Walter C. Lobitz Jr., M.D. Lecture and Visiting Professorship

Dr, Walter C. Lobitz, Jr., M.D.

2024 Walter C. Lobitz Jr., M.D. Lecture

Date: Friday, April 12, 2024
Time: 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Place: Knight Cancer Research Building, Auditorium
2720 S Moody Ave, Portland, OR 97201

Keynote Lecture: Skin Signs of Systemic Disease

Skin can often be a window into multiple body systems, allowing a master dermatologist to see beyond just skin disease. Skin signs often reveal underlying disease that may not otherwise be immediately obvious. Dr. Elston will present the keynote lecture titled Skin Signs of Systemic Disease, where he will share insight into how to use the skin to detect systemic diseases earlier when they are often more readily treated.

Dr. Elston is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina, in Charleston.   He serves as Editor of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, and has served as president of both the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society of Dermatopathology and as Honorary Professor at China Medical University in Shenyang China, Guest Professor at the Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University in Changsha, China, Visiting Professor, Peking University School of Medicine, Beijing, China and Adjunct Professor, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.  He is an honorary member of both the German and French Dermatological Societies and has received commendation from the International League of Dermatological Societies for his international work.

Dr. Elston is a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, did his dermatology residency at Walter Reed Medical Center and a dermatopathology fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic.  He is the author of over 670 peer reviewed publications and 75 textbook chapters.  He is the Associate Editor in Chief of eMedicine dermatology, is one of lead authors of Andrews Diseases of the Skin and Editor in Chief of the Requisites in Dermatology series of textbooks. In addition to many notable professional awards, Dr. Elston has received significant recognition as an educator. He has received the UIC, Rush and Cook County Dermatology residents teaching award, St Luke’s-Roosevelt Volunteer Teacher of the Year Award, Brooke Army Medical Center Department of Medicine Outstanding Teacher Award, Brooke Army Medical Center Department of Pathology Outstanding Teacher Award, and the Darl Vanderplueg Excellence in Teaching Award

Additional opportunities

  • In addition to the keynote lecture, Dr. Elston will be presenting additional didactics-style presentations to both OHSU Faculty and Trainees on Friday, April 12. Community dermatology providers and members of the OHSU community are also invited to join these presentations. Specific Details TBD.
  • If you are a dermatology community member that would like to meet with Dr. Elston, please email hobbsk@ohsu.edu.

Featuring

Dr. Dirk Elston smiles for a portrait

Dirk M. Elston, M.D.
Kathleen Riley Professor and Chairman
Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery

Medical University of South Carolina

Notable awards:

  • 2020 American Academy of Dermatology Gold Medal
  • 2023 American Academy of Dermatology Pearson Teaching Award
  • 2008 Walter Nickel Award for Excellence in Dermatopathology Education
  • 2013 Founder’s Award of the American Society of Dermatopathology

Honoring a career of pushing dermatology frontiers forward through science.

The Walter C. Lobitz Jr., M.D. Lecture and Visiting Professorship celebrates Dr. Lobitz’s distinguished career as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Dermatology at Oregon Health & Science University and honors his contributions to dermatology as a master clinician, investigator and world leader in Dermatology. Dr. Lobitz was a pioneer and major contributor to the evolution of the field of dermatology from a descriptive specialty to one grounded in investigative science.

Lobitz visiting professors are chosen because they embody the Lobitz spirit of teaching, research, scholarship and mentorship in the legacy of Dr. Lobitz, and because they personify Dr. Lobitz’s ideals in their own work. Lobitz visiting professors are individuals who have truly changed the landscape of dermatology through their contributions to the field of dermatology.

Past lectures

Keratinocytes and Cancer

Irene M. Leigh C.B.E., F.R.S.E., D.Sc., F.R.C.P., F.Med.Sci.
Dean of Global Engagement, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry
Queen Mary University of London

Dr. Leigh will examine the molecular mechanisms of squamous cell carcinoma and link this to keratinocyte differentiation. This will include data from a national register of keratinocyte cancers, detailed data from the genomics and transcriptomics of keratinocyte cancer and present a unified approach.

