By Allison Sit
Almirall is debuting its “Atopic Museum” in observance of World Atopic Eczema Day on September 14. The museum is an online space designed to foster a deeper understanding of atopic dermatitis. Almirall presents the condition by adapting famous paintings, including Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring” and Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa,” to show the subjects as though they have atopic dermatitis. The effort is part of the “Moving AheAD” campaign, which seeks to debunk misconceptions about AD and highlight the realities of the skin disease’s impact on a person’s wellbeing and social interactions.
“Atopic dermatitis stands as one of the most pervasive skin disorders, necessitating a collective effort to shed light on its challenges,” said Volker Koscielny, MD, MBA, chief medical officer at Almirall. “The ‘Moving AheAD’ campaign is an ongoing commitment, and we are actively devising new initiatives and activities aimed at enhancing awareness among society, patients and healthcare professionals, thereby advancing the wellbeing of those living with atopic dermatitis.”
Shawn Kwatra, MD, is the new chair of dermatology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Dr. Kwatra is also the new chief of service of dermatology at the University of Maryland Medical Center and the Joseph W. Burnett Endowed Professor and Chair in Dermatology. Dr. Kwatra will begin the new roles in 2024. He is currently the founding director of the Johns Hopkins Itch Center and an associate professor of dermatology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
“We are delighted to have recruited such an exceptional and highly-accomplished international leader in dermatology to be our new department chair,“ said Mark T. Gladwin, MD, dean of the University of Maryland School of Medicine and vice president for Medical Affairs, University of Maryland, Baltimore.
“I am pleased to welcome such a well-regarded clinician, researcher and leader in the field of inflammatory skin diseases,” said Bert W. O’Malley, MD, president and chief executive officer of the University of Maryland Medical Center. “I’m particularly enthusiastic about Dr. Kwatra’s commitment to discovery and innovation around unmet health care needs. I look forward to working with him in the years ahead to further strengthen our dermatology program to serve more people with complex skin conditions from across the state and the region.”
The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) is including a dermatologist in its 2023-2024 Visiting Scholars Program. The American Board of Dermatology sponsored Gillian Heinecke, MD, assistant clinical professor at SSM Health/Saint Louis University. The program is a one-year, part-time opportunity for early-career physicians and researchers in scholarship and leadership development. Each participant receives a $15,000 award.
“We are pleased to support a record number of ABMS Visiting Scholars this year,” stated Greg Ogrinc, MD, MS, ABMS Senior Vice President, Certification Standards and Programs. “This new cohort of scholars will advance research and scholarship in high-priority areas for the certification community, including physician well-being, quality improvement, and diversity, equity and innovations in assessment.”
