Dermatologist Recognized For Vaccine Rollout Assistance

CHICAGO SUBURBS, IL — A suburban dermatologist has received a national nod for her efforts to make sure medical professionals who had a tough time getting a COVID-19 shot late last year and early this year were able to get their vaccines.

Amy J. Derick, the medical director for Derick Dermatology, which has several clinics in the Chicago area, was honored as a Patient Care Hero by the American Academy of Dermatology for her efforts to improve access to COVID-19 vaccines for frontline health care professionals in the state, according to a news release.

Derick spearheaded this effort after realizing medical professionals could not get their shots at the start of the vaccine rollout. With her help, more than 1,500 medical professionals were able to get their shots in December 2020 and January 2021, according to a news release.

“Once COVID-19 vaccines were authorized, my dermatology staff was vaccinated as soon as possible to reduce potential risks to our patients,” she said. “I learned how challenging it was for health care professionals who didn’t work in a large health system or hospital setting to access vaccines, despite having significant exposure to patients.”

Derick collaborated with a nearby health system to establish a clinic that vaccinated more than 1,500 primary care, orthopedic, ophthalmology and other specialists in a month, including orthopedic surgeon Benjamin Domb and his staff.

“My health care team and I had trouble getting our first COVID-19 vaccine doses because we didn’t work in a big hospital network,” Domb said. “Dr. Derick’s team was instrumental in helping us care for our patients more safely after getting vaccinated.”

The AAD created the Patient Care Heroes program to recognize physicians who transform patients’ lives by utilizing their expertise and collaborating with other doctors.

“Frontline health care professionals play an essential role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and are at higher risk for infection due to their patient care,” said board-certified dermatologist Ken Tomecki, president of the AAD. “Vaccinating everyone who cares for patients is an important first step to ending the COVID-19 pandemic, and efforts like these are making that possible.”

Derick Dermatology has locations in Barrington, Elgin, Arlington Heights, Bolingbrook, Buffalo Grove, Crystal Lake, Libertyville, Naperville, Skokie, Geneva, Park Ridge and Oak Brook.