J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. Vol. 17, No. 10 • October 2024
“LIFT AS YOU CLIMB”: REMEMBER WHO LIFTED YOU ALONG THE WAY, AND REMAIN COMMITTED TO LIFTING OTHERS AS WE MOVE FORWARD. TODAY WE REMBEMBER A HEAVY LIFTER OF DERMATOLOGY, MR. STEPHEN W. CLARK.
I read the quote, “Lift As You Climb,” in a Linkedin post, and it stuck with me.
I found out through online searching that this was said by the mother of Ella Baker when Ella was a young girl. This statement was reportedly the response to Ella’s grandfather when he asked Ella, “What do you hope to accomplish?” Ella’s mother stated the response, and Ella heard it loud and clear! Over time, Ella Baker was a dedicated activist who worked hard over many years to lift others up by fighting social injustices and empowering African-Americans to stand up for their rights, long before the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Her efforts reached and helped many others from every race, color, and creed. Thank you Ella, Ella’s mother, and Ella’s grandfather.
Over time, we can all identify certain individuals who lifted us along with them. These were individuals who already were recognized as “leaders” in their field, and were givers who helped pull others up, like ourselves, to also achieve more and gain recognition in our field due to the efforts we were willing to put in (not through AI, but through rolling up our own sleeves and putting the work in). These individuals are “givers” that help to develop others who they recognize as “diamonds in the rough.” By providing opportunity, these new individuals are able to shine if they choose to. These special people that lift others along the way are not like those individuals who “close the door behind them” as they move forward. They lift deserving people, helping them to realize their potential.
We recently lost a giant in dermatology, a man who lifted many of us over several years during his inimitable career in dermatology. Stephen W. Clark passed away on September 8, 2024, at the age of 81 years. He first made his indelible mark in dermatology as President of Galderma Laboratories from 1985 through 2001, responsible for bringing forth not only several major branded products such as Metrogel, Differin, Desowen, Triluma, Cetaphil, and others, but also for increasing disease-state recognition within dermatology. One prime example of the latter is rosacea. After leaving Galderma, Steve became President of Coria Laboratories and was very instrumental in bringing forth the original CeraVe skin care products and the importance of multivesicular emulsion (MVE) formulation technology, both of which stand tall through today. He continued to contribute to dermatology as President and CEO of Clark Pharmaceuticals starting in 2011.
I do have to emphasize that what made Steve Clark so special beyond his professional contributions is the great person he was. Both myself and my wife Karyn knew him personally and professionally, and we loved him very much. He had a great sense of humor, a consistently calm demeanor, was a very loyal person, and he cared about people, exemplified by the large support that he orchestrated for AAD Camp Discovery and other altruistic initiatives. One character that Steve always displayed that I really liked about him was that he was always present as a great listener during any conversation. He unfortunately succumbed after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis, a condition that had also affected his mother. Those who knew him feel this loss more deeply on a personal level. However, all of us gain from the work that he did within our specialty, and beyond, that continues to lift as we climb!
I elected to honor Steve Clark this month, so I am not providing a review of the articles in this JCAD issue, but that does not diminish their importance. Thank you to the contributors in both the Letters To the Editor and the individual articles, to the reviewers, to the JCAD staff, and to the advertisers. Enjoy this issue. There is some excellent information from cover to cover. I know I learned a lot.
Stay happy and healthy,
James Q. Del Rosso, DO, FAAD, FAOCD
Editor-in-Chief, Clinical Dermatology