We are pleased to collaborate with the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) in launching the AAD Clinical Image Collection, which is a free member benefit for SOCS and Academy members this year.
With a lack of diversity in images of skin conditions identified in the professional education space, we are working hard to support the AAD’s efforts to collect images ranging from light, to medium, to dark skin tones. We encourage SOCS members to submit images taken during your practice and have them used to educate dermatologists across the globe in presentations and professional education material.
IMPORTANT NOTE: You'll retain copyrights and be credited when your images are used. All donated photos will feature a watermark displaying your name, ensuring lasting recognition and acknowledgment of your donation.
It only takes a few minutes to submit your images to SOCS following the process outlined below, and then we will upload the shared images on your behalf to the AAD submission portal. Your participation will take us a step closer to improving professional education and patient care for everyone!
Please follow the steps provided closely so that all images can be accurately labeled and organized:
- Download the attestation form provided here and sign.
- Using this spreadsheet, record each image, identifying each file following this format:
SOCS_Your First and Last Name_Condition Shown_Skin Tone (light, medium or dark). - Upload your images through the form below.
Follow these tabs in order to learn about each step and access the necessary files:
Attestation for Submissions
Submit the AAD Image Collection: Provider Attestation for Submissions. In order to submit any photos, this must be signed and included with all submissions.
Please use the document linked here and upload to the form below:
*Make sure to submit before moving on to step 2*
Clinical Image Collection Information
Using this spreadsheet, record each image, identifying each file following this format:
SOCS_Your First and Last Name_Condition Shown_Skin Tone (light, medium or dark).
Once you have named your photos and put the corresponding entries within the sheet, please upload the completed sheet below.
(You will upload your photos in the final step 3)
*Make sure to submit before moving on to step 3*
Image Upload
Using the form below, upload your LABELED images and ensure they accurately correspond to the Clinical Image Collection sheet filled out in step 2.
Make sure images are a minimum of 1024x768 pixels in size and are clear with backgrounds that are not distracting.
Please upload LABELED files as a .zip OR upload multiple photos at once (max 50 images) if required, submit photos then refresh the page and insert a second batch of files if you have more than 50.
Clinical Image Collection FAQs
If you come across any questions during this process, please take a look at the Clinical Image Collection FAQs below. If your question cannot be answered here, please contact gmiller@skinofcolorsociety.org to learn more.
| Q. How is an identifiable image defined?
A. Images are defined as identifiable if the images contain any of the following:
For any image(s) that include one or more of these identifiable traits, or any other trait or feature that may allow the individual in an image to be visually identified, a signed patient consent form is required to be uploaded with the submission. |
| Q. Why is a signed patient consent form required for identifiable images?
A. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects a patient’s personal health information, including their images. Providing the signed patient consent for identifiable images protects the patient by ensuring that the patient provided consent for the image to be shared in the AAD Clinical Image Collection and also protects the physician by helping to ensure that they satisfy their obligation to secure necessary consents as a HIPAA covered entity. |
| Q. Do I need to submit a signed patient consent form if the patient image was captured before HIPAA regulations were in place?
A. Yes, signed patient consent is required regardless of when the image was captured even if the image pre-dates HIPAA. |
| Q. Can I crop an image to make the patient not identifiable?
A. Yes, it is possible to crop an image in a manner that excludes all the identifiable traits and elements described above and that also excludes any identifying physical or/or facial features. Please keep in mind that distinctive anatomical features and permanent anatomical or dermatological marks may be sufficient to identify an individual, especially given advances in AI-assisted imaging technology. Therefore, all potentially identifiable anatomical features must be cropped out completely or cropped to a degree that they may no longer be used to identify an individual for the image to be deemed non-identifiable. |
| Q. Can I add “bars” or block the patient’s eyes to make the patient not identifiable?
A. This method does not meet privacy standards. Facial images with blocked or covered eyes will still require a sign patient consent form. |
| Q. Is a patient form required for images that aren’t identifiable?
A. The AAD does not require a copy of the signed patient consent form for images that aren’t identifiable. For the images that aren’t identifiable, the signed attestation is the only required form. |
| Q. How do I request an image that I’ve submitted be removed from the Clinical Image Collection?
A. Please contact gmiller@skinofcolorsociety.org to submit the request. A SOCS staff member will contact you to process the request and remove the image. |