Melissa Costner, MD < Back Melissa Costner, MD Faculty A Texas native, Dr. Melissa Costner began her journey as a Dermatologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, where she completed her training as a resident in dermatology, and where she developed an early and enduring interest in the skin manifestations of autoimmune disease. Under the tutelage of Dr. Richard Sontheimer, an icon of dermatology, she honed the special skills needed to take effective care of patients with conditions such as lupus dermatomyositis and scleroderma. After graduation from her residency, Dr. Costner joined the faculty at UT Southwestern in 1997 and quickly established a reputation as a specialist in the skin manifestations of rheumatic diseases. She went on to write book chapters, contributed to research, published new findings, and participated in the development of clinical guidelines for dermatologic manifestations of rheumatologist disease. She is one of the founding members of the Rheumatologic Dermatology Society. In 2007, Dr. Costner further expanded the scope of her influence on the Dallas community by entering private practice, developing collaborative care pathways with the DFW metroplex physicians for the care of patients with autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis and eczema. Dr. Costner also supports a number of general and specialty physicians with her expertise in skin manifestations of several other general and specialty diseases. PS Home

Clay Cockerell, MD, MBA, JD < Back Clay Cockerell, MD, MBA, JD Symposium Managing Director Cockerell Dermatopathology , Founder & President Health Education Services sponsored by Lake Granbury Medical Center, Program Director, Residency Program Dermpath On Demand , Co-Founder & Educational Director Dr. Clay J. Cockerell is a world-renowned specialist in treating and diagnosing skin disorders and has diagnosed over three million biopsies. An internationally recognized pioneer in his field and double board-certified in dermatology and dermatopathology, Dr. Cockerell has been practicing medicine since 1986. He is currently the Founder & President of Cockerell Dermatopathology and the Program Director of the Health Education Services dermatology residency program sponsored by the Lake Granbury Medical Center. Also, Dr. Cockerell sees patients a few days per month to assist with resident training and to keep his clinicopathological skills sharp. Dr. Cockerell has held numerous leadership positions within several highly regarded medical associations. Most notably, he served as the President, Secretary & Treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Dermatology, President of the Texas Dermatological Society, and President of the Dallas Dermatological Society. Also, Dr. Cockerell holds leadership roles as Founder and President of Cockerell Dermatopathology and a former AmeriPath Board of Directors member. Dr. Cockerell and his wife, Brenda, had a lifelong dream of producing wine and, in 2005, purchased a vineyard in Calistoga, California. They now produce wine under the Coquerel Family Wine Estates label. Dr. Cockerel and Brenda have two children, Charles and Lillian, and they have been married for forty-six years. In addition, Dr. Cockerell and Brenda enjoy traveling, golf, and winter sports. PS Home

Kelly Carter Nelson, MD < Back Kelly Carter Nelson, MD Faculty Professor of Dermatology, MD Anderson Cancer Center Dr. Nelson serves as the associate medical director for the multidisciplinary Melanoma and Skin Clinic. Dr. Nelson earned her medical degree and completed dermatology residency training at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, and is board-certified by the American Board of Dermatology. Dr. Nelson’s clinical practice focuses on the care of high-risk cutaneous oncology patients, and her funded research leverages educational theory, implementation science, and geospatial modeling approaches to support melanoma secondary prevention for the state of Texas. Also, she is a passionate teacher and has developed an evidence-based interactive web-based curriculum to teach dermoscopy to dermatology residents (DERM:Early Melanoma Detection), which reaches over 400 dermatology residents a year. PS Home

Joan Guitart, MD < Back Joan Guitart, MD Faculty Focus of Work Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, Dermatopathology, Skin cancer prevention and detection Education MD: Autonomous University of Barcelona (1983) Postgraduate Training Resident: Univ. of Illinois Hospital, Pathology (1988) Fellow: Cleveland Clinic, (1989) Intern: Cleveland Clinic, Internal Medicine (1990) Resident: Cleveland Clinic, (1990) Certifications Board Certification: Anatomic Pathology & Clinical Pathology, American Board of Pathology Board Certification: Dermatopathology, American Board of Pathology Board Certification: Dermatology, American Board of Dermatology PS Home

