Master Class

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.

Dr. Asmi Berry, a board-certified dermatologist, is on a transformative mission to redefine skincare. With a focus on uncovering underlying imbalances that impact skin health, she delved into the principles of Ayurveda—an ancient healing system emphasizing balance and natural remedies. Dr. Berry's unique approach incorporates the power of diet and nutrition, complementing medical and cosmetic treatments. Through personalized care, she addresses both visible signs of skin issues and their root causes, empowering patients to achieve healthy, radiant skin that reflects their unique beauty.

Dr. Berry's credentials include an undergraduate degree from Northwestern University, a Medical Degree from LECOM, Dermatology Residency Training at Orlando Dermatology, a fellowship in Integrative Dermatology, a certification in Ayurvedic Philosophy of Medicine and Nutrition at the BHAGAVAT Culinary School, and an aesthetics and laser fellowship in NYC. As a Clinical Instructor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, she actively contributes to the field of dermatology. Dr. Berry's expertise has been recognized through publications in esteemed journals and textbooks, along with features in podcasts, magazines, and online articles. Through her innovative approach and passion for holistic care, Dr. Berry invites everyone on a transformative journey towards healthy, radiant skin that reflects their unique beauty, both inside and out.

After finishing Medical School and Dermatology Residency at the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Bodemer completed a fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. She was the first Dermatologist to be board certified in both Dermatology and Integrative Medicine and currently is the only Dermatologist to serve on the Integrative Medicine Board. She has authored academic texts and curriculum and has spoken widely on a variety of topics related to Integrative Dermatology. She has always been drawn to exploring how lifestyle choices impact skin health and disease and feels that the most powerful role a physician can play is as an educator and guide, empowering people to get healthy and stay healthy.

Dr. Adriana Cruz studied medicine and dermatology at the Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia. She conducted a research fellowship at University of Connecticut and worked for more than 12 years in syphilis related research projects. Dr. Cruz has served as an advisor for Colombian Ministry of Health, as a teacher at Universidad del Valle and CIDEIM and currently is part of the Colombian Dermatology Society – AsoColDerma’s directive board. Dr. Cruz enjoys leading and organizing academic events and also devotes time for social responsibility activities.

Médica y dermatóloga formada en la Universidad del Valle, Colombia, con un posdoc en investigación en la Universidad de Connecticut. Ha sido asesora del Ministerio de Salud, docente universitario, hace parte de la Junta Directiva de la Asociación Colombiana de Dermatología - AsoColDerma, miembro de la AAD, CILAD. Actulamente cursando el Certificado de Dermatología Integrativa LearnSkin en USA. Líder de opinión y gestora de actividades académicas y de responsabilidad social en la Ciudad de Cali. Cuenta con varias publicaciones en revistas internacionales indexadas y ha participado como conferencista en varios escenarios.

Barbara A Paldus, Ph.D., is a scientist, entrepreneur and investor. Prior to Codex Beauty, she spent two decades leading innovation in spectroscopy, telecommunications, and biotechnology. By 34, she founded two Silicon Valley companies that, among many breakthroughs, paved the way for carbon cycle/natural gas pipeline monitoring, and accessible vaccine/cancer therapeutic manufacturing. Barb, who studied electrical engineering at Stanford, has been awarded 40 U.S. patents and numerous prizes in science.

Born and raised in Wallaceburg, Ontario, Brennan has always had a passion for health and well-being. This passion brought him to Western University where he earned his BHSc with an Honors Specialization in Health Promotion. During this time, Brennan served as an Executive member on the Learning It Together Program and the Faculty of Health Sciences Students’ Council. In these roles he actively collaborated with his peers and fellow Executive team members, organized and executed a number of faculty-wide events, developed promotional materials and merchandise, coordinated and mobilized program volunteers, and managed the associated social media accounts, including Facebook and Twitter. Upon graduating, Brennan worked as the Local Project Manager for the Healthy Kids Community Challenge in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent for one year. However, after realizing that his passion for prevention was best met when combined with his desire to serve and help others one-on-one, Brennan decided to pursue a career in Naturopathic Medicine.

