Derm Power a dermatologist-led advocacy podcast from the California Dermatology Advocacy Network (CDAN).
We examine the laws, scope-of-practice debates, reimbursement challenges, and healthcare policies shaping the future of physician-led dermatology and patient safety.
Hosted by physician leaders and policy experts, each episode connects the dots between policy decisions and real-world clinical impact.
Because protecting patient care means protecting the profession.
Welcome to the Physician Wellness Series, a new ongoing series from Derm Power dedicated to the parts of practicing medicine nobody trains you for: burnout, boundaries, and building a career you can actually sustain for 25+ years.
Dermatology can take a physical toll—and protecting your well-being is an important part of sustaining a long career in the specialty. In Part 2 of our Dermatologist Wellness Series, Dr. Ann Haas is joined by Dr. Patrick Lee for a conversation about ergonomics, the physical demands of dermatology, and practical ways dermatologists can better support their health and career longevity. 🎙️ Watch the latest episode of Derm Power and join the conversation about physician wellness in dermatology.
Because a sustainable career in dermatology starts with taking care of the dermatologist behind it.
13 Aug 2026
Burnout, Balance, and the Business of Being a Dermatologist
Welcome to the Physician Wellness Series, a new ongoing series from Derm Power dedicated to the parts of practicing medicine nobody trains you for: burnout, boundaries, and building a career you can actually sustain for 25+ years.
In this episode, CDAN President Dr. Ann Haas, is joined by "Derm Dad" Dr. Patrick Lee, Professor and Vice Chair Emeritus of the Department of Dermatology at UC Irvine. Dr. Lee has spent decades thinking about what makes a career in medicine sustainable, and he shares his "life is math" framework for balancing workload and recovery, reflects on how the doctor-patient relationship has evolved, and offers a grounded take on private equity, changing practice models, and where AI fits into physician wellness.
Whether you're early in your career or decades in, this conversation offers real, hard-won wisdom on how to practice medicine well, and sustainably, for the long haul.
28 Jul 2026
Derm Power Scary Story #2: Used Needles, Expired Meds, and No Oversight
Welcome to the California Dermatology Advocacy Network's Derm Power Podcast! Our host is Dr. Ann Haas, President, California Dermatology Advocacy Network (CDAN). Some stories are too alarming to keep to ourselves.
Welcome to Scary Stories, a recurring series from Derm Power, the official podcast of the California Dermatology Advocacy Network. Hosted by CDAN president Dr. Ann Haas, this series pulls real, documented cases from medical literature, government reports, and news headlines to expose what can go wrong when cosmetic and medical care crosses the line into dangerous, unlicensed, or unregulated territory.
A recent NYC investigation found 15 med spas with safety violations: unsupervised injectables, improperly stored medications, dangerous gaps in patient care. CDAN President Dr. Ann Haas breaks this down and highlights why physician-led oversight matters and what we're doing to prevent it in California.
In California, CDAN ensures that dermatologists are leading the conversation on patient safety. We're in the room shaping policy.
9 Jul 2026
The SRT Loophole That Almost Locked Derms Out of Radiation Therapy Billing
Welcome to the California Dermatology Advocacy Network's Derm Power Podcast! Our host is Dr. Ann Haas, President, California Dermatology Advocacy Network (CDAN).
A new Medicare local coverage determination almost shut most dermatologists out of billing for superficial radiation therapy, requiring training that only radiation oncologists typically have.
CDAN Vice President Dr. Alexander Miller joins CDAN President and Derm Power host Dr. Ann Haas for a breaking news update on how the DermCAC caught the issue, pushed back against CMS and Medicare contractors, and won a revised definition that opens SRT billing back up. The change is retroactive to March 1, meaning back billing is now possible. Tune in for what you need to document, which modifier to use, and why private payers play by different rules entirely.
1 Jul 2026
Buyer Beware: Scary Stories from Derm Power
Welcome to the California Dermatology Advocacy Network's Derm Power Podcast! Our host is Dr. Ann Haas, President, California Dermatology Advocacy Network (CDAN).
Some stories are too alarming to keep to ourselves.
Welcome to Scary Stories, a recurring series from Derm Power, the official podcast of the California Dermatology Advocacy Network. Hosted by CDAN president Dr. Ann Haas, this series pulls real, documented cases from medical literature, government reports, and news headlines to expose what can go wrong when cosmetic and medical care crosses the line into dangerous, unlicensed, or unregulated territory.
From HIV outbreaks traced back to illegal "vampire facials" at unlicensed med spas, to fake doctors running clinics under stolen titles, to hospitals where patients had no idea who was really treating them... these aren't hypotheticals. They're real cases with real victims, and real lessons for anyone who cares about who's holding the needle, the scalpel, or the diploma.
Tune in for the stories that should make you ask more questions before your next appointment.
22 Jun 2026
Deepfaked: What Happens When AI Hijacks a Physician's Identity
Welcome to the California Dermatology Advocacy Network's Derm Power Podcast! Our host is Dr. Ann Haas, President, California Dermatology Advocacy Network (CDAN).
