I am a dermatologist and clinical researcher in the Department of Dermatology at UCSF. I serve as co-director of the Psoriasis and Skin Treatment Center, a world-renowned clinic dedicated to the care of patients with psoriasis. My clinical expertise includes the treatment of complex, treatment resistant cases of inflammatory skin diseases using unique combinations of topical agents, systemic treatments, biologics, and phototherapy. I also direct the Dermatology Clinical Research Unit where I utilize my advanced training in clinical research methods to oversee numerous sponsored and investigator-initiated clinical studies and supervise a research team consisting of a post-doctoral research fellow, 3 clinical research coordinators, and 3 medical students. I am currently the PI for 6 clinical trials developing new therapeutics or diagnostics for psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and alopecia areata.

My research thus far has focused on assessing and improving quality of life and mental health in patients with psoriasis by treating their skin disease effectively. I now would like to expand upon this focus and look for methods to decrease the stress burden of psoriasis and improve patient well-being in the hopes of improving quality of life in a new and unique way. Nutrition, exercise, sleep, social connectedness, and mindfulness are the five pillars known to increase overall wellness in both healthy and diseased patients. Over my career, I hope to look further into each of these aspects and their importance in inflammatory skin disease, starting with a research program focusing on sleep in psoriasis and its impact on disease severity, mental health and cardiometabolic comorbidities.