Overview
The PeDRA membership community is vibrant, diverse, and full of individuals who distinguish themselves through service to others and to the field of pediatric dermatology research. The PeDRA Awards Program seeks to recognize individuals who have made truly unique and impactful contributions to the field, the organization, and those around them.
PeDRA is now accepting nominations for the 2026 PeDRA Awards Program. Scroll below to view the award categories, eligibility requirements, and the review process. All nominations must be submitted by 11:59PM PT on August 13, 2026.
Award Categories
Awarded to an individual who has provided distinguished support to students, trainees, and/or junior investigators through the PeDRA Mentorship Program or any PeDRA Grant, Fellowship, or Career Development Award.
Awarded to an investigator whose collaborative engagement with patients, caregivers, and/or patient advocacy communities has significantly contributed to pediatric dermatology research.
Awarded to a patient, parent, or advocate who has made a distinguished contribution to PeDRA and/or research in the field of pediatric dermatology.
Awarded to an individual who has provided distinguished unpaid service in support of a PeDRA committee, event, program, or another initiative.
Program Guidelines
Eligibility
- All nominations are due by 11:59PM PT on August 13, 2026. Nominations will not be accepted by phone, email, or regular mail.
- Nominees must be PeDRA members in good standing at the time of nomination with the following additional stipulations:
- Only active, affiliate, or trainee members are eligible as Collaborator of the Year.
- Only Community Members are eligible as Community Member of the Year.
- Members from any category are eligible as Mentor of the Year or Volunteer of the Year.
- Self-nominations are not allowed. However, nominations may be submitted by any other individual, regardless of their PeDRA membership status, relationship to PeDRA, or relationship to the nominee.
- The same individual may nominate more than one nominee for each award or one nominee for multiple awards. Separate forms must be submitted for each nomination.
- Nominators must provide their name and email for their nomination to be considered.
Review
Nominations for Community Member of the Year, Mentor of the Year, and Volunteer of the Year will be reviewed by the PeDRA Nominating Committee, and nominations for Collaborator of the Year will be reviewed by the PeDRA Patient Advisory Committee. Both committees reserve the right to gather additional information and contact the nominator during the course of their review. Awardees will be recognized at and receive travel support for the 2026 PeDRA Annual Conference in Alexandria, VA.
Past Award Recipients
Meredith Weiss serves as the Executive Director of the Gorlin Syndrome Alliance (GSA). Meredith’s involvement with the GSA began when her family discovered that her middle child has Gorlin syndrome, and the diagnosing pediatric dermatologist recommended they connect with the organization. It was immediately apparent that the GSA is the leading advocacy group for people with the syndrome and that the scope of their work deeply impacts everyone affected by the disease. Her commitment was cemented and Meredith served on the GSA Board of Directors for ten years before transitioning into the Executive Director position in 2024.
Advocacy and purpose-driven work have always been at the core of Meredith’s career. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from San Diego State University while working as a behavioral therapist for children with autism and her law degree from Baylor University School of Law, where she developed her love of oral advocacy. Her legal career began at a highly esteemed litigation firm; later, she founded an estate planning law firm. Meredith is a 2018 Leadership Austin graduate and earned a Nonprofit Management certificate in 2024 from the University of Texas at Austin. Meredith’s community service includes work with the Volunteer Legal Assistance Program, YMCA Board of Directors, Coalition of Skin Diseases, and Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA). In her recreational time, she is a joyful, middle-of-the-pack runner and plays the banjo in bands with friends and family.
Elena B. Hawryluk, MD, PhD, is a board-certified Pediatric Dermatologist and Dermatologist, and an Associate Professor of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School. She serves as Director of Pediatric Dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), Faculty Director of Pediatric Dermatology for the Harvard Combined Dermatology Residency Program, and Director of the MGH Pediatric Dermatology Fellowship Program.
Dr. Hawryluk has a clinical focus on pigmented lesions and melanoma in the pediatric population, providing care at both Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital.
She currently serves as Chair of the Clinical Guidelines Committee for the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), Vice President of Membership & Practice Management for the Society for Pediatric Dermatology (SPD), and is a member of the Meetings Committee for the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA). She also serves as an Associate Editor for Pediatric Dermatology.
Dr. Hawryluk is a board member and Medical Scientific Advisory Committee Co-Chair for the Gorlin Syndrome Alliance, and has a deep commitment to advancing care for pediatric dermatology patients. She is grateful to PeDRA for its support of her career through the Weston Career Development Award (2017), Mid-Career Bridge Award (2021), and multiple Research Awards.
Denise Metry, MD, is a distinguished academic pediatric dermatologist devoted to the care of children with vascular birthmarks. She completed her medical education, residency, and fellowship at the University of Texas McGovern Medical School in Houston. After training, she joined the dermatology faculty at Texas Children’s Hospital, where she practiced for 23 years. In 2024, she transitioned to Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi, a mission-driven pediatric institution serving 31 counties and 33,000 square miles of South Texas, extending to the U.S.–Mexico border. She also holds an appointment as Adjunct Professor of Dermatology at Texas A&M University.