Around the same time, Brennan also began working for Lululemon and Cyto-Matrix, where he found a love for product and innovation. In both roles he’s had the chance to share his passion for the respective brands, and teach people about what they have to offer. For Cyto-Matrix specifically, this role allowed him to create invaluable relationships with students and faculty at CCNM, and has allowed him connect meaningfully with the larger Naturopathic community in a way he couldn’t have otherwise. From organizing events to hosting information sessions about a wide array of topics, Brennan has positioned himself as the point of contact for students and has become a familiar face on campus. As an active LearnSkin member, and having attended IDS 2020 along with other continuing education courses in dermatology, he has enjoyed supporting the Integrative Dermatology Club at CCNM this year and is excited to take over the club with another student in May. Now in his fourth year of study at CCNM, Brennan is eager to bring his enthusiasm for student engagement and his passion for integrative dermatology and health promotion to the IDS Team and to the CCNM community as a whole.

Christopher M. Estes is a dedicated and compassionate physician whose career has evolved from extensive experience with medically complicated patients. He became frustrated seeing people get passed from one specialist to the next without ever addressing the source cause of their medical problems.  He now works to discover those causes for a broad array of medical conditions, no matter how complex. His practice at Miami Beach Comprehensive Wellness Center involves an integrated array of therapies for women and men, including functional medicine evaluations, intravenous and ozone therapies, platelet rich plasma therapies, peptide therapies, energetic medicine and Acutonics sound healing. His specialties include management of mold, Lyme and other environmentally acquired illnesses, gastrointestinal issues and dysbiosis, autoimmune diseases, natural approaches to fertility, hormonal management and comprehensive detoxification programs.  Chris is also an expert in optimizing the health of high-performing individuals.  Utilizing advanced analysis of telomere length, DNA methylation and other biomarkers, he designs customized anti-aging and performance optimization regimens for people of all ages.

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 Ted Lain is a board-certified dermatologist practicing in Austin, Texas since 2006. He serves as the Chief Medical Officer for Sanova Dermatology, a group practice with locations in Texas and Louisiana, as well as the Executive Director for Austin Institute for Clinical Research (AICR). As the Principal Investigator for AICR, Dr Lain has run numerous medical, cosmetic, device and skincare trials since 2013, including over 20 in psoriasis vulgaris.  

He uses his clinical and research experience to assist industry with protocol design, marketing strategy, and sales force training. In addition, he enjoys being a faculty member of numerous domestic and international educational conferences, publishing and editing journal articles, and co-directing the Science of Skincare Summit.

Gary Harker is the Director of Client Experience at Legally Mine. He and his wife have been married for 18 years and are the parents of 3 children. Mr. Harker is an entrepreneur, author licensed professional, creative director and educator for healthcare professionals.

Speaking to audiences worldwide for more than 20 years, Gary is able to engage audiences on difficult subjects, taking the complex and making them palatable.

As an entrepreneur Mr. Harker understands the necessity for Asset Protection first hand. Protecting the people closet to you, including your family, associates and employees

Dr. Julie Harper is a board-certified dermatologist in private practice at the Dermatology and Skin Care Center of Birmingham in Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. Harper graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 1991 with a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies. She received her medical training at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She remained there for her internship and dermatology residency, which she completed in 2000. 

 Dr. Harper transitioned from residency training into an academic dermatology career at the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB). During that time, she developed a special interest in acne and rosacea, participating in acne clinical trials and writing and speaking on the subject locally and nationally. Dr. Harper is a Founding Director of the American Acne and Rosacea Society and is the organization’s past-President. 

In 2007, Dr. Harper began her own private dermatology practice. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and recently served on the AAD’s Acne Work Group. Dr. Harper is also a member of the Women’s Dermatologic Society and a former President of the Alabama Dermatological Society. 

Dr. Hawkes is a board-certified dermatologist and Investigator at the Oregon Medical Research Center in Portland, Oregon. He completed his medical school and residency at the University of Utah. During medical school, he completed a fellowship in translational immunology in the NIH-HHMI Research Scholars Program. He also received a Master’s Degree in Clinical Investigation from Rockefeller University, where he was Chief Clinical Scholar and Principal and sub-Investigator on multiple human research protocols in the Laboratory for Investigative Dermatology. He has held academic appointments in the Departments of Dermatology at the University of Utah, University of California-Davis, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Dr. Hawkes is a current Councilor in the International Psoriasis Council and serves on the NPF Medical Board and Scientific Advisory Committee. He also serves as the official delegate of the AAD as a member of the international guidelines and workgroup committee for urticaria. His research has been funded by the NIH, NSF, NPF, and Dermatology Foundation, and he is the recipient of several teaching awards including NPF Outstanding Educator in Psoriatic Disease and Exceptional Teacher of the Year in the Department of Dermatology at Mount Sinai. His primary clinical and research interests include novel immune therapies for inflammatory conditions like psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, HS, alopecia areata, vitiligo, and urticaria.

