5 Questions with NEA’s New CEO Kristin Belleson

The National Eczema Association (NEA) officially welcomed Kristin Belleson as our new president and CEO on July 15. Belleson, who is based in Indiana, brings a wealth of leadership experience in the health nonprofit space. Most recently, she served as the CEO of the American College of Sports Medicine and prior to that as the chief operating officer of the American Osteopathic Association. Here, she shares a little bit about herself and her hopes for the eczema community and NEA.

How did you first learn about the National Eczema Association (NEA)?

I learned about NEA due to my own experience working through my eczema challenges. Based on my professional career, I value using physician experts along with solid research to make healthcare decisions, and NEA had that information. NEA is one of the top organizations focused on eczema care, and their exceptional reputation made it easy to be the go-to association for all of my eczema-related needs.

What is your experience with eczema?

The work NEA does is very important to me as I am an individual who has lived with eczema for more than 20 years. I was diagnosed with atopic dermatitis when I was 23 years old. It took almost 12 months to determine exactly what was happening and what treatment would be best. When I was initially diagnosed, the treatment options were minimal. There was quite a bit of trial and error and unfortunately a lot of sleepless nights with the itch-scratch cycle. 

I believe being an eczema patient myself will help bring a unique and valuable perspective to my leadership role at NEA. I understand the challenges that come with this diagnosis and the importance of navigating treatments, as well as addressing the mental health aspects associated with eczema. I’m very excited to continue to utilize my personal experience along with my professional background to enhance the great work being done in patient advocacy, while continuing to grow corporate partners and the Seal of Acceptance™ Product Directory.

What was it like attending your first Eczema Expo in Denver in June?

It was so amazing! It was fantastic to see the eczema community come together and rally around each other — and rally around the organization. It was so impactful for me to see the children thriving at the conference. It was really inspiring to see how the kids were given a platform and community to make friends with each other. They were able to find other people who are going through similar experiences and who understand what they are facing. It was a tangible way to see how the work that NEA does as a patient-focused organization is helping people.

What are you most excited about in your new role as CEO of NEA?

I’m excited to learn more about the eczema community and how our organization can help patients. In my first few months, my focus will be on listening and learning from the eczema community. I hope to have one-on-one conversations with individuals in our community. I know these insights and experiences are invaluable, and I am keen to understand the opportunities that lie ahead for us as an organization.

What are some of your hopes for the future of the organization?

I want to ensure that NEA has a solid operational foundation and structure to support our community in the long-term and make sure NEA continues to grow and change to embrace the future state for eczema and our patients. Part of that is making sure that NEA is the best go-to resource for people with eczema. We are a place for people with eczema to learn and understand their condition. It is important that the NEA community knows the board of directors and NEA staff are committed to our mission and achieving the vision of a world without eczema.