In dermatology, we are fortunate to have many insightful practitioners and great teachers and mentors. Some are bright stars in our special universe — others unsung heroes. All of these colleagues have much to share from wisdom to humor to insights into dermatology and life. This column allows us to gain insight from these practitioners and learn more about them. Dr. Alan Fleischer is Professor and Chair of the Department of Dermatology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Director of the General Dermatology Clinics, and Co-Director of the Center for Dermatology Research. He trained as an undergraduate and medical student at the University of Missouri-Columbia. His residency and chief residency training in dermatology was completed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, whereupon he joined the faculty of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He has published five dermatology textbooks, more than 260 peer-reviewed articles, and has presented results from his research and medical care throughout the United States and on multiple other countries . Since 2000, he has been selected by his peers as one of the “Best Doctors in America.”
Q. What part of your work gives you the most pleasure?
A. What I enjoy most about work is the fact that my attention can be divided between many different tasks. It is not uncommon for me to be engaged in clinical care, clinical and health services research, teaching, and consulting and/or administrating within a span of an hour. For many people, this would be overwhelming but for me, who has some attention deficit traits, I thrive on it.
Q. Are an understanding and appreciation of the humanities important in dermatology and why?
A. An appreciation of humanities is helpful for dermatology. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree and I found that courses that I took in philosophy, literature and the study of arts helped me analyze and synthesize information from various perspectives and viewpoints. Although it may not seem apparent to an observer, dermatologists must do this in order to determine a diagnosis. Interestingly, being able to analyze and synthesize information visually is critical because we must be excellent at pattern recognition. Furthermore, class work in humanities teaches listening and communicating. When encountering patients who have been enduring pain, chronic itch and disfigurement as well as facing mortality, a dermatologist who has taken classes in humanities may have more skills to provide emotional support. Although we cannot cure all of our patients, the understanding of the human condition can help us to comfort many. Suffering is not exclusive to Russian novels, but an appreciation of this suffering can help us to empathize with our patients and help them face their conditions with courage and spiritual growth. This humanities background helps us to learn to treat not only the disease but to treat the person as a whole.
Q. What is your greatest regret?
A. I wish that I could have met the love of my life, my wife Anne, earlier than I had. Although I met her in medical school and we have been married for 20 years, I regret that we could not have met earlier in life and enjoyed a few more years together.
Q. Which figure in history would you want to have a drink with and why?
A. I would like to have a drink with Galileo, who was active in so many areas of science and so clever at exploiting opportunities as he saw them become available. The fact that he was not always the most politically correct individual of his time would make him even more interesting.
Q. What is the greatest political danger in the field of dermatology?
A. I perceive that the movement away from standard medical and surgical dermatology has the greatest potential to damage our specialty. Although I support the option that any dermatologist may do any procedure or intervention in which he or she has special expertise, we do need to continue to be the specialists of the skin, hair, nails and mucous membranes. Who, if not us, will be able to diagnose and treat obscure allergic contact dermatitis, lupus erythematosus, acne and cutaneous lymphomas? As our specialty gravitates towards cosmetic condition management, we may lose respect as being the final consultant in medically important skin conditions.
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Q. Who was your hero/mentor and why?
A. Although I have had many wonderful mentors — including E. Lee Forker, who taught me about science, and Phil Anderson, who sparked my interest in dermatology — without question my greatest mentor was (Robert) Alan Briggaman. Al was the Chair of Dermatology at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill when I was a resident. In our residency program, one resident was able to take off a finite amount of time from residency to spend research time in a laboratory setting. After touring labs and considering which lab I should work in, I became more discouraged by the moment. Somehow, Al perceived my dissatisfaction with the research options. He brought me into his office and suggested that I spend some time in the School of Public Health and bring some of that knowledge back to dermatology. That afternoon sitting in his entropic office, I thought the idea was patently absurd. But, by the next morning, I had decided to pursue exactly this course of action. I began taking coursework in epidemiology and biostatistics. This coursework has enriched my career immeasurably. At least 50 of my publications have drawn upon the expertise gleaned during the year that I spent away from dermatology. As I write the answer to this question on this laptop computer, where I have health services data representing more than six billion office visits to doctors from a period spanning three decades, also on this computer, I have the ability to tap into this dataset at any time and test a hypothesis, which would not have been possible without my public health training. I attribute my success in this arena exclusively to Al Briggaman and his ability to perceive what I could not. Al had the foresight to realize that another type of research approach could be used to address dermatology questions. Dr. Barankin is a dermatologist based in Toronto, Canada. He is author-editor of five books in dermatology, and is widely published in the dermatology and humanities literature. He is also co-editor of Dermanities (dermanities.com), an online journal devoted to the humanities as they relate to dermatology.
