Department of Dermatology News

Nov 21, 2022

William (Bill) Weston, MD, who served as the Chair of the Department of Dermatology at the University of Colorado for 25 years, passed away on November 13, 2022, at the age of 84. Dr. Weston was an accomplished clinician and scholar who authored over 300 publications, including seminal works on neonatal lupus and erythema multiforme. He was a colleague, friend, mentor, and role model for at least two generations of dermatologists and pediatric dermatologists. As we mourn his passing, we celebrate his life and the many contributions he made.

Sep 30, 2022

Dr. Robert Dellavalle, Professor of Dermatology, is co-director of a nationwide study that enlists an unlikely ally in the fight against skin cancer: tattoo artists.

Sep 23, 2022

David Norris, MD, Professor and Chair of Dermatology, and Cory Dunnick, MD, Associate Professor of Dermatology, were recently awarded $3 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to complete their project titled "JAK inhibition in Down syndrome," conducted in collaboration with Dr. Joaquin Espinosa of the Department of Pharmacology. Meanwhile, Mingxia Huang, PhD, Associate Professor of Dermatology, was awarded $2.6 million for her project titled "Neurovascular unit dysfunction in Down syndrome revealed by traumatic brain injury (TBI)," in collaboration with colleagues from the Departments of Neurology and Pediatrics.

Aug 4, 2022

Two faculty members in the Department of Dermatology, Cheryl Armstrong and Anna Bruckner, were selected as "top doctors" in the 2022 issue of Denver's 5280 Magazine.

Aug 3, 2022

When she was 13 years old, Calla Winchell correctly diagnosed herself with a rare genetic disease, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, by looking up her symptoms online. Her doctor at the time discounted the idea that she had a medical condition. A few years later, when worsening symptoms led her to seek medical help again, doctors told her they'd never treated anyone with her condition and didn't know how to help. Now in her 20s, Calla has found expertise and hope at the Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine, where researchers are finding new treatments for her condition.

Jul 14, 2022

Dennis Roop, PhD, has served as the Director of the Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine since its inauguration in 2007. This year, as he prepares to pass the torch to a new director, Dr. Roop is being honored for all his accomplishments. Under his leadership, the program that began with a $6 million gift has grown into a $200 million partnership between the Gates Frontiers Fund and CU Anschutz.

Apr 12, 2022

Alopecia Areata, an autoimmune disorder, causes either sudden diffuse hair loss or circular bald patches of the scalp. Long before the "slapping incident" at the 2022 Oscars raised public awareness of the disorder, faculty in the Department of Dermatology were researching treatments for AA. Currently, ongoing studies by Drs. Dunnick, Norris, and Wallace are demonstrating the effectiveness of JAK inhibitors as a treatment for this condition.

Mar 28, 2022

A new study presented at this year’s annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology found that the majority of TikTok content related to dermatology and skin of color originates with social-media influencers and estheticians, not board-certified dermatologists. The study, led by our own Dr. Robert P. Dellavalle, not only raises concerns but also highlights opportunities for dermatologists to share evidence-based information with online communities.

Feb 18, 2022

CU Medicine Dermatology, our department's clinic at the edge of the Anschutz Medical Campus, is meeting the needs of underserved groups in the Denver/Aurora community, including Medicaid patients, patients of color, and transgender individuals preparing for surgery.

Feb 14, 2022

“A success rate of 73% is very good,” said lead author Cory A. Dunnick, professor of dermatology and director of clinical trials. No serious adverse events occurred, and adverse events of any kind were limited, the researchers found.