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Division of Dermatology

Noteworthy Publications

Members of the Division of Dermatology published 8 peer-review articles this past year. Key publications include:

Glassman, SJ. Vitiligo, reactive oxygen species and T-cells. Clin Sci 2011; 120(3): 99-120

Warshaw, EM, Nelsen, DD, Sasseville, D, Belsito, DV, Mailbach, HI, Zug, KA, Fowler, JF, Taylor, JS, DeLeo, VA, Marks, JG, Stores, FJ, Mathias, CGT, Pratt, MD, Rietsche, RL. The positivity ratio and reaction index: patch test quality control metrics applied to the North American contact dermatitis group database. Dermatitis 2010; 21:91-97

Siegel, PD, Fowler, JF, Storrs, FJ, Sasseville, D, Pratt, MD, Bledsoe, TA, Law, BF, Beezhold, D, Zug, K, Fowler, LM. Allergen content of patient and non-problem gloves: relationship to allergen specific patch test findings. Dermatitis 2010; 21:77-83

Beach, R, Zhang, T, Goldberg, LH, Walker, JD, Mamelak, AJ. Tumor characteristics of Mohs surgery patients in Ottawa, Canada vs. Houston, Texas: a consequence of access to care? Dermatol Surg 2011; 37(8):1106-12

 

Key Grants

Pratt, M, Kuritzky, L.A. CDF and Astellas. Filaggrin Mutations and Cell Mediated, Allergic Contact Polysensitization Study

Pratt, M. CREOD. Key Exposures Causing Work Related Contact Dermatitis and Evidence of Dual Causation of Occupational Asthma

 

Overview

Dermatology holds a unique position within the Department of Medicine.  Our specialty encompasses both medical and surgical care and expertise.  The majority of our work is performed at the Ottawa Hospital, but we also function within the Elizabeth Bruyere Health Centre and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.  A number of our members perform clinics elsewhere within the Champlain LHIN and beyond.

Our Division of Dermatology has three centres of excellence:

  1. Cancer; including melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer.
  2. Inflammatory Dermatoses; including contact dermatitis and psoriasis.
  3. Wound Healing; particularly chronic cutaneous wounds including leg ulcers.

We have recently opened the first and only Mohs Surgical unit in Eastern Ontario, most specifically for the optimal treatment of complex basal and squamous cancers.  Dr. Adam Mamelak is our first Mohs surgeon.  Dr. Jillian Macdonald will be returning to this unit in July 2011 when she completes her Mohs surgical fellowship in Vancouver.  Drs. Finkelstein and Weatherhead operate medical and surgical oncology clinics at the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre.  We are also currently opening a Pigmented Lesion Clinic, to promote clinical care, education and research into the early diagnosis of malignant melanoma.  Dr. Jennifer Beecker will operate this service.

Dr. Melanie Pratt is world renowned in the field of contact dermatitis, and our divisional director of research.  She runs our contact dermatitis/patch test clinics where extensive clinical care, resident teaching and research are carried-out.  Dr. Steven Glassman was recruited to our division in 2008, and operates our psoriasis and photobiology clinics.

Drs. Tad Pierscianowski and Mike Robern are our wound healing experts.  They are both dermatologists and internists and operate our leg ulcer and wound care clinics.

Our division currently has 2 GFTs.  We are fortunate to also have numerous VPTs who have made huge commitments to clinical care and teaching within the Department of Medicine, while running very busy private practices.

Divisional members have been leaders in teledermatology in Ontario, and we are currently spearheading the development of store and forward teledermatology in cooperation with the Ontario Telemedicine Network.

In the next two years, we will be building a world class Dermatology Centre within The Ottawa Hospital at the Civic campus.  This will allow us to further develop the programs noted above and to respond to dermatologic health-care needs for the future.

Research

Dermatologists in our Division are active in clinical research in the fields of contact dermatitis, melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer, psoriasis, medical dermatology would healing, and some clinical drug trials.

Dr. Melanie Pratt is our Research Director and an internationally recognized authority in contact dermatitis. READ MORE

Education

A major highlight and focus of the division is the educational focus both clinically and academically.  Currently, there are 11 dermatology residents in the program which is overseen by the program director, Dr. N. Kanigsberg.  Residents receive one on one mentorship throughout their residency as well as exposure and opportunity to specialty clinics including adult and pediatric general dermatology, cancer care, teledermatology, Patch testing, psoriasis, pigmented lesions, and Mohs surgery.  Residents are also given the unique opportunity to attend clinics in Iqualit where they are given the opportunity to operate their own clinics under the supervision of Dr. Robert Jackson.  Several elective opportunities also exist for the senior residents.

Patient Care

The Division is developing a world class dermatology centre at The Ottawa Hospital.  The first phase of this centre was to open the first Mohs surgery unit in Eastern Ontario for the treatment of complex non-melanoma skin cancers.

READ MORE

Notable Honours and Achievements in 2010-2011

  • Dr. Renée Beach – awarded the Best Resident/Fellow Research project: for her presentation “Relaxer-induced changes in IL1a and IL1RA”, at the 2011 Skin of Color Scientific Symposium, New Orleans, LA
  • Dr. Michele Ramien – won a Fisher award for their presentation “Fixed Drug Eruption from Propolis: How Patch Testing Saved a Marriage” at the AAD meeting in New Orleans 2011. This paper is in progress for publication
  • Dr. Jennifer Lipson – won a Fisher Award for their presentation “Contact Dermatitis to Corticosteroids, What are the Ideal Standard Screening Allergens — Using 6 years of NACDG data”. This was presented at the ACDS and at the CDA meetings in 2010.

Location Information

Dermatology services are located mainly at the Civic Parkdale Clinic, with a number of other clinics running out of the General Campus and CHEO.

CIVIC PARKDALE CLINIC, 737 Parkdale Ave, Ottawa, ON K1Y 4E9THE OTTAWA HOSPITAL, GENERAL CAMPUS, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON  K1H 8L6CHEO, 401 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON  K1H 8L1

For a complete list of dermatology clinics  and referral information, click here…

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Useful Links:

Canadian Dermatology Association - www.dermatolgy.ca

American Academy of Dermatology – www.aad.org

© Copyright 2010 Department of Medicine in Ottawa