Aaron Farberg, MD < Back Aaron Farberg, MD Faculty Aaron S. Farberg, M.D. is a double board-certified dermatologist and fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon that specializes in skin cancer, inflammatory diseases, and cosmetic dermatology. Dr. Farberg is a summa cum laude graduate of Emory University and continued his education at the University of Michigan, where he received his medical degree. Dr. Farberg’s post-graduate training includes additional residency years at the University of Michigan in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and, in New York, as a clinical research fellow in association with the National Society for Cutaneous Medicine and New York University. He then remained in New York, completing another residency in Dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, where he served as chief resident. In addition to treating patients, Dr. Farberg has been a clinical investigator on numerous studies, including FDA clinical trials. He is an accomplished author and has published over 100 articles in professional medical journals. He serves as a member of the editorial board for several medical journals including Dermatology & Therapy and SKIN. Dr. Farberg also founded the Dermatology Science and Research Foundation to provide dermatology education to his patients and peers. Dr. Farberg has been recognized as one of Dallas’s leading dermatologists with numerous awards and honors. He most recently was ranked by his dermatology colleagues in Newsweek Magazine as the #1 medical dermatologist in Texas and #6 in the entire country. While in New York he served as a consultant dermatologist for the New York Yankees. PS Home

The skin biopsy is one of the most commonly performed procedures in dermatology.Performing Skin Biopsies: Maximizing Accuracy; Minimizing Risk < Back Performing Skin Biopsies: Maximizing Accuracy; Minimizing Risk Clay Cockerell, MD, JD, MBA | Kaseleigh McCarley, CMA Feb 10, 2023 The skin biopsy is one of the most commonly performed procedures in dermatology. Skin samples are usually taken for routine microscopy, and immunofluorescence microscopy is generally required when the possibility of an immunologic disorder exists. Rarely, electron microscopy may be performed when unusual diseases of connective tissue or unusual neoplasms are evaluated. This article will cover the four biopsy techniques that are most commonly employed: shave, punch, incision, and excision. Other specimens lend themselves to enucleation, such as cysts and benign neoplasms situated in the subcutis. Although the actual technique of skin biopsy is relatively straightforward, there are a number of important principles that must be adhered to in order to avoid potential problems, some of which may be serious. Although the vast majority of dermatologic disorders are not life-threatening, there are many pitfalls that may bedevil the unsuspecting clinician who is not aware of them. Standards & Principles Provide complete, accurate information to the dermatopathologist. A biopsy specimen submitted without appropriate clinical information may yield equivocal, confusing and often, useless results. Dermatology is a specialty that requires clinicopathologic correlation to be practiced well. Inability to correlate clinical findings with histologic ones very commonly leads to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment, often with harm to the patient. It is essential that those performing skin biopsies know the fundamental lesions of cutaneous pathology and how to describe them accurately and skillfully. Furthermore, the clinician must have an understanding of the disease process in question. Skin disorders are not static but are dynamic processes, and a knowledge of the disease progression and chronology is essential. For example, a biopsy taken from a lesion just in its inception or, conversely, at its end, is likely to appear completely different than those that are fully developed. The most characteristic, typical skin lesion of a given process should be sampled in a fashion that provides an intact and representative specimen to the dermatopathologist. Submit specimens only to those competent in the interpretation of cutaneous pathology. Dermatopathology is a complex specialty with morphology and terminology as fundamental elements. Those fully trained in dermatopathology have spent one or more years in specialty training focusing on the subtleties of dermatology and cutaneous pathology. Those who practice this on a daily basis are highly qualified and usually better able to able to make accurate diagnoses of skin disorders from skin biopsies. It cannot be emphasized too strongly that clinicopathologic correlation forms the cornerstone of the practice of dermatology even when dealing with seemingly banal processes such as basal cell carcinoma and nevi. It obviously assumes even more importance when the patient presents with an unusual inflammatory skin disorder or a pigmented lesion such as a possible melanoma. If no description can be made or a differential diagnosis cannot be rendered, it may be best to refer the patient for a second opinion. Incorrectly performed biopsies such as those performed using faulty technique or sampling a non-representative lesion may lead to an erroneous histologic diagnosis. For example, a superficial shave biopsy of discoid lupus erythematosus may be misinterpreted as squamous cell carcinoma with disastrous results. Conversely, a punch biopsy of