Matthew Leavitt, DO Matthew Leavitt, DO Faculty Dr. Matt Leavitt is a board-certified dermatologist and the Chairman, Founder, and CEO of Advanced Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery (ADCS), the country's largest dermatology practice. He is also the Founder and Chairman of Ameriderm, a division that provides billing services for dermatology practices. Dr. Leavitt's vision led to the development of ADCS’s research division which has undertaken numerous studies for major pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, Dr. Leavitt founded Medical Hair Restoration (MHR), which he grew into a national practice for surgical hair transplantation that became the second-largest hair restoration practice in the country. Dr. Leavitt now holds the office of Executive Medical Advisor with Bosley, the largest hair restoration group in the world. Dr. Leavitt is the Chairman of the KCU-GME/ADCS Orlando Dermatology Residency Program. He has served as President of the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD) and is a founding father of the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery, where he served as its first vice president. Dr. Leavitt was also one of the founding members and is currently the president of the Hair Foundation. Dr. Leavitt is presently a Clinical Assistant Professor in Dermatology for the University of Central Florida and Kansas City University. Dr. Leavitt is a member of the advisory boards and a national speaker for Allergan. Formerly he was a member of the advisory boards of Merck and Pfizer (now Johnson & Johnson) and Photomedex, Abbvie, amongst others. Dr. Leavitt has served as a special consultant to Lexington International. Dr. Leavitt is recognized both nationally and internationally as an accomplished author, clinical researcher, surgeon, and lecturer on the subject of hair loss. He has received numerous grants and awards including the prestigious Golden Follicle, from the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons. Recently he was featured on the cover and lead article for The Dermatologist. Dr. Leavitt is a founder and 21-time chairman of the annual Live Surgery Workshop. Dr. Leavitt has authored numerous articles for dermatology, hair, and cosmetic journals and chapters in textbooks. He has been interviewed by the print and electronic media including The New York Times, The WSJ, Forbes, Men's Vogue, Parents Magazine, etc. as well as appearing on America's Health Network, CBS's 'The Early Show,' The Learning Channel, NBC iVillage. Through the Leavitt Family Foundation, he has co-sponsored fourteen annual charity golf tournaments benefiting Ronald McDonald House and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation (CCF). He serves on the CCF boards both nationally and locally. He has been recognized by Ernst & Young as a finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year and received numerous awards from the business community, such as Smart Awards, Florida Medical Business, etc. A graduate of the University of Michigan and Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Leavitt completed his residency at Ohio University Grandview Medical Center. PS Winter Home

Brion Hurley < Back Brion Hurley Faculty Mr. Brion Hurley is an independent Lean Six Sigma consultant helping organizations save money, improve quality and safety, mitigate risks, and enhance operational flow. My approach leads to higher employee, customer, and stakeholder satisfaction. Proven ROI: Organizations that apply Lean Six Sigma through improvement projects can recoup their training costs in under 3 months! With 25+ years of experience working in Aerospace, Food and Beverage, Healthcare, Automotive, Logistics and the Nonprofit sectors, I’ve helped organizations achieve the Triple Bottom Line (People, Planet, and Profit) by integrating process excellence with sustainability. Brion is also the author of "Lean Six Sigma for Good" and editor of "Lean Six Sigma for Good: Lessons from the Gemba," sharing insights on using improvement principles for social and environmental impact. Vision: To establish volunteer Lean and Six Sigma consulting support for nonprofits and NGOs in every city worldwide. Passions & Focus Areas: Clean Air and Water Zero Waste & Food Waste Reduction Vegan & Sustainable Lifestyles Solar Energy & Renewable Solutions PS Home

Practical Symposium | Summer Sharpen Your Dermatology, Clinicopathologic & Business Skills. Join us August 20-23, 2026, in Vail, CO Symposium Links Clay's Message Who Should Attend Agenda Faculty Fees Hotel | Travel Industry Partners Social Media Submit Poster | Abstract Future Dates & Locations Attendee Brochure PS25 | CME & MOC Center PS26 Register Industry Links Partnership Opportunities Past Industry Partners PRACTICALLY SPEAKING “The Practical Symposium was excellent and impacted how I will work up and treat my patients. As a practicing dermatologist, the clinicopathologic correlation was outstanding.”

HONE PA+NP Symposium Sharpen Your Clinical Skills Join us in Dallas, TX | September 12, 2026 Clay's Message Hone Home I am honored to present the 4th annual Hone PA+NP Symposium in Dallas, Texas. 2026 MESSAGE COMING SOON! HONE Register

Business 201 Symposium Online lectures designed for residents, attending physicians and medical students. Business 201 Home Industry Partners Dr. Clay Cockerell, the faculty, and attendees, gratefully acknowledge the following industry partners who are dedicated to supporting the Business 201 Symposium. It's this continued support that allows conferences like ours to continue providing world-class educational content. Thank You!

Practical Symposium | Summer Sharpen Your Dermatology, Clinicopathologic & Business Skills. Join us August 20-23, 2026, in Vail, CO 2024 Exhibitor Information PS Home

HONE PA+NP Symposium Sharpen Your Clinical Skills Join us in Dallas, TX | September 12, 2026 Hone Home 2025 Industry Partners Dr. Clay Cockerell, the faculty, and attendees, gratefully acknowledge the following industry partners who are dedicated to supporting the Hone PA+NP Symposium. It's this continued support that allows conferences like ours to continue providing world-class educational content during these challenging post-pandemic times. Thank You! Industry Brochure

Practical Symposium | Summer Sharpen Your Dermatology, Clinicopathologic & Business Skills. Join us August 20-23, 2026, in Vail, CO Posters & Abstracts PS Home All posters and abstracts must be approved by the Practical Symposium Scientific Committee before the meeting. Approval will be determined by the submission of an abstract; please note the following guidelines: Please submit your abstract for pre-approval to Martha Hallett – mhallett@mdmeetingdesigns.com . The deadline for abstract submission is August 1, 2026. The author must be registered and in attendance at the Practical Symposium. Indicate which author(s) will be in attendance when you submit your abstract. Requests for exemption should be made with the submission. You will be advised as to approvals soon after your submission is received. Poster specifications will be sent with approval. If you have additional questions? Contact Martha Hallett Email: mhallett@mdmeetingdesigns.com Phone: 508-713-0906