Department of Dermatology News

Jul 14, 2023

Dr. Maryam Asgari, Chair of the Department of Dermatology, recently spoke with CBS Colorado about measures Coloradans can take to protect themselves against skin cancer. The most dangerous type of skin cancer is melanoma, and Colorado has the highest rate of melanoma of any state in the U.S., making sun protection and regular checkups essential.

Jul 2, 2023

Robert Dellavalle, MD, recently spoke with the American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC) about the importance of diversity in clinical trials. In a poster presented at the American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting, Dr. Dellavalle and colleagues searched PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov for phase 2 and 3 trials for hidradenitis suppurativa to gain an understanding of the current state of clinical trials for the disease. Analysis of the available data on participants' race/ethnicity showed significant underrepresentation of non-white patients.

Apr 26, 2023

A new scoping review led by Micah G. Pascual, BS, and Lucina L. Kohn, MD, MHS, found that nearly 20% of articles in a sample of recent dermatology research included a qualitative component. As dermatologists strive to better serve their communities, qualitative research can elicit narratives that shine a light on the unique experiences of patients—as well as caregivers, clinicians, and other stakeholders— which would likely remain hidden with quantitative investigation alone.

Apr 21, 2023

Husband-and-wife research team Ganna Bilousova, PhD, and Igor Kogut, PhD, in collaboration with Dermatology Professor Dennis Roop, PhD, recently patented two complementary technologies to develop stem-cell created skin grafts, which could translate into cures for those with devastating skin diseases such as epidermolysis bullosa (EB).

Mar 30, 2023

Nneamaka Ezekwe, MD, resident physician in dermatology, is one of the principal photographers who contributed images to “The Full Spectrum of Dermatology: A Diverse and Inclusive Atlas,” a book that compiles 650+ images of more than 85 commonly seen dermatological conditions in an array of skin tones. The book addresses shortcomings in previous atlases like the ones that Nneamaka encountered as a medical student, which failed to show conditions for people with darker skin tones. Contributions like Nneamaka’s allow us to see one another more clearly, illustrating why inclusive approaches to care, research, and teaching are so important.

Mar 19, 2023

In an interview with The American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC), Dr. Robert Dellavalle and Dr. Ramiro Rodriguez discuss new research that could shed light on equity issues in the field of dermatology. Their study, based on data drawn from DataDerm, the nation’s largest clinical data registry for dermatology, compares the rates at which different groups—for example, Black, White, and Asian patients—are prescribed certain dermatological medications. Eventually, this work could help providers recognize and address inequities in dermatological care.

Mar 19, 2023

The “S029 Residents and Fellows Symposium” was held on Saturday, March 18, during the 2023 annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) in New Orleans. A panel of faculty judges, led by Cory A. Dunnick, MD, FAAD, selected individuals who presented the most outstanding papers in laboratory and clinical research.

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.