People
Innovation and progress depend on the unique perspectives, experiences, and dedication of individuals. Here we shine the spotlight on specialty leaders who continuously work to forge the paths toward improved patient care.
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, laser treatments, and cosmetic procedures, particularly in Latino skin of color. Perez, who retired in…
From the Lab to the Launchpad
Dr. Eugene Bauer, “Gene” to almost everyone who knows him, made a breakthrough discovery in 1988 whose impact continues to drive research into epidermolysis bullosa (EB) today. It’s why he received the DF’s 2025 Discovery Honorary Award, and why he is held in high esteem in the worlds of academia and industry. Medical school before…
A Champion of Patient Safety and Education
Dr. James Taylor has dedicated his career to the Cleveland Clinic, embodying its mission of patient care, education, and research, the very values for which he received the Dermatology Foundation’s 2025 Practitioner of the Year Honorary Award. Taylor’s career is inextricably linked to the Clinic, where he has worked continually since graduating from the Indiana…
The Imperatives for Sustaining Academic Dermatology
Academic medicine, and dermatology in particular, is facing a critical inflection point, one that mirrors the broader social and political landscape. As financial pressures intensify, institutions across the country are seeking ways to continue to fulfill their missions in research, education, and clinical care. At Johns Hopkins University, we have undergone multiple rounds of deliberations…
The Itch and Rash Whisperer
Jenny Murase, MD, is driven in her career to be the best clinician, teacher, and mentor she can be. She has worked tirelessly to become an expert clinician treating complex itch and rash conditions, one her colleagues routinely rely on for diagnostic and treatment advice. Her journey to become a medical consultative physician has involved…
A Master Educator, Mentor and Scientist
Dr. Vincent DeLeo, the 2025 recipient of the DF Lifetime Career Educator Honorary Award, has devoted his life to education, mentorship, and innovation. And he has awards, distinctions, honors, and the respect of many colleagues to prove it. DeLeo is a globally recognized expert in contact dermatitis, environmental dermatology, and photomedicine. He received his first…
Kaess Trust Endows the Dermatology Foundation with $1.5 Million Gift
Dr. Karl Kaess and his wife, Carolyn, shared a profound belief in the power of endowments to foster the next generation of medical professionals and strengthen academic institutions. Their $1.5 million gift from the Kaess Trust is a meaningful acknowledgment of the Dermatology Foundation’s role in advancing the specialty and supporting investigative research. “We are…
The Dean of Black Dermatology
Against the backdrop of severe and persistent racism, including his family’s move to New Jersey in 1922 to escape threats from the Ku Klux Klan, Dr. John A. Kenney Jr. embarked on a journey that ultimately led his residents, mentees, and peers to honor him with the title, the Dean of Black Dermatology (Tuller 2003)….
The DF Turned 60 Years Young This Year and Will Continue to Revolutionize Dermatology
I find great joy in being part of something larger than myself and watching it grow. It’s much like watching a child mature and thrive on their own. As a long-term supporter, volunteer and Board member, it’s been incredibly exciting to see a small group of dedicated dermatologists work together to further our specialty and…
Dr. Donald A. Glass II Receives the 2024 DF Sanofi and Regeneron Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Mid-Career Award
Donald A. Glass II, MD, PhD, has received the first 2024 DF Sanofi and Regeneron Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Mid-Career Award (SRDEI) from the Dermatology Foundation (DF). The award funds research of exceptional mid-career investigators and comes with funding of $100,000 each year for three years to support basic, clinical, or translational research that leads…