A Festschrift in Honor of Jane Grant-Kels, M.D.

I first met Jane Grant-Kels in December 1987 in San Antonio, TX for an informal interview during the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). I had responded to an advertisement Jane had placed in Archives of Dermatology for the job of my dreams: a position for an academic dermatologist at the University of Connecticut School ofMedicine in Farmington, CT—a town Jane described as an idyllic locale half way between Boston and New York City. As you read articles penned by Jane and her son for this special issue of IJWD, you will not be surprised that Jane’s husband (and later my ophthalmologist), Barry Kels, accompanied her to that first interview and that Jane discussed with me how difficult it was to attend the Academy meeting because it was always held at the same time as her then 6 year old daughter’s birthday. As vivid as my recollection of my first meeting with Jane, is my memory of receiving a letter in September 2014 from Barry Kels announcing his retirement from the practice of ophthalmology. As I read his letter I realized that soon Jane would announce that she was stepping down as Chair of our Department of Dermatology.