Kara Siedman, a Registered Dietitian and Senior Manager of Scientific Communications at Pendulum, holds a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She completed her Dietetic Internship at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Throughout her career, Kara has worked across diverse healthcare settings, from inpatient care to launching multiple outpatient programs. Her expertise lies in integrating functional and integrative approaches, particularly in the fields of gastroenterology and metabolic health. Before joining Pendulum, Kara worked in the microbiome field, sharing scientific insights and research with healthcare practitioners. She guided the practical use of various bacterial strains and microbiome-focused therapies in clinical practice, fueling her passion for translating complex research into actionable guidance for healthcare providers.

Keira Barr, MD is an innovator in transformative wellness, combining her work in integrative dermatology, mind-body medicine and embodied education with body-based trauma healing approaches to skin health. As a speaker,author, and host of “The Skinny Dipping Rx” podcast, Dr. Keira teaches people around the world how to relieve stress and rejuvenate from within. She created the Somatic Skincare™ method to support her mission of revolutionizing skincare as an act of radical self-care, blending science with soul to help women around the world amplify their resilience, confidence and comfort in their skin. Her expertise, bridging the gap between skin health and mental health, has earned recognition in top media outlets like MindBodyGreen, Glamour, SELF and Oprah magazines as well as prestigious medical journals. 

Kent Shih, MD is a medical oncology specialist, physician partner, and director of the high-risk skin service at Tennessee Oncology, PLLC, in Nashville, TN, where he treats patients with melanoma, complex skin cancers, and all adult malignancies.

He has substantial clinical and research experience. Dr. Shih has served as principal investigator or co-investigator of several completed and ongoing clinical trials. Since 2007, Dr. Shih has participated as a sub-investigator in 260 phase 1 trials and 350 phase 2 and 3 trials. He has authored or coauthored numerous publications and delivered many presentations at major national professional meetings. He has worked as a senior investigator in the drug development unit at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute in Nashville, TN, conducting research on multiple tumor types and disease stages. He is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Christian Medical and Dental Association.

Dr. Shih received his medical degree from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, TN. After completing his residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, he undertook a fellowship in medical oncology at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, MD.

Meet Mila Grass, the dynamic beauty guru with a heart as adventurous as her spirit! With a whopping 18 years of experience in the beauty industry, Mila is no stranger to the world of skincare and wellness. Armed with dual licenses in esthetics and cosmetology, as well as being a certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and esthetics educator, Mila is the ultimate beauty powerhouse.

Currently, she's at the helm as the director of the Integrative Esthetician Certificate Program at Learn Skin, where she's shaping the future of skincare professionals. But that's not all - Mila independently offers a holistic Ayurvedic approach to skincare, concocting custom blends of herbs for everything from oils to masks, all while dishing out sage advice on lifestyle and nutrition.

But Mila's not just about beauty; she's a firm believer that health and beauty go hand in hand. With her trademark compassion and boundless enthusiasm, she's on a mission to empower her clients to look and feel their best from the inside out.

When she's not busy revolutionizing the beauty industry, you'll find Mila satisfying her wanderlust, rocking out at concerts, or fearlessly diving into new experiences. And let's not forget her generous spirit - Mila's dedication to organizations like NAMA, CAAM, Yoga Gives Back, and Lupus.org, among others, showcases her commitment to making the world a more beautiful place, inside and out.

So, if you're ready to unlock the secret to radiant beauty and holistic wellness, look no further than Mila Grass - because when you meet her, you're in for a treat!

Regional Sales Manager – Medical Division
6 years with Practice Solutions

• 2x Pinnacle Award Winner
• Over 200M in funded loans for doctors in private practice
• Dedicated LearnSkin representative for BofA

Dr. Neal Bhatia is a board-certified dermatologist in San Diego, California. He serves as Director of Clinical Dermatology at Therapeutics Clinical Research. He is as chief medical editor for Practical Dermatology.He has a background in immunology and has interests in mechanisms of therapy, skin cancer, and medical dermatology. Aside from teaching at medical conferences, he sits on several editorial boards and is an active teacher for dermatologists, industry, and patients.

Dr. Peter Lio is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Pediatrics at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, completed his internship in Pediatrics at Boston Children's Hospital, and his Dermatology training at Harvard where he served as Chief Resident in Dermatology. Dr. Lio is the founding director of the Chicago Integrative Eczema Center and has spoken nationally and internationally about atopic dermatitis, as well as alternative medicine.

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.

Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD, MSCI, FAAD is Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University Chicago Medical School and Founder and Director of the Center for Medical Dermatology and Immunology Research in Chicago, Illinois. His clinical and research focus includes the intersection of cutaneous immunology and inflammatory disease. He received his MD and PhD in immunology from Yale and completed his residency, postdoctoral research fellowship, and MS in clinical investigation at Northwestern University where he also served as Chief Resident. Dr. Chovatiya has a particular interest in optimizing patient-centered care, understanding chronic disease burden especially in understudied inflammatory diseases, exploring health and social disparities, and improving care across diverse skin types. He has published numerous abstracts and manuscripts and has been nationally and internationally recognized for his contributions as a clinician, educator, researcher, and leader.

Dr. Rubaina Dang is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor practicing in California. She specializes in a variety of hormonal, gastrointestinal and dermatological related conditions, providing a comprehensive approach on healing from the inside out. She is passionate about regenerative aesthetics, serving as a PRP educator and trainer to the medical community. In addition, she has been a hair health educator at Nutrafol and is currently serving as a primary investigator for various clinical trials at the Integrative Research Institute. She is passionate about utilizing integrative therapeutics to support the body internally as well as topically, empowering others to achieve healthy skin from within.

Associate Professor and Dermatology Director at the UCSF Centre for Itch and Neurosensory Disorders at the University of California in San Francisco, California, US

Sarina Elmariah, MD, PhD, is a board-certified dermatologist and developmental neuroscientist. She is also Associate Professor and Dermatology Director at the UCSF Centre for Itch and Neurosensory Disorders at the University of California in San Francisco. Her research interests lie in general dermatology, skin cancer detection and treatment, chronic itching disorders, allergic skin reactions and wound healing, and aims to promote innovation and discovery in the neuroimmune cutaneous areas and improve how we characterize, diagnose and manage common skin disorders. 

She has published numerous articles and abstracts in dermatology and neuroscience journals, including the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and the Journal of Neuroscience. Additionally, she has authored many online publications and a book chapter and is a reviewer for many top-tier dermatology and scientific journals. She has also received numerous awards, including the Saul Winegrad Award for her outstanding graduate thesis, and the Balduin Lucke Memorial Prize for superior research in Medicine and Biology, the Dermatology Foundation Physician-Scientist Career Development Award, and the American Academy of Dermatology 2018 Young Investigator Award.

Dr. Stacy McClure is a board-certified dermatologist and sees patients at Dermatology Associates of La Grange. She is member of the Chicago Dermatological Society, the Chicago Medical Society, and the American Medical Association.

Dr. McClure earned her undergraduate degree in sociology at the University of Texas at San Antonio in 1990. She earned her medical degree in 2000 at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. She completed her internship in 2001 at Rush University Medical Center, and her residency in dermatology in 2006 at Northwestern University.

Dr. McClure went on to complete a two year research fellowship at Northwestern University focusing on clinical trials in dermatology. She also completed the LearnSkin Integrative Dermatology Certificate Program in 2022 and has a passion for integrative dermatology.

Dr. McClure was born and raised in Texas, and currently resides in La Grange with her husband and two children.

Dr. Daveluy is a professor and program director at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He earned a bachelor's in science from Michigan State University. He completed medical school and his dermatology residency at Wayne State University.

He holds special interests in teledermatology, noninvasive skin imaging, skin of color, integrative dermatology, and complex medical dermatology, including hidradenitis suppurativa. He is active on AAD committees, including Performance Measure and DataDerm Oversight. He is the past president of the Wayne County Medical Society and Michigan Dermatological Society. He serves on the board of directors of the HS Foundation and editorial board for the JAAD and JAAD Case Reports and is building a growing body of publications of his own. He lives across the border in Windsor, Ontario, Canada with his husband and two very spoiled dogs

Snehal Amin, MD is a clinical assistant professor of dermatology in the Department of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. He is also surgical director, senior partner, and founder of MDCS: Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery, a private practice in New York City and Long Island, NY.

After earning his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY, Dr. Amin completed a residency in dermatology at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, and pursued a fellowship in Mohs, laser, and cosmetic surgery with the Skin Laser and Surgery Specialists of New York and New Jersey. He is board certified in dermatology and received certification from the American College of Mohs Surgery.

Dr. Amin has authored 20 publications and is a member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Academy of Dermatology, and the International Society for Dermatologic Surgery. In addition to English, Dr. Amin is fluent in Gujarati and conversational in Spanish and Hindi.

