Navigating Atopic Dermatitis and Hand and Foot Dermatitis: Clinical Manifestations and Pathophysiology

Eric Simpson, MD, MCR, practices medical dermatology with special interests in chronic inflammatory skin diseases and skin cancer. He is actively involved in clinical research and is currently funded by the National Institutes of Health and industry partners to study new approaches to chronic skin disease treatment and prevention. 

His collaborations are global in scope, and he has been invited to present his research and approach to patient care at international conferences in Europe, North and South America, and Asia. He has published over 290 scientific articles in several high-impact peer-reviewed journals including the New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet.  

He supports patient advocacy and improving research quality by serving as Co-Chair of the Harmonizing Outcome Measures in Eczema (HOME) – a volunteer group of patients, providers, and other stakeholders whose mission is to improve the quality of eczema research to better suit the needs of patients and policy-makers. He is also serving as Chair of the NEA Research Advisory Committee.

Dr. April Armstrong is Professor and Chief of Dermatology at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). She is an internationally renowned dermatologist and clinical researcher in inflammatory skin diseases including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and HS.

Dr. Armstrong obtained her medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed dermatology residency at Harvard. She also obtained a Master of Public Health degree from Harvard School of Public Health. Prior to being the Chief of Dermatology at UCLA, Dr. Armstrong served as Associate Dean for Clinical Research at the University of Southern California (USC), where she led initiatives to improve research infrastructure and streamline processes to provide an efficient environment for research. She also served as Vice Chair in the Department of Dermatology at USC, as well as at the University of California Davis and University of Colorado previously.

Dr. Armstrong is a federally funded investigator whose research focuses on (1) evaluating novel systemic and topical therapies for inflammatory skin diseases, (2) identifying treatment goals and comorbidities associated with skin diseases, and (3) increasing patient access using innovative, technology-enabled healthcare delivery methods. Dr. Armstrong has conducted over 150 clinical trials and published over 500 articles in scientific journals.

Dr. Armstrong has a long history of service to the medical profession on a national and international level. She serves as a board member of the American Academy of Dermatology, immediate Past Chair of the Medical Board at the National Psoriasis Foundation, Co-President of the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA), councilor for the International Eczema Council and International Psoriasis Council, and a board member for the International Dermatology Outcome Measures and the California Society of Dermatology and Dermatological Surgery (CalDerm). She is also an editorial board member of JAMA Dermatology and had also served on the editorial boards of JAAD and other journals. Dr. Armstrong is past President of the American DermatoEpidemiology Network and Sacramento Valley Dermatology Society.

Dr. Armstrong is also a passionate educator, having mentored numerous medical students, residents, and postdoctoral research fellows. She has received institutional and national teaching awards for her educational efforts.