Background:

Following appointment as Consultant Dermatologist, Professor Leigh established the Centre for Cutaneous Research at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London (BLSMD) which developed into a premier research center in skin biology and disease. During this period she became:

  • Professor of Dermatology (1992)
  • Professor of Cell and Molecular Medicine (1999)
  • Research Dean (1997-2002)
  • Joint Research Director (2002-5)
  • Dean for e-learning (2005-6). 

She was appointed Head of College and Vice Principal of Dundee University in November 2006 and reestablished a research laboratory in Dundee including the CR-UK Skin Tumor Laboratory. In 2017, she returned to London as Interim Dean at BLSMD, and is currently Dean for Global Engagement.

Dr. Leigh has been a pioneer for women in science, directing numerous research labs throughout her 30+ years of research. She has been awarded the national honors of Officer of the Order of the British Empire and Commander of the Order of the British Empire. She was also awarded the Archibald Gray Medal, the highest honor of the British Association of Dermatologists.

Photo Gallery

Jean Bolognia, M.D.
Vice Chair, Clinical Affairs
Yale Department of Dermatology

Presents:

The Many Faces of Lupus

Jean Bolognia, M.D. is the senior editor of the textbook Dermatology, which is now in its third edition. In addition to recently serving on the FDA's Dermatologic and Ophthalmic Drugs Advisory Committee, she is the founder of the Clinical Scholars program of the SID and author of over 190 articles and book chapters.

Dr. Bolognia has served as the President of:

  • Medical Dermatology Society (2000 - 2001)
  • Women's Dermatologic Society (2006)
  • American Dermatological Association (2013-2014)

and Vice President of:

  • Society for Investigative Dermatology (2003 - 2004)
  • American Board of Dermatology (2013)
  • International Society of Dermatology (2013 - Current)

as well as being elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Dermatology and the International League of Dermatological Societies. 

Advancing Access to Quality Dermatologic Care Everywhere
Marie-Louise Johnson, M.D., Ph.D.

Click HERE to view the recording of this event

Click HERE to view the image gallery of this event

Dr. Johnson utilized her appointment as the Chief of Dermatology in the U.S. - Japan Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission in Hiroshima and Nagasaki as a launching point for a career-long interest in providing access to high-quality dermatologic care everywhere. She has led efforts to serve the needs of rural populations and enhance the quality of care by training primary care physicians and physician assistants to fill this increasing need.

Among many others, her accomplishments include:

  • Awarded Master Dermatologist Award by the American Academy of Dermatology - first female (1995) 
  • First dermatologist ever elected for membership in the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine (1981)
  • First Woman in 125 years to be president of the ADA (2000)
  • Director of Yale's Dermatology Inpatient and Outpatient services until 1964
  • Chief of dermatology on the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission in Hiroshima, Japan
  • Active member of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War
  • Tenured professorship at NYU Medical School and director of medical education at Benedictine Hospital (1980)
  • First interactive dermatology clinic, Hanover, NH (1973)
  • Established a fellowship program for primary care physicians for advanced study in dermatology

Neonatal Dermatology 101,411, and 911
Lawrence Eichenfield, M.D.
Chief of Pediatric and Adolescent Dermatology, Rady Children's Hospital San Diego

Please join us for Dr. Eichenfield’s lectures entitled Atopic Dermatitis: Itching to Know More, What's Erupting in Pediatric Acne?, and Neonatal Dermatology 101,411, and 911.

