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