malignant melanoma may fail to sample a diagnostic area resulting in failure to diagnose a serious, potentially lethal malignancy. Inflammatory skin disorders should not be biopsied using the shave technique but by punch or incision. Inflammatory dermatoses are evaluated on the basis of the pattern of the inflammation in the specimen so that evaluation of the superficial, as well as the depth of the skin, needs assessment. Superficial specimens do not permit such evaluation and are therefore prone to misinterpretation. Punch and incision specimens should extend into the subcutaneous fat. Panniculitides and alopecias, which are generally more complicated disorders, should be referred to experts in virtually all cases and must be sampled by either broad, deep punch technique or deep incision. Pigmented lesions suspicious of being melanoma should be sampled by excision whenever possible. Superficial shave and punch specimens of pigmented lesions are fraught with difficulty and are prone to medicolegal liability. Therefore, when dealing with lesions such as this, it is essential that appropriate specimens be taken. Punches are not recommended unless all of the lesion can be excised with the punch or the lesion is of such a size that complete primary excision is not feasible. In the latter case, either an incisional biopsy including the area of greatest concern or a broad punch biopsy can be performed. In any biopsy of a pigmented lesion, it is essential that the specimen that is taken be representative of the entire neoplasm in question. Ulcers should be biopsied in a way that samples the ulcerated area as well as an edge. Ulcers may develop due to many different pathologic processes in the skin ranging from neoplasms to vascular diseases. The border of the ulcer usually represents the most active portion of the process and thus, may have histologic features that differ significantly from what may be seen in the center, which may be only granulation tissue. Accurate diagnosis of ulcers is often difficult, so ancillary procedures such as cultures and immunoperoxidase stains may be required. Either broad, deep punch or incisional biopsy is required. A bulla should be biopsied so as to include a portion of the blister as well as the skin just adjacent to its edge. Vesicles, which are tiny blisters in the skin, can often be completely punched out, which is the preferable method, although bullae cannot be sampled as such because of their larger size. Punches taken through the center of a larger blister will cause the epidermis to shear away and possibly be lost. As the epidermis is often an important element in the accurate diagnosis of blistering diseases, it is essential that the specimen be taken to preserve it. Immunofluorescence studies are to be performed; it is important that the differential diagnosis is known and that the specimen be taken in an appropriate manner as certain blistering diseases should be sampled away from the blister, while others, such as pemphigus, are best sampled from the blister edge. If an infectious process is suspected, send part of the biopsy for culture and inform the dermatopathologist so that appropriate special stains will be performed. All annular and expanding lesions should be sampled from the leading edge. As the central portion of annular lesions often shows no pathologic changes, it is essential that all such lesions be sampled from the active margin. Reserve shave biopsies for pedunculated or sessile lesions. The shave is generally a technique used to sample a specimen either for confirmation such as clinically obvious nevi or keratoses or for cosmesis such as removal of acrochordons or warts. It generally does not sample the dermis, so inflammatory processes, and deeply seated neoplastic disorders may be missed when sampled in this fashion. Furthermore, many serious neoplastic disorders may have seemingly innocuous appearances, so over-reliance on this technique puts the clinician at increased risk of failure to diagnose a serious process. Punch biopsies smaller than 3 mm often do not provide enough material to make a diagnosis. Inflammatory skin disorders are almost always widespread so that the punch biopsy, even when broad, represents only a small portion of the entire process. Punches smaller than 3mm in diameter often do not contain diagnostic findings. It is often helpful if several biopsies taken from lesions at different stages of evolution and from different body sites are submitted. Suppose the dermatopathologist reports that no pathologic changes were found, and you are certain that pathologic changes were present in the biopsy specimen, ask that deeper sections be cut. In some cases, the lesion may have been small so that the initial sections into the block may not have sampled diagnostic areas. Most malpractice claims in dermatology are due to failure to diagnose. Poorly performed biopsies, specimens submitted with insufficient or misleading clinical information, and histologic interpretation by those without expertise in dermatopathology are the prime sources of medicolegal liability. It is essential that those performing dermatology be familiar with the standards of care in their communities and practice appropriately. Maintain a low threshold for the performance of skin biopsies in immunosuppressed patients when appropriate. Skin disorders may serve as signs of underlying serious infectious and neoplastic conditions and may have unusual and innocuous appearances. Skin