Perfect Complements:
COMBINING THE PHYSICIAN’S PERSPECTIVE WITH PATIENT EXPERIENCE AT AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY MEETINGS
Donna Culton, MD, PhD
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s a dermatologist who specializes in treating patients with pemphigus and pemphigoid (P/P), I am humbled every day by how challenging these diseases can be—not only for the patients that suffer from them, but also for the physicians who treat them. I am fortunate to have had excellent training and mentorship from Dr. Luis Diaz, one of the world’s experts in autoimmune blistering diseases. I have also had the privilege to connect with other P/P experts with whom I can share difficult cases. In my own specialty clinic, I see numerous P/P patients and continue to learn from every patient. As with most things in life, the more I see, the more I learn. Several years ago, I began to share what I have learned about the diagnosis and treatment of P/P with other dermatologists by giving educational lectures
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Quarterly | Winter 2020
at regional and national meetings. Due to the rare nature of these diseases, most dermatologists may only encounter a handful of P/P patients in their entire career. I am well aware that these dermatologists are the “front line” and have the incredibly difficult task of confirming the diagnosis for these rare conditions that they may not have seen since their residency training. For five years now, I have led a session titled, “Pemphigus and Pemphigoid: Evidenced-Based Updates” at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) meeting. The annual AAD meeting attracts over 18,000 international attendees each year and offers over 200 sessions for dermatologists to learn from their colleagues. I developed my session specifically for dermatologists in busy practices with the goal of passing along practical tips for effectively diagnosing
www.pemphigus.org