Dr. Eichenfield is Chief of Pediatric and Adolescent Dermatology at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego and Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine (Dermatology) at UC San Diego School of Medicine. Along with being editor-in-chief of Pediatric Dermatology, he serves on the editorial boards of multiple journals and periodicals. Additionally, he has published more than 250 journal articles, chapters, abstracts and books, and is senior editor of Neonatal and Infant Dermatology, published by Elsevier, and The Eczemas, published by Summit Communications. Dr. Eichenfield is past President of the Society for Pediatric Dermatology, has served on the Board of the American Academy of Dermatology, and is President of the American Acne & Rosacea Society. He is Co-Chair of the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA).

John Zone, M.D.
Professor and Chairman, University of Utah Medical Center

Dr. Zone is currently professor and chairman of the Department of Dermatology at the University of Utah Medical Center. Prior to coming to the University of Utah in 1978, he graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelors of Science degree and then from the State University of New York at Syracuse with an M.D. degree. He then completed an internal medicine residency at Syracuse and a dermatology residency at the University of Buffalo. While at the University of Buffalo, Dr. Zone developed an interest in immunology and immune mediated diseases of the skin with Drs. Richard Dobson and Thomas Provost as mentors.

During his career he has published over 100 original articles most of which are related to immune disorders in the skin, dermatitis herpetiformis and celiac disease. He has also published over 40 book chapters.

Marc D. Brown, M.D.
Professor of Dermatology, Professor of Cancer, University of Rochester Medical Center
 

Dr. Brown received his medical degree from Georgetown University and then completed an internal medicine residency at the University of Rochester. Following two years of work for the National Health Service Corps, he completed his residency training in dermatology and a fellowship in cutaneous surgery and oncology at the University of Michigan.

Dr. Brown has been active in dermatology leadership in many organizations. In addition to many other roles, he has served as president for the following organizations: the New York State Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, the Association of Academic Dermatology Surgeons, the Rochester Dermatology Society, the American College of Mohs Surgery, and the International Transplant Skin Cancer Coalition.

Dr. Brown has lectured extensively at national meetings primarily on cutaneous oncology and reconstruction and has published 50 articles and one book.

William D. James, M.D.
Vice Chairman of the Department, the Paul R. Gross Professor of Dermatology, the Residency Program Director, and the Director of the Clinical Educator Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

William D. James, M.D., graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1972 and the Indiana University School of Medicine in 1977. After his residency training in San Francisco, Dr. James spent twelve years at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center; the last eight of which were as the Chief of Dermatology.

In 1995, Dr. James joined the Department of Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine where he served as the Albert M. Kligman Professor of Dermatology from 1997 to 2005. Currently, he is the Vice Chairman of the Department, the Paul R. Gross Professor of Dermatology, the Residency Program Director, and the Director of the Clinical Educator Fellowship. Dr. James is a Past President of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Dr. James has delivered over 300 invited lectures and has received several local and national teaching awards. He has published over 265 articles and 35 book chapters and has written or edited 20 books, including the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th editions of Andrews’ Disease of the Skin. He is the founding editor of the internet based Emedicine Textbook of Dermatology.This worldwide effort includes the work of over 700 authors and 85 editors and provides free up-to-date information for dermatologists on hundreds of skin diseases.

Nevi and Melanoma in Children: Facts & Fallacies
Seth J. Orlow, M.D., Ph.D.
Chairman, Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine

Dr. Orlow is Chairman of the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, at the New York University School of Medicine, where he has been a faculty member since 1990. He is the Weinberg Professor of Pediatric Dermatology and a professor of cell biology and of pediatrics. He also serves as director of NYU’s Center of Excellence in Cancers of the Skin. Prior to becoming chairman, he served for 16 years as the Director of Pediatric Dermatology.

He received his AB magna cum laude from Harvard and his medical degree and doctorate in Molecular Pharmacology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Following an internship in pediatrics at Mt. Sinai Medical Center, he completed his dermatology residency and fellowship training at Yale University.

Dr. Orlow is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Academy of Pediatrics, a member of the Society for Pediatric Dermatology and the Society for Investigative Dermatology, and serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Dermatology Foundation. He is Board Certified in both Dermatology and in Pediatric Dermatology. Dr. Orlow was elected to the American Dermatological Association and the New York Dermatological Association. In 2003, he was honored with a lifetime achievement award from the American Skin Association.