During the episode Dr. Haas speaks with Dr. Tina Chen, Board Certified Dermatologist and Pediatric Dermatologist, and George Soares, Legislative Advocate for the California Medical Association.
What would you do if your face went viral — and you had no idea? For Dr. Tina Chen, a San Diego dermatologist, that nightmare became reality when an AI-generated deepfake video of her likeness racked up over a million views across Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook — all to sell a skincare product she had never heard of. She didn't consent. She couldn't stop it. And the company behind it? Essentially untraceable.
In this episode of Derm Power, Dr. Ann Haas sits down with Dr. Chen and George Soares to unpack how deepfake technology is being weaponized against physicians — and what California is doing about it. They discuss Senate Bill 1146, landmark legislation that would require AI disclosure on deepfake content, give physicians a legal pathway to fight back, and empower the state Attorney General to pursue bad actors.
The threat is real, it's growing, and you don't need to be an influencer to become a target.
12 Jun 2026
From Banned to Back: The Buffered Lidocaine Comeback Story
Welcome to the California Dermatology Advocacy Network's Derm Power Podcast!Our host is Dr. Ann Haas, President, California Dermatology Advocacy Network (CDAN). During the episode Dr. Haas speaks with Dr. Allison Vidimos, RPh, MD, FAAD, FACMS and Emeritus Chairman - Department of Dermatology at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine.Buffered lidocaine makes procedures more comfortable — and for a while, compounding it yourself was nearly impossible. Dr. Allison Vidimos joins Derm Power to explain how the rules changed, why they changed back, and exactly what your practice needs to know right now.
27 May 2026
Modifier 25: The Billing Code That Insurance Companies Keep Coming For
Welcome to the California Dermatology Advocacy Network's Derm Power Podcast!
Our host is Dr. Ann Haas, President, California Dermatology Advocacy Network (CDAN). During the episode Dr. Haas speaks with Dr. Margaret Parsons, Treasurer/Secretary, CDAN and Dr. Alexander Miller, Vice President, CDAN
Every few years, insurers take aim at Modifier 25 — and every time, dermatologists have to fight back. In this episode of DermPower, CDAN's Dr. Alex Miller and Dr. Margaret Parsons break down exactly what Modifier 25 is, why it matters, and how California has successfully pushed back against repeated attempts to undercut physician reimbursements. From a 2017 Anthem showdown to a just-resolved crisis in Michigan, the pattern is clear — and so is the playbook for fighting it.
You'll learn exactly what Modifier 25 is, why dermatologists use it more than any other specialty, and why the insurance industry keeps targeting it.
Essential listening for any dermatologist who wants to protect their practice and their patients.
13 May 2026
From Wellness Appointment to ICU: When No One Is Held Accountable
Welcome to the California Dermatology Advocacy Network's Derm Power Podcast!
Our host is Dr. Ann Haas, President, California Dermatology Advocacy Network (CDAN). During the episode Dr. Haas speaks with Beatriz Amma, founder of byndskn.com and Body Positivity Activist and Patient Advocate.
What happens when a routine wellness visit turns into a years-long fight for survival — and no one is held accountable?
At 23, Beatriz went to a med spa for a B12 injection. Within 24 hours, her body was shutting down. What followed was nearly four months in the hospital, 20 surgeries, two and a half years of daily IV antibiotics, and a legal system that told her there was nothing it could do. In this episode, Beatriz sits down with Dr. Anne Haas to share what every consumer deserves to know before walking into a med spa and why the current system isn't always equipped to protect them.
11 May 2026
Under the Smoke: Skin, Cancer, and the Firefighter Crisis
Welcome to the California Dermatology Advocacy Network's Derm Power Podcast!
Our host today is Dr. Ann Haas, President, California Dermatology Advocacy Network (CDAN). During the episode Dr. Haas speaks with Dr. Christine Kannler, board certified dermatologist at NEDA Skin Solutions and Mohs micrographic surgeon.
The chemicals firefighters face don't disappear when the flames go out. They linger in the body for decades. This podcast unpacks the science of occupational skin cancer, PFAS exposure, and the urgent case for protecting the people who protect us.
10 Apr 2026
Losing a Loved One to Melanoma: A Widow's Story & Skin Cancer Awareness
Welcome to the California Dermatology Advocacy Network's Derm Power Podcast!
Our hosts for today's episode are Dr. Ann Haas, President, California Dermatology Advocacy Network (CDAN), and Sheila Johnston, Executive Director, CDAN. During the episodec Dr. Haas and Sheila speak with Caylie Valenta, Co-Founder, President of Andy Valenta Melanoma Foundation, and Scott Jennie, California State Director/National State Director of Firefighter Cancer Support Network.
The episode focuses on melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, through the story of Caylie Valenta who lost her husband, Andy Valenta, Firefighter, to melanoma. She shares early warning signs, how quickly melanoma can progress, and why skin cancer awareness and prevention matter.
We also discuss sun safety, mole checks, and the importance of early detection. You don't want to miss this powerful conversation about loss, education, and saving lives.
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