biopsies may be the only way to establish a definitive diagnosis. Do not put specimens from multiple sites in one bottle. In some cases, malignant neoplasms may simulate benign conditions so that if multiple specimens are placed in one bottle and one is found to be malignant, the results may be disastrous. Ideally, there should be one specimen per bottle, each properly labeled with regard to the site from which the biopsy specimen was taken. Handle the tissue specimen with care. Make sure that once the biopsy specimen has been removed that it actually enters the formalin bottle. Shave specimens have a tendency to adhere to the scalpel or razor blade, while punch specimens can sometimes remain in the punch barrel. The formalin should be inspected to see that the specimen is floating in the formalin itself as if specimens adhere to the bottle, they may be crushed in the lid. The specimen should be placed in the formalin promptly to avoid dehydration and autolysis. Avoid spearing or crushing the specimen as crush artifact often renders histologic findings uninterpretable. Biopsy Techniques Shave Biopsy Equipment: Bandage Antibiotic ointment Specimen transport medium (formalin) Cautery Cotton tipped swabs No. 15 scalpel blade or surgical razor blade Gauze pads 3cc syringe with 30g needle containing 1% xylocaine with epinephrine Alcohol swabs Personal protective equipment (PPE) Technique: Obtain consent. Don PPE. Clean lesion and field with alcohol. Infiltrate anesthesia intradermally. Cut lesion at the base using a sawing motion. Place specimen in formalin bottle to be submitted for pathologic examination. Stop bleeding using Monsel’s solution or 20% aluminum chloride solution. Apply antibiotic ointment and bandage. Punch Biopsy Equipment: Personal protective equipment (PPE) Alcohol swabs Anesthesia Gauze pads Biopsy punch (3, 4, or 6 mm) Sharp pointed scissors Small toothed forceps Needle holder Monofilament nylon suture with a reverse cutting needle Specimen transport medium (formalin) Antibiotic ointment Bandage Technique: Obtain consent. Don PPE. Clean lesion and field with alcohol. Infiltrate anesthesia as above. Choose a punch that encompasses the desired lesion. With one hand, stretch skin perpendicular to natural skin tension (skin fold) lines. With the other hand, twist the punch to and fro between the fingers while slowly pushing it into the skin. Push to the hub, except in areas with little subcutaneous fat, such as the dorsal of the hands, eyelids, and external ears. Pull the punch straight out. Press the skin circumferentially around the wound site. The punch specimen should be expressed from the defect. If necessary, use a blunt instrument to remove it from the wound site. Avoid using toothed forceps as they can crush the specimen. Snip the specimen free with scissors at the base, taking care to include some fat in the lower portion of the specimen. Suture closed using a simple interrupted, horizontal mattress, or figure-of-eight stitches, in such a way as to align the incision line parallel to the skin tension lines. Apply pressure to obtain hemostasis. Dress with antibiotic ointment and a bandage. The patient is instructed to keep the area covered but clean it gently daily with water and apply antibiotic ointment before bandaging. Remove sutures at the next scheduled appointment. Excisional and Incisional Biopsy Equipment: Similar to that for punch biopsy plus a No. 15 scalpel blade on a handle. Once anesthesia is obtained, the procedure is performed under sterile conditions. Blunt-tipped undermining scissors are used instead of sharp-tipped scissors to loosen the tissue before closure. Technique: Obtain consent. Don PPE. Clean field with alcohol. Infiltrate with anesthesia as above. Apply betadine or similar preoperative scrub and don sterile gloves. Make an elliptical incision around the lesion into the superficial dermis. The ratio of length to width should be about 3: 1. If an incisional biopsy is to be performed, make an elliptical incision into the lesion itself, making certain that the most abnormal areas of the lesion are included in the specimen. Repeat incising perpendicular to the skin surface until the subcutaneous fat is seen at the base, and the ellipse sits like an island in the center of the wound. Lift one point of the ellipse with the forceps and carefully dissect the base of the specimen free with scissors, taking care to include some subcutaneous fat with the specimen. Venous oozing is usually controlled by applying gentle pressure. Small arterial bleeders may be ligated with an absorbable suture. Close the wound with simple interrupted nylon sutures or with horizontal or vertical mattress sutures. Gaping wounds will have a better cosmetic result if buried sutures are used to approximate the deeper layers with absorbable suture material such as Vicryl. This is followed by superficial interrupted or running sutures using Nylon. Apply antibiotic ointment and bandage. Dressing changes and suture removal as above. PAS Stain for Onychomycosis The performance of the potassium hydroxide preparation is considered fundamental in the diagnosis of dermatophyte infection. When dealing with onychomycosis, this is a somewhat more onerous procedure as the nail must be clipped to the proximal-most portion of involvement, and scrapings must be taken of the subungual debris. The material may need to be left on the slide for up to 20 minutes before examination, which may not be possible or practical. To