Dr. Orlow has been the principal investigator for numerous grants from the NIH. He is an author of more than 200 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters and reviews. He has served on the editorial boards of Archives of Dermatology and Pediatric Dermatology. His interests include disorders of melanocytes and pigmentation, congenital and genetic disorders affecting the skin, and inflammatory skin disorders in children.

Kim B. Yancey, M.D.
Professor and Chair of Dermatology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas

Dr. Yancey is Professor and Chair of the Department of Dermatology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.  He graduated from the University of Georgia (Summa Cum Laude and Valedictorian) and subsequently earned his Medical Degree (Alpha Omega Alpha) from the Medical College of Georgia (MCG).  He performed his internship (Internal Medicine) and residency training at MCG and subsequently completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Dermatology Branch of the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  He is certified by the American Board of Dermatology and holds special subspecialty competence in Dermatologic Immunology and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology.  

Dr. Yancey is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, the Society for Investigative Dermatology (SID), the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), and numerous other professional organizations.  He is a former Director and Vice President of the American Board of Dermatology, a former member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the SID, a current member of the Executive Committee of the Dermatology Foundation, a current Deputy Editor of the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, and a current member of several Editorial Boards.  Dr. Yancey received the AAD’s Marion Sulzberger Award in 2007.  He has published numerous research manuscripts and monographs, served on an array of grant review panels, and presented numerous invited lectures in the US and abroad.  Dr. Yancey has held research support from the National Institutes of Health for over twenty years.  

John J. Voorhees, M.D., F.R.C.P.
Chair of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School

Dr. Voorhees is the Duncan and Ella Poth Distinguished Professor at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, where he is Chairman of the Department of Dermatology. He qualified as M.D. summa cum laude from the University of Michigan in 1963, followed by internship and residency in Internal Medicine and Dermatology at the same institution, including two years of postdoctoral training as the Carl Herzog Fellow in Biochemistry. He was appointed Instructor in Dermatology in 1969, in 1974 became full Professor and in 1975 was appointed Chairman of the Department.

Dr. Voorhees has received many awards and honors including election to Alpha Omega Alpha, the Henry Russel Research Award of the University of Michigan in 1973, and the Distinguished Achievement Award of the University of Michigan Medical Center Alumni Society in 2004. He is the only individual to receive the Taub International Memorial Award for Research in Psoriasis twice (1973 and 1986). He was elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation in 1974, the Association of American Physicians in 1993, fellowship in the Royal College of Physicians of London in 2000, and fellowship in the Royal Society of Medicine in 2002. In 2005 he received the Stephen Rothman Memorial Award of the Society for Investigative Dermatology, the highest award of this society. Dr. Voorhees delivered the Rudi Cormane Memorial Lecture at the Annual Meeting of the European Society for Dermatological Research in September 2005. And in 2007, Dr. Voorhees was presented with the David Martin Carter Mentor Award of the American Skin Association.

He has been President of the Society for Investigative Dermatology, President of the Dermatology Foundation, President of the Association of Professors of Dermatology, President of the Michigan Dermatological Society and is or has been on the board of directors and executive committees of several national and international dermatology organizations. Dr. Voorhees was a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Dermatology from 1982-1984. In 1993 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award of the National Psoriasis Foundation and in 1994 the Psoriasis Research Award of the American Skin Association. In 1998 he received the Research Award of the European Society for Dermatological Research in recognition of substantial contributions to the progress of dermatological research. Dr. Voorhees is/has been on the editorial board of eight scholarly journals and has authored 573 full publications that are published or in press. His publications have been quoted in the medical literature more often than any other dermatologist in the world (data contained in Stern, RS and Arndt, KA: Top Cited Authors in Dermatology. Archives of Dermatology 135: 299-302, 1999). During his career (as of October 2006) his publications have been cited 18,576 times.

