Walter R. Nickel Award
for Excellence in Teaching of Dermatopathology
Established by The American Society of Dermatopathology in 1997 in honor of Walter R. Nickel, this award was conceived to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the teaching of dermatopathology.
Congratulations to the 2021 Walter R. Nickel Award Recipient
Steven D. Billings, MD
Professor of Pathology
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
Dr. Steven D. Billings completed his pathology residency at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. Following residency, he was one of the first in the United States to combine formal fellowships in both soft tissue pathology (Emory University with Dr. Sharon Weiss) and dermatopathology (Indiana University with Dr. Antoinette Hood). Upon completion of his post graduate studies, he joined the faculty at Indiana University School of Medicine, where he practiced for 5 years. In 2007 he joined the faculty at the Cleveland Clinic where he serves as co-director of the dermatopathology section, staffs the soft tissue pathology service, and is a Professor of Pathology at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine.
His research interests are in dermatopathology and soft tissue pathology with a special emphasis on cutaneous soft tissue tumors. He has authored over 175 peer-reviewed articles, 81 book chapters, numerous invited reviews, and has edited/co-authored seven books in dermatopathology, including Inflammatory Dermatopathology: A Pathologist’s Survival Guide, Soft Tissue Tumors of the Skin, and the 5th edition of McKee’s Pathology of the Skin with Clinical Correlations. He serves on the editorial board for several journals and was also a member of the Consensus Committee for the current WHO Classification of Skin Tumours.
For the ASDP, he has served on the Audit Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, Program Committee, Mentorship Award Committee, and the Board of Directors. He has held numerous leadership roles in the USCAP and served on the Dermatopathology Board Examination Committee for the American Board of Pathology for 10 years.
He is a devoted teacher with more than 250 invited lectures nationally and internationally and 28 directed courses. He is honored to have helped train many very talented fellows and residents. He is also very grateful for the mentorship he received from Drs. Hood and Weiss and the daily inspiration and lessons learned from his many trainees over the years.
Past Recipients of the Walter R. Nickel Award
2020 |
Rossitza Z. Lazova, MD |
2019 |
Tammie C. Ferringer, MD |
2018 |
Victor G. Prieto, MD, PhD |
2017 |
M. Angelica Selim, MD |
2016 |
Rosalie Elenitsas, MD |
2015 |
Philip E. LeBoit, MD |
2014 |
Omar P. Sangueza, MD |
2013 |
Lori Lowe, MD |
2012 |
Ronald J. Barr, MD |
2011 |
Jennifer M. McNiff, MD |
2010 |
Hideko Kamino, MD |
2009 |
James W. Patterson, MD |
2008 |
Dirk M. Elston, MD |
2007 |
Bernett L. Johnson Jr., MD |
2006 |
Jag Bhawan, MD |
2005 |
Ronald P. Rapini, MD |
2004 |
Bruce R. Smoller, MD |
2003 |
Terence J. Harrist, MD |
2002 |
N. Scott McNutt, MD |
2001 |
Antoinette F. Hood, MD |
2000 |
Wilma F. Bergfeld, MD |
1999 |
James H. Graham, MD |
1998 |
A. Bernard Ackerman, MD |
1997 |
Elson B. Helwig, MD |