expedite the diagnosis of fungal infections of the nail, a simple procedure can be done using the dermatopathology laboratory to confirm the presence of hyphae in the nail plate. This technique can be used because there are stains that allow the fungus to be identified in tissue. Equipment: Heavy-duty nail clippers Transport medium (formalin or clean Ziploc bag) Gauze pads Technique: Clean area with antiseptic solution or alcohol swab. Identify dystrophic nail plate. Gently slide the edge of the nail clipper under the dystrophic nail plate. Place gauze on the surface of the affected nail (prevents nail plate from flying across the room). Apply steady firm pressure with nail clippers until the nail plate is cut. Place the nail in a laboratory transport medium. Inform laboratory to perform PAS stain for fungus on the nail plate. ABOUT CLAY J. COCKERELL, MD, JD, MBA 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. ABOUT COCKERELL DERMATOPATHOLOGY The Cockerell Dermatopathology story begins with Dr. Clay J. Cockerell's vision to establish a practice whose mission is to treat each specimen as if it came from one of own family members. Family! At Cockerell Dermatopathology, every employee is driven by a relentless pursuit of diagnostic excellence. We specialize in evaluating dermatologic disorders, tackling cases ranging from the routine to the most challenging. Our practice continuously invests in cutting-edge technologies to best serve each referring clinician and their patients. These innovations result in higher-quality diagnostic slides, quicker turnaround times for routine cases, and seamless deployment of EMR interfaces. From an educational perspective, Cockerell Dermatopathology is more than a dermatopathology practice. We host numerous in-person and internet-based education events and boast a state-of-the-art 14-headed microscope for dermatology resident training sessions. Our services extend beyond borders, serving hundreds of clinicians in Texas, throughout the United States, and globally. With a highly accessible team of board-certified dermatopathologists and a dedicated support staff, our vision is simple yet profound. Family, we treat every specimen as if it were from one of our own family members. Previous Next

Aaron Farberg, MD Aaron Farberg, MD Faculty Aaron S. Farberg, M.D. is a double board-certified dermatologist and fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon that specializes in skin cancer, inflammatory diseases, and cosmetic dermatology. Dr. Farberg is a summa cum laude graduate of Emory University and continued his education at the University of Michigan, where he received his medical degree. Dr. Farberg’s post-graduate training includes additional residency years at the University of Michigan in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and, in New York, as a clinical research fellow in association with the National Society for Cutaneous Medicine and New York University. He then remained in New York, completing another residency in Dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, where he served as chief resident. In addition to treating patients, Dr. Farberg has been a clinical investigator on numerous studies, including FDA clinical trials. He is an accomplished author and has published over 100 articles in professional medical journals. He serves as a member of the editorial board for several medical journals including Dermatology & Therapy and SKIN. Dr. Farberg also founded the Dermatology Science and Research Foundation to provide dermatology education to his patients and peers. Dr. Farberg has been recognized as one of Dallas’s leading dermatologists with numerous awards and honors. He most recently was ranked by his dermatology colleagues in Newsweek Magazine as the #1 medical dermatologist in Texas and #6 in the entire country. While in New York he served as a consultant dermatologist for the New York Yankees. PS Winter Home

TCOM-affiliated dermatology residency program begins in July 2023.Health Education Services | Dermatology Residency Program < Back Health Education Services | Dermatology Residency Program HSC Newsroom Jul 10, 2023 TCOM-affiliated dermatology residency program begins in July 2023. The rise in physician shortages across the United States has left many specialties scrambling for answers, but the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine is addressing the shortfall with a new dermatology residency program that is set to begin in July. The residency will have three residents per class with a total of nine positions once fully enrolled. The first three residents begin their training with Dr. Clay Cockerell and other faculty in July. “We started thinking about this many years ago because there is a growing need for dermatologists in the United States,” Cockerell said. “The average waiting time to see a dermatologist is really long and most people don’t know there is a shortage that’s only getting worse. We were presented with the opportunity to pursue this residency to train more dermatologists, which is one of the hardest specialties to get into in all of medicine, and progressed forward with the program.” The program was many years in the making. Starting in 2018, Dr. Lisa Nash began the cumbersome process of setting up this new residency program, which on average takes six-to-12 months of planning and preparation for the application. Typically, it’s two more years until a program has been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Then COVID-19 came along and slowed the process down even further, but Nash kept pursuing initial accreditation, which came on April 21, 2023 — and not a moment too soon. The field has seen the average wait time to see a dermatologist increase 33% from 24.3 days to 32.3 days from 2004 to 2017. In 2022, the trend lines continued higher with another increase of seven percent to an average of 34.5 days. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the specialty is expected to see a shortage ranging from 3,800 to 13,400 physicians in the coming decades. Despite missing the Match for the Class of 2023, the new TCOM-affiliated residency program had no trouble attracting top candidates for the initial class. “Even though we didn’t go through the match this year, we found 20-25 people who heard that our program was approved and went through the interview process,” Cockerell said. “We found three excellent candidates who we are very excited about.” The competitive nature of dermatology as a top specialty is born out in the 2023 match statistics. There were 864 applicants for 499 positions that were offered. “These students are traditionally among the most academically accomplished in their medical school classes,” Nash said. What the new residents will find as they train with Cockerell and his colleagues is a unique dermatology experience. He operates Cockerell Dermatopathology in Dallas, which combines dermatology with pathology. The residents can expect a very classical style of training that will also give them the ability to learn about surgery, pathology, pediatric dermatology, cosmetic dermatology and other sub-specialties of dermatology. “We are very excited about this opportunity because while we don’t have all the resources of a major academic institution, we do have a great group of dermatologists who are dedicated to teaching,” Cockerell said. “Our residents will be in the clinic seeing patients as well as at our dermatopathology practice where they will get to see many biopsy specimens, including the ones that they take from their patients. Along with very good didactic sessions and lectures, we want our residents to attend various conferences that are local, regional and national.” The field has grown significantly since Cockerell started his practice decades ago. What was a traditional practice of general dermatology has since expanded into new subspecialty areas such as dermatologic surgery, pediatric dermatology, medical dermatology and cosmetic dermatology, among others. There are also many new treatments and therapeutic agents that were not available in the past.“ There have been a lot of changes in dermatology from when I first started,” said Cockerell said. “There have been dramatic breakthroughs in therapy which has become a major part of our field.” The specialty is rapidly growing, but the number of residencies isn’t keeping up with the demand. TCOM’s partnership with Cockerell and his dedicated colleagues will help alleviate some of the growing shortages. The program is going to give the residents an opportunity to not just learn dermatology but the versatility of business, finances and even legal issues. “We want them to become high-quality dermatologists and have expertise in the field, but also in a number of other things,” said Cockerell, who also has two MBA degrees and a JD degree. “I want them to feel comfortable to be able open their own practice if they choose and understand the business and legal aspects of medicine, which is so lacking in medical educational programs, so they won’t be a deer in the headlights when they graduate. We also will expect them to develop an area of expertise so they can be known as an expert on some topic when they graduate from our program.” Link to online article About Clay J. Cockerell, MD, JD, MBA 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. About Cockerell Dermatopathology The Cockerell Dermatopathology story begins with Dr. Clay J. Cockerell's vision to establish a practice whose mission is to treat each specimen as if it came from one of own family members. Family! At Cockerell Dermatopathology, every employee is driven by a relentless pursuit of diagnostic excellence. We specialize in evaluating dermatologic disorders, tackling cases ranging from the routine to the most challenging. Our practice continuously invests in cutting-edge technologies to best serve each referring clinician and their patients. These innovations result in higher-quality diagnostic slides, quicker turnaround times for routine cases, and seamless deployment of EMR interfaces. From an educational perspective, Cockerell Dermatopathology is more than a dermatopathology practice. We host numerous in-person and internet-based education events and boast a state-of-the-art 14-headed microscope for dermatology resident training sessions. Our services extend beyond borders, serving hundreds of clinicians in Texas, throughout the United States, and globally. With a highly accessible team of board-certified dermatopathologists and a dedicated support staff, our vision is simple yet profound. Family, we treat every specimen as if it were from one of our own family members. Previous Next

