Safe Medical Management of Psoriasis in Pregnancy

Alyssa Ashbaugh is a fourth-year medical student at UC-Irvine who is applying into dermatology this application cycle. Prior to medical school, she graduated with Honors from Macalester College and trained in the dermatology laboratory of Dr. Lloyd Miller at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she investigated the host immune response to Staphylococcus aureus infection. She has published 20+ peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and has filed a patent in the US, Europe, and China.

Since beginning medical school, she has continued her research in immunodermatology as well as developed a passion for promoting dermatologic health in skin of color. She currently serves as a medical student executive on the boards of Orange County and San Francisco Dermatological Societies, the American Academy of Dermatology’s Women’s Health Expert Resource Group, and the American Contact Dermatitis Society’s Contact Allergen Management Program Educational Committee. Additionally, she is a certified yoga instructor and is passionate about advocating for and directly supporting medical student and physician wellness.

Dr. Jenny Murase is an Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and the Director of Medical Dermatology Consultative Services and Patch Testing for the Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group. She provides consultative services for diagnostic dilemmas, adult atopic dermatitis, women’s health in dermatology (such as pregnancy dermatoses and lactation issues), psychodermatology (delusions of parasitosis), and patch testing. She is the co-Editor in Chief of the International Journal of Women’s Dermatology and the Founding and Current Chair of the AAD Women’s Health Expert Resource Group. Dr. Murase received her medical degree from the University of California, Irvine (UCI); she received the Dean’s award and was the first in the School of Medicine to graduate with distinction in clinical research. She completed dermatology residency at UCI, receiving honors from the North American Clinical Dermatologic Society, Women’s Dermatology Society (WDS), American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), Pacific Dermatology Association, and California Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery while in residency. Board certified in dermatology and active in clinical research and teaching, she was voted by the UCSF residents to be the best dermatology instructor among the adjunct clinical faculty in the department in 2010 and 2020. She serves on the board of the American Contact Dermatitis Society as the Contact Allergen Management Program Council Chair. She was the Chair of the San Francisco Dermatological Society for seven years and continues to serve on the board of the society and represent northern California on the AAD Advisory Board. She has been selected to be a course director at the World Congress, EADV, and AAD Annual meetings the past twelve years, directing over 25 symposia on Women’s Health Therapeutics. For her volunteer work in Africa and as a teacher, she has received Gold Recognition in the AAD Leadership Circle of Volunteerism, the AAD Members Making a Difference award in 2006, and the President’s Volunteer Service Award in 2009. Dr. Murase has authored or coauthored more than 110 peer-reviewed book chapters and articles, and actively reviews for six major dermatology journals.

Dr. Raja Sivamani is a board-certified dermatologist and practices as an integrative dermatologist at Pacific Skin Institute. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Clinical Dermatology at the University of California, Davis and Director of Clinical Research and the Clinical Trials Unit.He is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the California State University, Sacramento and an Associate Professor of Dermatology at California Northstate University, College of Medicine.He engages in clinical practice as well as both clinical and translational research that integrates bioengineering, nutrition, cosmetics, and skin biology. With training in both Allopathic and Ayurvedic medicine, he takes an integrative approach to his patients and in his research.He has published over 100 peer-reviewed research manuscripts, 10 textbook chapters, and a textbook entitled Cosmeceuticals and Active Cosmetics, 3rd Edition with a passion for expanding the evidence and boundaries of integrative medicine for skin care.