PeDRA Pearls

Pediatric dermatologist Cheryl Bayart, MD, joins PeDRA Pearls to discuss the mentors, patients, and collaborators who shaped her path from clinician to researcher and fellowship leader. She shares the story behind her PeDRA-supported project to develop expert guidance for laser treatment of port-wine capillary malformations in infants, reflects on lessons learned from families living with rare ski...

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls, host Jenn Dawson talks with Ilka Netravali, MD, about insights from the National Alopecia Areata Foundation’s annual conference. Dr. Netravali explores emerging treatments for pediatric alopecia areata, the research questions that matter most to patients and families, and the importance of individualized care. Dr. Netravali also discusses the powerful role of commu...

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls , Deepti Gupta, MD, joins Jenn Dawson to discuss how patient meetings advance care and research for congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN). Reflecting on the Nevus Outreach Conference, Dr. Gupta highlights how collaboration among families, clinicians, researchers, and advocates can amplify patient voices, inspire new research questions, and improve education for rare dis...

In this bonus episode of PeDRA Pearls, Carrie Coughlin, MD, MPHS, is joined by a panel of experts to explore how quality improvement and implementation science can help clinicians translate evidence into better, more sustainable care in pediatric dermatology. Through practical examples, Larry Eichenfield, MD, Joanna Tu, MD, and Enyo Ablordeppey, MD, MPH, discuss patient safety, dissemination, impl...

In this episode, Laura Douglas, Senior Manager of Grants and Impact at the Arthritis National Research Foundation (ANRF), discusses the importance of funding early-career investigators and advancing pediatric arthritis and autoimmune disease research. Learn how ANRF and PeDRA are partnering through the Rheum for Kids grant to support innovative research at the intersection of rheumatology and derm...

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls, host Jenn Dawson welcomes back Emily Gorell, DO, of the University of Colorado to discuss the growing momentum within the epidermolysis bullosa (EB) community. They explore the impact of new and emerging therapies, the importance of centering patient voices, and ongoing challenges related to treatment access and adult EB care. The conversation also highlights oppor...

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls, Jenn Dawson and PeDRA’s Executive Director, Mike Siegel, PhD, preview the upcoming PeDRA Annual Conference, happening October 15–17 in Alexandria, Virginia. Centered on the theme “From Intention to Impact: Making Space for Research,” the conversation highlights what attendees can expect—from collaborative sessions and CME opportunities to patient and industry engag...

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls , Jenn Dawson speaks with Sarah Kamsiah Zemlok, MD, and Jeff Yu, MD about their PeDRA-funded research on how children and families understand patch testing results. Their conversation explores the challenges of translating results into everyday allergen avoidance, especially across home, school, daycare, and other environments. They also discuss the importance of on...

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls , Jenn Dawson speaks with Courtney Smith, MD and Howa Yueng, MD, MSc, about their research on acne risk and dermatologic care among transgender and gender-diverse adolescents receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy. They discuss how patient-centered questions shaped the study, what their findings reveal about acne risk following testosterone or estradiol initiati...

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls , Jenn Dawson talks with Tina Ho, MD, PhD, and Joy Wan, MD, about the Atopic Dermatitis and Psoriasis Focused Study Group and its collaborative efforts to advance pediatric dermatology research. They explore the impact of eczema on children and families, the importance of patient-reported outcomes and treatment access, and how bringing researchers together through P...

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls , Jenn Dawson welcomes Delaney Ding, PeDRA’s Research Fellow, to discuss his journey as an MD-PhD student and his work at the intersection of pediatric dermatology, epidemiology, data science, and patient advocacy. Delaney shares insights from his research on skin cancer among people living with HIV, as well as his commitment to patient-centered research, vulnerable...

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls , Jenn Dawson welcomes back Stefanos Koutsoukos for a deeper conversation about research on rare genetic skin diseases through the lens of both lived experience and bench science. Stefanos shares his family’s diagnostic journey, the evolving terminology surrounding ichthyosis and epidermal differentiation disorders, and how advances in genetics, stem cell models, an...