In dermatology, we are fortunate to have many insightful practitioners and great teachers and mentors. Some are bright stars in our special universe — others unsung heroes. All of these colleagues have much to share from wisdom to humor to insights into dermatology and life. This column allows us to gain insight from these practitioners and learn more about them. Dr. Alan Fleischer is Professor and Chair of the Department of Dermatology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Director of the General Dermatology Clinics, and Co-Director of the Center for Dermatology Research. He trained as an undergraduate and medical student at the University of Missouri-Columbia. His residency and chief residency training in dermatology was completed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, whereupon he joined the faculty of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He has published five dermatology textbooks, more than 260 peer-reviewed articles, and has presented results from his research and medical care throughout the United States and on multiple other countries . Since 2000, he has been selected by his peers as one of the “Best Doctors in America.”
Q. What part of your work gives you the most pleasure?
A. What I enjoy most about work is the fact that my attention can be divided between many different tasks. It is not uncommon for me to be engaged in clinical care, clinical and health services research, teaching, and consulting and/or administrating within a span of an hour. For many people, this would be overwhelming but for me, who has some attention deficit traits, I thrive on it.
Q. Are an understanding and appreciation of the humanities important in dermatology and why?
A. An appreciation of humanities is helpful for dermatology. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree and I found that courses that I took in philosophy, literature and the study of arts helped me analyze and synthesize information from various perspectives and viewpoints. Although it may not seem apparent to an observer, dermatologists must do this in order to determine a diagnosis. Interestingly, being able to analyze and synthesize information visually is critical because we must be excellent at pattern recognition. Furthermore, class work in humanities teaches listening and communicating. When encountering patients who have been enduring pain, chronic itch and disfigurement as well as facing mortality, a dermatologist who has taken classes in humanities may have more skills to provide emotional support. Although we cannot cure all of our patients, the understanding of the human condition can help us to comfort many. Suffering is not exclusive to Russian novels, but an appreciation of this suffering can help us to empathize with our patients and help them face their conditions with courage and spiritual growth. This humanities background helps us to learn to treat not only the disease but to treat the person as a whole.
Q. What is your greatest regret?
A. I wish that I could have met the love of my life, my wife Anne, earlier than I had. Although I met her in medical school and we have been married for 20 years, I regret that we could not have met earlier in life and enjoyed a few more years together.
Q. Which figure in history would you want to have a drink with and why?
A. I would like to have a drink with Galileo, who was active in so many areas of science and so clever at exploiting opportunities as he saw them become available. The fact that he was not always the most politically correct individual of his time would make him even more interesting.
Q. What is the greatest political danger in the field of dermatology?
A. I perceive that the movement away from standard medical and surgical dermatology has the greatest potential to damage our specialty. Although I support the option that any dermatologist may do any procedure or intervention in which he or she has special expertise, we do need to continue to be the specialists of the skin, hair, nails and mucous membranes. Who, if not us, will be able to diagnose and treat obscure allergic contact dermatitis, lupus erythematosus, acne and cutaneous lymphomas? As our specialty gravitates towards cosmetic condition management, we may lose respect as being the final consultant in medically important skin conditions.
Online Extra
Q. Who was your hero/mentor and why?
A. Although I have had many wonderful mentors — including E. Lee Forker, who taught me about science, and Phil Anderson, who sparked my interest in dermatology — without question my greatest mentor was (Robert) Alan Briggaman. Al was the Chair of Dermatology at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill when I was a resident. In our residency program, one resident was able to take off a finite amount of time from residency to spend research time in a laboratory setting. After touring labs and considering which lab I should work in, I became more discouraged by the moment. Somehow, Al perceived my dissatisfaction with the research options. He brought me into his office and suggested that I spend some time in the School of Public Health and bring some of that knowledge back to dermatology. That afternoon sitting in his entropic office, I thought the idea was patently absurd. But, by the next morning, I had decided to pursue exactly this course of action. I began taking coursework in epidemiology and biostatistics. This coursework has enriched my career immeasurably. At least 50 of my publications have drawn upon the expertise gleaned during the year that I spent away from dermatology. As I write the answer to this question on this laptop computer, where I have health services data representing more than six billion office visits to doctors from a period spanning three decades, also on this computer, I have the ability to tap into this dataset at any time and test a hypothesis, which would not have been possible without my public health training. I attribute my success in this arena exclusively to Al Briggaman and his ability to perceive what I could not. Al had the foresight to realize that another type of research approach could be used to address dermatology questions. Dr. Barankin is a dermatologist based in Toronto, Canada. He is author-editor of five books in dermatology, and is widely published in the dermatology and humanities literature. He is also co-editor of Dermanities (dermanities.com), an online journal devoted to the humanities as they relate to dermatology.