Mark Kaufmann, MD < Back Mark Kaufmann, MD Faculty Mark Kaufmann, MD, is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, a position he has held since 1995. He was in solo private practice for 23 years until he joined The Dermatology Group in November 2017. In September 2020, he joined Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery as their Chief Medical Officer. He received his medical degree from New York University School of Medicine, completing residency training in dermatology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York. He is board certified in dermatology. Dr. Kaufmann is currently the Immediate-Past President of the American Academy of Dermatology. He has served on the AAD Board of Directors, as well as countless AAD committees, and has chaired many of them as well. He also serves as an advisor to the Academy RUC team (Relative Value Scale Update Committee) - a position he has held for over a decade. Dr. Kaufmann’s contributions to the American Academy of Dermatology have been recognized by his receiving a Presidential Citation in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2020, and 2022. With many articles published on the topic of health information technology, Dr. Kaufmann is a frequent national lecturer, including the annual meetings of the American Academy of Dermatology, and other societies, and grand rounds. PS Home

Karen Nern, MD, MBA Karen Nern, MD, MBA Faculty Dr. Karen Nern is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon with expertise in general, cosmetic, and surgical dermatology. She performs Mohs micrographic surgery and has extensive experience treating both benign and malignant skin growths. She also performs many cosmetic procedures, including JUVÉDERM®, VOLUMA®, KYBELLA®, chemical peels, and CO2 laser. Her formal education and training include: Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ) – BS, Finance San Diego State University (San Diego, CA) – MBA, International Business University of California, Davis (Davis, CA) – Doctor of Medicine Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego (San Diego, CA) – Transitional Medicine Internship University of California, San Diego (San Diego, CA) – Dermatology Residency A diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology (ABD), a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), and the American Society for Mohs Surgery (ASMS), Dr. Nern is a preceptor for medical students and is passionate about teaching. She is dedicated to taking exceptional care of her patients to help them achieve skin health and skin cancer prevention. In her spare time, Dr. Nern enjoys skiing, horseback riding, boating, and hiking. Dr. Nern is also on the Board of The Colorado Melanoma Foundation and initiated a philanthropic project called The Sun Bus. The Sun Bus attends major events and is a free sun safety education and skin cancer screening vehicle serving the underserved populations of Colorado. PS Winter Home

Business 201 Faculty < Back Mark Spalding Executive Wealth Manager For two decades, Mark has advised high net worth individuals and families experiencing a variety of financial issues including divorce, business sales, retirement planning, and inheritance. Mark brings to FPA his extensive experience providing financial and wealth management advice, which in many cases includes wealth preservation and income strategies as the cornerstone of the portfolio design and construction. He takes special care to tailor each portfolio to meet the unique requirements, specific goals and objectives, and stated risk tolerance of each client. Mark is regularly engaged by other professional advisors, CPAs, and attorneys whose clients require financial advice on such matters as property division recommendations, tax and wealth preservation strategies, and asset allocation recommendations. Mark transitioned into being a financial advisor after many years of practicing law. In that role, he regularly worked with clients experiencing large financial transactions, noting that the all too frequent lack of effective planning for major life events left many legal clients bereft of their financial goals. Mark’s legal expertise enhances his financial advice and adds a layer of comfort to clients facing complex financial issues. By applying a proper balance of both disciplines, he more ably helps clients plan for their futures and build portfolios that account for taxes and estate planning laws. Outside of work, Mark enjoys spending time with his wife and three children. He’s served on the boards of several non-profit organizations focused on veterans and children. He is an avid athlete, having played college football at UCLA, but he has since replaced his cleats with snowboard boots, golf clubs, and a fishing pole. Mark is a former Marine Corps officer who deeply values integrity, honesty, and loyalty in his relationships. http://www.finplaninfo.com Business201 Home

Business 201 Faculty < Back Kim Campbell Founder and Chief Advisor Kim Campbell is the Founder of Dermatology Authority and ClubDerm.com . She has established a medical communications agency focused on collaborations with key opinion leaders, publications, leading societies, and industry partners within the dermatology market. Kim holds a Master's degree in Health Education and Administration, bringing a blend of expertise in healthcare and education to the agency. Dermatology Authority has become a trusted resource delivering high-quality educational programs and partnerships that benefit the dermatology profession. https://thedermatologyauthority.com/ Business201 Home

