote investigative dermatology to a fully respected position among the medical specialties. In tandem with the establishment of the society, they sought to develop a new scientific journal that would act as a singular resource for investigative work in cutaneous biology. Previously, this research had been scattered among the non-dermatology journals and had largely been completed outside the specialty of investigative dermatology.

This vision was realized when the SID was founded, bylaws were adopted and a board of nine directors was appointed on June 10, 1937 at the Hotel Dennis in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Journal of Investigative Dermatology (JID) was launched, with Marion B. Sulzberger as its first editor, and the first Annual Meeting was held in April 1938 in New York City.

First Board of Directors of the SID (1937)

George M. MacKee, New York (President)
Joseph V. Klauder, Philadelphia (Vice President)
S.W. Becker, Chicago (Secretary)
J. Gardner Hopkins, New York (Treasurer)
Hamilton Montgomery, Rochester
Samuel M. Peck, New York
S. Pollitzer, New York
John Stokes, Phildelphia
Marion B. Sulzberger, New York (Editor)

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the SID, a supplement to the JID was published relating the history of the SID, the Journal and dermatologic research in the US (v. 92, [April, 1989]: 10s). Rudolf Baer (SID President, 1964) wrote: “The foundation of the [SID] and the decision to publish the Journal…must be seen as part of a revolutionary movement in American dermatology.”

In 2003, the SID completed its third strategic plan, entitled Vision 2008. The plan contains the thoughtful work of members and staff who defined five major goals to position the SID for the coming decade, and to ensure that the organization remains viable, healthy and responsive to the needs of its members. As part of the planning process, the following mission, vision and values were defined for the SID.

Mission
To advance and promote the sciences relevant to skin health and disease through education, advocacy, and scholarly exchange of scientific information.

Vision
The SID will be the pre-eminent organization for the science of skin health and diseases. It will be a leading purveyor of educational programming. It will promote a culture of discovery and serve as the premier forum for the exchange of scientific information relating to dermatologic research. It will build cross-disciplinary bridges to provide catalytic leadership in attaining intellectual, political, and financial support for skin-related scientific investigation. The SID will be—and be viewed as—a significant force in shaping public policy. As a result of recruiting, nurturing, and mentoring the next generation of scientists, it will be a financially robust and self-sustaining organization.

Values
• Integrity
• Collegiality
• Shared Beliefs
• Innovation
• Leadership