Science
Making Progress in Hidradenitis Suppurativa Patient Care
Nearly three million Americans suffer from hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), an incredibly painful relapsing inflammatory skin disease characterized by debilitating boils and abscesses that can progress to dermal tunnels and scarring. “This is not a rare disease,” said Haley Naik, MD, MHSc, and professor in the Department of Dermatology, UCSF School of Medicine. “Yet, since its first report in the early 19th century, it has been under-recognized…
Fleeing War and Finding Her Purpose
Natasha Mesinkovska, MD, PhD, is passionate about helping her patients grow hair and keep the hair they have. She is a bench scientist and clinical trialist whose relentless pursuit of better treatments for alopecia areata (AA) is central to her work caring for her patients. Mesinkovska is an associate professor and vice chair for clinical research in the Department of Dermatology, University of California, Irvine (UCI) School of Medicine. “Alopecia areata was the reason I woke up for the better decade of my life,” she said. “We needed a medication for this disease, we needed clinical trials. Not many…
Organoids, CRISPR, and a Shortcut to Therapies for Rare Blistering Diseases
Blistering skin diseases cause a great deal of ongoing suffering. Their characteristic surface wounds cause pain, itching, and infections, and conventional treatments, including topical and oral corticosteroids, provide temporary, limited relief. For autoimmune blistering diseases, like pemphigus vulgaris, monoclonal antibodies (e.g., rituximab) promise longer-lasting relief, while CAAR-T cell therapy that targets B cell-mediated autoimmune diseases is a promising development…
On the Art and Science of Skin Immunity
As a child, Tiffany Scharschmidt, MD, found an outlet for her creativity through Chinese brush painting. Her fourth-grade teacher, seeing her aptitude and passion, encouraged her to join an adult evening class. She painted throughout her childhood but, as a mother of three and a busy clinician-scientist, Scharschmidt no longer has much time for it. “These days, I use the creative part of my brain conceptually for my research,” she said. “I don’t see research as algorithmic. It’s more like sitting with the unknown and being…
DF Honorary Awards
A Career Defined by Research, Leadership and Mentorship
The breadth of his clinical research discoveries, his advocacy for gender parity and ethnic diversity, and his accomplishments as a leader and mentor to generations of dermatologists are a testament to the immeasurable impact Bruce Wintroub, MD, has had on dermatology. If the dermatology program at UCSF…
Advancing Dermatology for Latino Skin of Color
Maritza Perez, MD, is an indefatigable teacher who has mentored hundreds of residents since 1984 when she graduated from a dermatology residency in Puerto Rico. As a clinician, she made her mark by performing tens of thousands of Mohs surgeries,…
from the foundation
Early Registration for the 2027 DF Clinical Symposium is Open
Early registration is now open for the Dermatology Foundation’s 24th annual Clinical Symposium, taking place January 27–30, 2027, at The Ritz-Carlton in Naples, Florida. Registration deadlines Early registration: September 16-October 31, 2026 Standard registration: November 1-December 15, 2026 Late registration: After December 16, 2026 Once you have registered, you will receive a confirmation email that includes a link and a code…
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Dr. Andrew Ji Receives the 2026 DF J&J Early Career Innovator Award
The tissue of an AD lesion contains a mixture of stromal cells, as well as immune cells recruited to the site by cellular signals, which behave differently from each other. Ji combines his clinical practice with experiments to help understand the cellular communication between disease-associated subpopulations of cells that contributes to pathogenesis and treatment resistance. The ultimate goal is to…
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Expanding the Circle of Support
John Wollner, MD, made his first gift to the Dermatology Foundation in 1995. More than 30 years later, that commitment has grown into something larger: not only giving but encouraging others to join him.
John Wollner, MD has supported the Dermatology Foundation’s mission for more than 30 years.
Most recently, Wollner — a member of the DF Leaders Society — brought that spirit to Epiphany Dermatology, where he rallied colleagues around an internal fundraising campaign for the Foundation. With support from Epiphany’s corporate matching gifts program, the effort raised $15,000.
Wollner’s commitment to the Foundation shows how one person’s support can expand to include others. More than three decades after his first gift, that circle continues to grow.
The Foundation is grateful to Dr. Wollner and Epiphany Dermatology for their generosity and their investment in the next generation of dermatologic research.
Invest in discovery. Donate to the Dermatology Foundation today!
2026 CS Proceedings
A Practical Guide to Comorbidity Screening in Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Dr. Haley Naik presented information about practical comorbidity screening approaches for patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). HS has been considered a rare disease, but more recent data show it is as common as other dermatologic conditions, including psoriatic arthritis and lichen…
Dermatology Surgical Pearls
Dr. Marta Van Beek shared 4 surgical pearls for dermatologists. Pearl #1: Don’t underestimate the alar groove. When repairing a Mohs defect with a flap or graft, blunting of the alar groove can cause significant disfigurement externally and a “shelf” internally that disrupts air flow with inspiration…
Palliative Care in Dermatology
Dr. Marta Van Beek presented information about palliative care for dermatologists. Palliative care is designed to enhance patients’ and families’ quality of life (QOL) while negotiating serious illness. Dermatologists should know about palliative care because they may see certain patient…
Novel and Pipeline Therapies for Hidradenitis Suppurativa Management
Dr. Haley Naik presented information about new and emerging therapies for managing hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). The goal of HS management is to control inflammation and remove tissue that has been irreversibly damaged. First, Naik emphasized the importance of early intervention in halting…
Chronic Hand Eczema: Burden and Treatments
Dr. JiaDe Yu presented information about the burden, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic hand eczema (CHE). CHE is hand eczema that lasts >3 months or relapses >2 times per year. It is considered a subtype of atopic dermatitis (AD) or…
Photoprotection in Skin of Color: Understanding Photodamage and Optimizing Sunscreen Strategies
Dr. Susan Taylor presented information about personalized photoprotection strategies for individuals with skin of color. Photoprotection is the process of preventing the deleterious effects of the electromagnetic radiation (EMR) spectrum, including ultraviolet radiation (UVR), visible light (VL), and…
Updates in Pediatric Allergic Contact Dermatitis: What’s Hot and What’s Not
Dr. JiaDe Yu presented information about pediatric allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). ACD is a skin rash caused by direct contact with an allergen. First, Yu discussed the prevalence of pediatric ACD. An estimated one-third of children will develop ACD; it may…
Mimickers of SJS/TEN
Dr. Jean Bolognia presented information about Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS)/toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) and diseases that mimic them. SJS and TEN are severe skin reactions that cause damage to the skin and mucus membranes and can be life-threatening. TEN typically involves the…