Carina Woodruff, MD < Back Carina Woodruff, MD Faculty Dr. Carina Woodruff is a board-certified dermatologist who cares for patients with a wide variety of skin conditions, including acne, eczema, psoriasis, benign growths, moles, skin cancer, and autoimmune or infectious skin diseases. She has a special interest in contact and occupational dermatitis and specializes in patch testing, a technique used to identify chemicals that can cause rashes on the skin. She believes in a holistic approach to skin care, considering how mental health, overall wellness, work, and environmental exposures can impact the course and treatment of skin conditions. She is the Director of the Epiphany Skin Allergy Institute in Dallas, Texas. Before joining Epiphany, Dr. Woodruff was an assistant professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco where she was also Associate Director of the Contact Dermatitis Unit and Director of Medical Student Education. Her formal education and training include: Harvard University (Cambridge, MA) – BA, Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (summa cum laude) Yale School of Medicine (New Haven, CT) – Doctor of Medicine Kaiser Permanente Medical Center (Oakland, CA) – Internal Medicine Internship University of California, San Francisco (San Francisco, CA) – Dermatology Residency Dr. Woodruff’s ongoing involvement in research has facilitated a host of publications in major dermatology journals. She enjoys teaching medical students and residents and has lectured at international conferences. She is a diplomate of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), and an active member of the Women’s Dermatologic Society (WDS), the American Medical Association (AMA), and the American Contact Dermatitis Society (ACDS), where she serves on the committee of health policy. Dr. Woodruff is originally from São Paolo, Brazil and is fluent in Portuguese. She grew up in Orlando, Florida. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring Dallas, yoga, traveling, and spending time with her husband, daughter, son, and her two King Charles Spaniels. 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

Mark Lebwohl, MD < Back Mark Lebwohl, MD Faculty Dean for Clinical Therapeutics and Chairman emeritus of DermatologyIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Mark Lebwohl, MD, is the Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Professor and Chairman, Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, New York, USA He received his degree in medicine from Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, and completed his internship and residency in internal medicine, as well as his residency in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. His key interests in clinical research include skin cancer and inflammatory skin diseases including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis. Vitiligo and alopecia areata. Dr. Lebwohl identified one of the first topical therapies approved for skin cancer and precancerous lesions. In addition, many of the systemic and topical therapies for psoriasis and atopic dermatitis were investigated or developed in the Department of Dermatology at Mount Sinai. Dr. Lebwohl has authored or co-authored nearly 500 original peer-reviewed original reports, 400 invited articles and other publications, and approximately 250 abstracts. Notably, he is the author of the first atlas, Atlas of the Skin of Systemic Disease, which is dedicated to cutaneous manifestations of systemic disease and co-editor of Treatment of Skin Disease, a leading textbook in dermatology that has been translated into several languages, won several medical book awards, and is in its 5th edition. Dr. Lebwohl is the founding editor of the Journal of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis and of Skin, the Journal of Cutaneous Medicine. He has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of the European Academy of Dermato-Venereology, the Latin American Journal of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis, the Journal of Skin Cancer, and the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Currently, he is editor of the dermatology section of Scientific American Medicine. In addition, as a renowned expert in dermatology, Dr. Lebwohl is frequently an invited visiting professor and speaker at universities, medical centers, conferences, and symposia worldwide. Active in a number of professional organizations, Dr. Lebwohl is an honorary member of the French Society of Dermatology and the Canadian Dermatology Association. He is past president of the American Academy of Dermatology and Chairman Emeritus of the Medical Board of the National Psoriasis Foundation. Dr. Lebwohl serves on the International Psoriasis Council. Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Lebwohl has been the recipient of many awards, such as the Presidential Citation from the American Academy of Dermatology for his service to the AAD on psoriasis and for his work with the Psoriasis Foundation. Furthermore, he has received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the National Psoriasis Foundation and American Skin Association and has been recognized as a Leader of Distinction by the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology for his work in psoriasis. In addition, Dr. Lebwohl was the honorary chairman of the 1st World Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Conference held in Stockholm, Sweden in 2006 by the International Federation of Psoriasis Associations and its patron, His Majesty King Carl Gustav of Sweden. PS 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