Henry W. Lim

Dr. Henry W. Lim, MD, FAAD, is the Chair Emeritus of the Department of Dermatology at Henry Ford Health and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan. He is a recognized world authority on photodermatology. He earned his MD cum laude from SUNY Downstate Medical Center (1975) and completed his dermatology residency at NYU. He chaired the Henry Ford Dermatology department for 20 years (1997-2017). He served as President of the American Academy of Dermatology (2017-2018), the world's largest dermatologic society. He is also past President of the American Board of Dermatology, the American Dermatological Association, and the International Union of Photobiology. He is the current President of the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS), influencing 299 societies from over 100 countries representing 180,000 dermatologists. In 2026, he received the AAD Gold Medal Award, the Academy's highest distinction, recognizing a lifetime of exceptional contributions. He spearheaded the landmark "Skin Diseases as a Global Public Health Priority" resolution at the 78th World Health Assembly (2025). He has published over 700 articles, edited 11 textbooks, and has over 41,000 citations. He is a founding member of the Skin of Color Society and a champion of diversity in dermatology. He specializes in photodermatology, phototherapy, vitiligo, photodynamic therapy, photoprotection, and pigmentary disorders in skin of color.