Join Jenn Dawson and Mitchell Hanson for some quick-hitting "research hot takes!" Topical Therapies Supporting Links and Articles https://nextstepsinderm.com/derm-topics/expanding-the-treatment-landscape-for-atopic-dermatitis-hidradenitis-suppurativa-and-chronic-hand-eczema/ https://www.dermatologytimes.com/view/advancing-topical-stewardship-and-expanding-nonsteroidal-options https://www.arcutis.c...

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls , Jenn Dawson talks with Colleen Cotton, MD, and Dawn Eichenfield, MD, PhD, leaders of PeDRA’s Acne and Hidradenitis Suppurativa Focus Study Group, about the evolving research landscape for pediatric acne and HS. Together, they discuss the importance of early recognition and referral, patient-centered research, pediatric-specific outcomes, and emerging areas of stud...

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls, Heather Gochnauer, MD, joins the podcast to talk about her path into pediatric dermatology, her work at Rady Children’s and UC San Diego, and the clinical and research questions that motivate her early career. This conversation explores continuity of care from childhood into adulthood, Heather’s growing focus on connective tissue disease, and the role of collaborat...

In this episode, Jason Hawkes, MD, returns to discuss the evolving role of translational dermatology in bringing scientific discoveries closer to patient care. He shares how advances in immunology and clinical trials are transforming treatment for psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, urticaria, vitiligo, alopecia areata, and other inflammatory skin diseases. The conversation als...

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls, we explore the discovery of Bachmann-Bupp syndrome and the remarkable collaboration that transformed a single patient observation into a growing body of research and a promising treatment pathway. Host Jenn Dawson speaks with Caleb Bupp, MD, Andre Bachmann, PhD, and Liz VanSickle, PhD, about the genetics, skin and hair findings, and translational science behind thi...

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls, host Jenn Dawson welcomes Mitchell Hanson, MD, MPH, PeDRA’s new Education Fellow, for a conversation about connection, service, and intentionality in pediatric dermatology. Mitchell shares how his path through neuroscience, public health, medical education, and community-centered initiatives led him to PeDRA, and reflects on the importance of keeping patients at th...

In the first installment of PeDRA’s 2026 educational series – Research in Action: Advancing Care for Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), Dr. Peter Marinkovich of Stanford University provides a timely overview of emerging therapies and clinical research in EB, including gene therapies, cell-based approaches, inflammation-targeted treatments, and strategies to improve wound care and long-term outcomes. Dr....

Tune in to hear Dr. Cathryn Sibbald and Dr. Ilka Netravali, leaders of PeDRA’s Hair Disorders Focused Study Group, explore how pediatric hair disorders research is evolving beyond alopecia areata. They discuss multicenter studies, emerging biomarkers and precision medicine approaches, cross-specialty collaboration, and the importance of incorporating patient and family perspectives to improve care...

In this episode, host Jenn Dawson talks with Dr. Dawn Davis, Dr. Amy Paller, and Dr. Larry Eichenfield about the newly published pediatric atopic dermatitis guidelines and what they mean for clinicians, patients, and families. Together, they unpack the evidence behind prevention, comorbidities, and treatment recommendations, discuss how rapidly the therapeutic landscape is evolving, and highlight...

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls, Jenn Dawson is joined by PeDRA Executive Director Mike Siegel and Outcomes Committee Chair Dr. Marcia Hogeling to recap key themes from the Society for Investigative Dermatology (SID) meeting. They discuss emerging trends in dermatology research, including the growing role of genetics, molecular diagnostics, multi-omics, and biologic therapies, as well as highlight...

Dr. Megha Tollefson, Department Chair of Dermatology, Professor of Pediatrics and Dermatology at the Mayo Clinic, and PeDRA President-Elect, shares her key takeaways from the PeDRA session at SID.

Dr. Beth Drolet is Professor and Chair, Geneva F. and Sture Johnson Distinguished Chair at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Dr. Joy Wan is a pediatric dermatologist and an Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.