Dr. Teri Greiling is the Vice-Chair and an Associate Professor in the Department at Dermatology at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR. Dr. Greiling completed her MD and PhD degrees at the University of Washington in Seattle and then went on to do her dermatology residency training and post-doctoral fellowship in Immunobiology at Yale University. Her clinical practice specializes in complex medical dermatology, particularly in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases of the skin, and she cares for patients at the joint Rheumatology/Dermatology clinics at OHSU.  

Dr. Tina Bhutani is a board certified dermatologist and clinical researcher practicing in San Francisco, California. She received her medical training at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine and completed her residency in dermatology at UCSF. Dr. Bhutani has an expertise in the treatment of psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and other inflammatory skin diseases. In addition to seeing patients, she is a Associate Adjunct Professor in the Department of Dermatology at UCSF. She is passionate about improving the care and lives of patients with inflammatory skin disorders and is involved in many studies focusing on the development of new treatments for these diseases and learning more about mechanisms of disease initiation and maintenance. She has a particular interest in the impact of disease on patient quality of life and mental health as well as the use of wellness-based behavior modification to improve disease severity and reduce the risk of associated comorbidities. She has published over 150 articles in peer-reviewed journals and has spoken at national and international conferences on these topics. She is a member of the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) Scientific Advisory committee and has received research grant funding from the NPF, the Dermatology Foundation, as well as Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA). She also serves as the current editor-in-chief for the journal Psoriasis: Targets and Therapy. 

Valerie A Stern, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C is a board certified, SDPA Dermatology Diplomate Fellow practicing integrative dermatology. Valerie has specialized in dermatology for over 20 years and practices general, surgical, cosmetic and laser dermatology from an integrative standpoint. 

Valerie received her degree in Physician Assistant Medicine from Keck, USC School of Medicine, she then obtained her masters degree in dermatology from the University of Nebraska Medical School followed by doctorate degrees in medical science with emphasis on dermatology and physician assistant education from Lynchburg University in Virginia.  

Valerie lectures and teaches at USC Keck School of Medicine, Department of Physician Assistant Studies as well as acting as an expert in legal case testimonial during malpractice litigation involving advanced practice providers. Valerie has been an international laser trainer, educator and lecturer for two large laser companies over the past 15 years. 

Valerie is passionate about providing the highest quality care to each and every patient she sees. She believes that internal optimization is key to overall health which manifests outwardly onto the skin. Understanding root cause etiology plays a significant role in keeping the skin at its best.

In her free time, Valerie loves to study, learning all she can about environmental interactions and genetic predisposition, focusing on such factors as toxins in our homes, the foods we consume, and the products we put on our skin daily, all of which impact our overall health and well being.  

Valerie’s goal is to provide each patient with the education and comprehensive care they deserve through quality interactions using a team approach, helping to achieve success in their skin health goals. 

Dr. Werth received her MD from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, followed by residency and a postdoctoral research fellowship in Immunodermatology at New York University. Dr. Werth moved to Penn in 1989 as Chief of Dermatology at the Philadelphia VA Hospital. At Penn she directs the Autoimmune Skin Disease study unit, and performs clinical and translational research studies in autoimmune skin disease funded by NIH, autoimmune foundations, and industry. She has performed a number of industry trials for pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid. She has a basic research lab at the VA devoted to autoimmune skin disease and photobiology, funded by NIH and the VA. Dr. Werth’s clinical practice specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with autoimmune skin diseases, including autoimmune blistering disease, lupus erythematosus, and dermatomyositis. She led an international effort to develop disease severity tools for several autoimmune blistering diseases, including pemphigus and bullous pemphigoid. These tools are now used in international trials that are developing new drugs for autoimmune blistering diseases, including the trial leading to the recent FDA approval of Rituximab for pemphigus vulgaris. Dr. Werth has also performed studies to determine the impact of bullous diseases on Quality-of-life. Her research laboratory has determined the heterogeneity of the inflammatory cell infiltrate in skin in photo-induced autoimmune skin diseases, and correlated this with the response to therapy. Her laboratory has also performed translational research to better understand how novel therapies that modulate inflammatory cells work in autoimmune skin disease. She has been on the IPPF Medical Advisory Board since the beginning of the foundation. Dr. Werth has received numerous honors for her work, including the lifetime achievement award from the Medical Dermatology Society, the Rose Hirschler Award from the Women’s Dermatologic Society, and the American Skin Associations’s Research Achievement Award in Autoimmune & Inflammatory Skin Disorders, the Lifetime Career Educator Award from the Dermatology Foundation, and the Naomi Kanof Clinical Investigator Award from the Society of Investigative Dermatology.