Dr. Voorhees has given invited lectures in the United States, Europe, Africa, Australia, Japan, Southeast Asia, South America and China. These many lectures include the Dohi Memorial Lectureship (Japan, 1996) and the Arthur Rook Oration (Great Britain, 2004). He is an honorary member of 15 foreign dermatological societies including the Canadian Dermatological Association, Finnish Dermatologic Association, European Academy of Dermatology, Chilean Dermatologic Association, German Dermatological Society, French Dermatologic Society, Danish Society of Dermatology, Swedish Dermatological Society, British Association of Dermatologists, Hong Kong Dermatological Society, Polish Association of Dermatologists, Japanese Dermatological Association, Korean Society for Investigative Dermatology, Netherlands Society of Dermatology and Philippine Dermatological Society.

Dr. Voorhees divides his time among medical research, patient care, education of medical students and physicians training to become dermatologists, and chairing the department. His research focuses on psoriasis and premature aging of the skin. The demonstration of psoriasis as a disease mediated by an overactive immune system, treatable by immunosuppressive drugs, has been his major accomplishment in the study of psoriasis. In sun-induced premature skin-aging and in natural aging, he and his colleagues have unraveled mechanisms whereby UV light and the passage of time destroy the skin's collagen support. This understanding has provided insight into its treatment and prevention by pharmacologic agents.

Dr. Voorhees practices medicine exclusively at the University of Michigan, where he is available to patients with all skin diseases. 

R. Rox Anderson, M.D.
Professor of Dermatology, Harvard University

Dr. Anderson graduated from MIT, then received his MD degree magna cum laude from the joint MIT-Harvard medical program, Health Sciences and Technology. After completing his residency in dermatology and research fellowships at Harvard, he joined the faculty there, where he is a Professor in dermatology, Director of the Wellman Center for Photomedicine; and a Professor of Health Sciences and Technology at MIT.

Dr. Anderson conceived and developed many of the non-scarring laser treatments now widely used in dermatology. These include selective photothermolysis for birthmarks, microvascular and pigmented lesions, tattoo and permanent hair removal. He also contributed to laser lithotripsy, laser angioplasty, photodynamic therapy and optical diagnostics. The highest-resolution imaging device approved for human use, an infrared confocal microscope came from his laboratory. Dr. Anderson has contributed to basic knowledge of human photobiology, drug photosensitization mechanisms, tissue optics and laser-tissue interactions.

In addition to research at the Wellman Center, Dr. Anderson practices dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital and teaches at Harvard and MIT. Active research includes diagnostic tissue imaging and spectroscopy, photodynamic therapy, mechanisms of laser-tissue interactions, low-level light effects and novel therapy for skin disorders. Dr. Anderson has been awarded over 50 national and international patents.

2007: Kevin Cooper, M.D.

2006: Thomas Kupper, M.D.

2005: Paul R. Bergstresser, M.D.

2004: Barbara A. Gilchrest, M.D.

2003: Lowell A. Goldsmith, M.D.

2002: Stephen L. Katz, M.D., Ph.D.

2001: Stuart H. Yuspa, M.D.

2000: John R. Stanley, M.D.

1999:  Richard L. Edelson, M.D.

1998: David R. Bickers, M.D.

1996: Thomas B. Fitzpatrick, M.D.

1994:  Rudolf L. Baer, M.D.

1992: Walter B. Shelly, M.D., Ph.D.

1990: John S. Strauss, M.D.

1988:  Rees B. Rees, M.D.

1987: W. Mitchell Sams Jr., M.D.

1986: Gustav Asboe-Hansen, M.D.

1985: Yusho Miura, M.D.

1984: Eugene M. Farber, M.D.

1983: Otis F. Jillson, M.D.

1982: Richard L. Dobson, M.D.

1981: George F. Odland, M.D.