Over the course of her career, Dr. Metry has authored more than 150 research publications focused on advancing knowledge and improving care for patients with vascular birthmarks. Among her many contributions, she organized the first PHACE syndrome research and family meeting in 2008, which established diagnostic criteria for the syndrome and laid the foundation for the PHACE Syndrome Community. She later led efforts to establish diagnostic criteria for LUMBAR syndrome, PHACE’s related condition, and has emerged as a leader in promoting research for both syndromes. As a founding member of the Hemangioma Investigator Group, she has played a pivotal role in shaping collaborative research in the field.
Dr. Metry’s leadership is reflected not only in her clinical practice but also in her dedicated service and professional contributions to the field. At Texas Children’s Hospital, she served as Clinic Chief, Fellowship Director, and Division Chief of Dermatology. Nationally, she has provided service to the Society for Pediatric Dermatology as Vice President of Communications, Chair of the Nominations Committee, and Executive Board member, in addition to serving as an Associate Editor for Pediatric Dermatology. She currently chairs the Vascular Birthmarks Focused Study Group within the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA), where she established a laser subgroup to foster new research directions. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the PHACE Syndrome Community and was the 2025 Reunion of Champions honoree for the Sturge-Weber Foundation.
Above all, Dr. Metry remains devoted to compassionate patient care, patient-centered research, and the mentorship of future leaders in pediatric dermatology. Her enduring commitment continues to shape the field and improve the lives of children and families affected by vascular birthmarks.
Dr. Wan is an Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She received her MD from the University of Pennsylvania, where she also completed dermatology residency and obtained a Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology. She completed her pediatric dermatology fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia followed by postdoctoral research training in epidemiology. Her clinical and research interests include atopic dermatitis and pediatric dermato-epidemiology. The mission of her research program is to improve health, social, and life outcomes for children with chronic skin disease.
Dr. Heath is highly respected, and triple board-certified in Dermatology, Pediatrics and Pediatric Dermatology. She completed her pediatric training at Emory University, dermatology training at Mt. Sinai – St. Luke’s Roosevelt, and her pediatric dermatology training at Johns Hopkins. Currently, she is an Associate Professor in the Howard University Department of Dermatology in Washington, DC dividing her time between her roles as a grant-funded clinical researcher, clinician, educator, consultant, and leader in various dermatology organizations, while also dedicating time to her family. Over the years, Dr. Heath has mentored numerous students, developed curated research education experiences, and was awarded the 2023 Educational Service Award from Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University. Also, a series of dermatology health equity-focused articles she co-authored in Cutis’ Dx Across the Skin Color Spectrum won a 2024 National Azbee Bronze Award of Excellence.
Dr. Davis is a licensed clinical psychologist, specializing in trauma/PTSD, and currently works remotely for the South Carolina VA Medical Center in Columbia with the Trauma Recovery Program. She has been working in the field for over a decade and has focused her work on trauma for most of that time. She is also the Executive Director of the nonprofit Heroes for Hallie Grace Inc, which she and her husband founded in memory of their middle child, Hallie Grace Davis, after her passing from Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa-Severe in September of 2021 at the age of 3-months old. Heroes for Hallie Grace’s mission is to raise awareness, help fund research, and aid the EB community in any way possible, including sending welcome packages, providing support items, and memorial boxes. Since its inception in March of 2022, the organization has helped raise close to $150,000 for research and support of the EB community. They also host the “Grace, Grief, and Grit” podcast to help raise awareness.
James Treat, MD was recognized as the 2023 Mentor of the Year. Dr. Treat is a pediatric dermatologist and Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Dermatology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He distinguished himself as a mentor on a 2022 PeDRA Research Fellowship Grant, supporter of numerous medical students, and champion of the field of pediatric dermatology.
Jillian Rork, MD was recognized as the 2023 Volunteer of the Year. Dr. Rork is a pediatric dermatologist and Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Manchester, New Hampshire. She devotes time to PeDRA as co-chair of the Down Syndrome subgroup of the Genetic Skin Disorders Focused Study Group, a member of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee, and contributor to many PeDRA meetings, educational programs, and other activities.
Francesca Tenconi, MBA was recognized as the 2023 Community Member of the Year. Francesca is the Founder and Executive Director of the Children’s Skin Disease Foundation, which runs the annual Camp Wonder for children living with skin diseases. She demonstrated tremendous creativity and generosity towards the PeDRA community, including hosting a “mini Camp Wonder” at the PeDRA Annual Conference each year, ongoing service as the chair of PeDRA’s Patient Advisory Committee, and the first non-clinician member of the PeDRA Board of Directors.
If you have questions regarding awards, please contact PeDRA’s Executive Director, Mike Siegel.