In dermatology, we are fortunate to have many insightful practitioners and great teachers and mentors. Some are bright stars in our special universe — others unsung heroes. All of these colleagues have much to share from wisdom to humor to insights into dermatology and life. This column allows us to gain insight from these practitioners and learn more about them. Dr. Alan Fleischer is Professor and Chair of the Department of Dermatology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Director of the General Dermatology Clinics, and Co-Director of the Center for Dermatology Research. He trained as an undergraduate and medical student at the University of Missouri-Columbia. His residency and chief residency training in dermatology was completed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, whereupon he joined the faculty of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He has published five dermatology textbooks, more than 260 peer-reviewed articles, and has presented results from his research and medical care throughout the United States and on multiple other countries . Since 2000, he has been selected by his peers as one of the “Best Doctors in America.”
Q. What part of your work gives you the most pleasure?
A. What I enjoy most about work is the fact that my attention can be divided between many different tasks. It is not uncommon for me to be engaged in clinical care, clinical and health services research, teaching, and consulting and/or administrating within a span of an hour. For many people, this would be overwhelming but for me, who has some attention deficit traits, I thrive on it.
Q. Are an understanding and appreciation of the humanities important in dermatology and why?
A. An appreciation of humanities is helpful for dermatology. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree and I found that courses that I took in philosophy, literature and the study of arts helped me analyze and synthesize information from various perspectives and viewpoints. Although it may not seem apparent to an observer, dermatologists must do this in order to determine a diagnosis. Interestingly, being able to analyze and synthesize information visually is critical because we must be excellent at pattern recognition. Furthermore, class work in humanities teaches listening and communicating. When encountering patients who have been enduring pain, chronic itch and disfigurement as well as facing mortality, a dermatologist who has taken classes in humanities may have more skills to provide emotional support. Although we cannot cure all of our patients, the understanding of the human condition can help us to comfort many. Suffering is not exclusive to Russian novels, but an appreciation of this suffering can help us to empathize with our patients and help them face their conditions with courage and spiritual growth. This humanities background helps us to learn to treat not only the disease but to treat the person as a whole.
Q. What is your greatest regret?
A. I wish that I could have met the love of my life, my wife Anne, earlier than I had. Although I met her in medical school and we have been married for 20 years, I regret that we could not have met earlier in life and enjoyed a few more years together.
Q. Which figure in history would you want to have a drink with and why?
A. I would like to have a drink with Galileo, who was active in so many areas of science and so clever at exploiting opportunities as he saw them become available. The fact that he was not always the most politically correct individual of his time would make him even more interesting.
Q. What is the greatest political danger in the field of dermatology?
A. I perceive that the movement away from standard medical and surgical dermatology has the greatest potential to damage our specialty. Although I support the option that any dermatologist may do any procedure or intervention in which he or she has special expertise, we do need to continue to be the specialists of the skin, hair, nails and mucous membranes. Who, if not us, will be able to diagnose and treat obscure allergic contact dermatitis, lupus erythematosus, acne and cutaneous lymphomas? As our specialty gravitates towards cosmetic condition management, we may lose respect as being the final consultant in medically important skin conditions.
Online Extra
Q. Who was your hero/mentor and why?
A. Although I have had many wonderful mentors — including E. Lee Forker, who taught me about science, and Phil Anderson, who sparked my interest in dermatology — without question my greatest mentor was (Robert) Alan Briggaman. Al was the Chair of Dermatology at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill when I was a resident. In our residency program, one resident was able to take off a finite amount of time from residency to spend research time in a laboratory setting. After touring labs and considering which lab I should work in, I became more discouraged by the moment. Somehow, Al perceived my dissatisfaction with the research options. He brought me into his office and suggested that I spend some time in the School of Public Health and bring some of that knowledge back to dermatology. That afternoon sitting in his entropic office, I thought the idea was patently absurd. But, by the next morning, I had decided to pursue exactly this course of action. I began taking coursework in epidemiology and biostatistics. This coursework has enriched my career immeasurably. At least 50 of my publications have drawn upon the expertise gleaned during the year that I spent away from dermatology. As I write the answer to this question on this laptop computer, where I have health services data representing more than six billion office visits to doctors from a period spanning three decades, also on this computer, I have the ability to tap into this dataset at any time and test a hypothesis, which would not have been possible without my public health training. I attribute my success in this arena exclusively to Al Briggaman and his ability to perceive what I could not. Al had the foresight to realize that another type of research approach could be used to address dermatology questions. Dr. Barankin is a dermatologist based in Toronto, Canada. He is author-editor of five books in dermatology, and is widely published in the dermatology and humanities literature. He is also co-editor of Dermanities (dermanities.com), an online journal devoted to the humanities as they relate to dermatology.
