Drs. Mary Williams & Peter Elias
March 3, 2006 ~ Delancey Street Town Hall

On March 3, 2006, more than 175 people gathered at the Delancey Street Town Hall, overlooking the San Francisco Bay, to honor two exceptional dermatologists whose professional careers have been instrumental in the success of this Foundation. Dr. Mary Williams and her husband, Dr. Peter Elias, have devoted their careers to helping ichthyosis patients and founded the organization twenty-five years ago. In 1981, Mary and Peter, along with several affected patients, formed the National Ichthyosis Foundation. Over the past twenty-five years, the Foundation has gone through many changes and much growth, with Mary and Peter helping us all along the way. The event was nothing short of amazing. Family members, friends, colleagues, former fellows and staff, and corporate friends enjoyed a night of humorous and heart-warming stories about Mary and Peter. The most memorable speech was given by Jim Griffin, a long-time member affected with lamellar ichthyosis. Jim was a patient of Mary’s and was very involved in the Foundation in the early days. In his speech, Jim shared how his life has been forever changed by Mary and Peter and his involvement with FIRST.  His message was echoed by all of the other speakers and guests. When Mary and Peter agreed to be honored, they were extremely humbled by this recognition, but their main objective was to help individuals and families affected with ichthyosis by raising money to support the mission of FIRST I am proud to say they outdid themselves! More than $31,000 was raised in net proceeds. Congratulations to Mary and Peter and all your accomplishments on behalf of the ichthyosis community.