Pets are amazing creatures
From the Editor
Dr. Schwarzenberger is the former physician editor of DermWorld.
By Kathryn Schwarzenberger, MD, FAAD, December 1, 2022
Except, of course, when they are not. My dear husband understands that while I adore him, there is a very special place in my heart for our four-legged family member, a rather goofy goldendoodle named Newton. My husband knows that when the proverbial floods come, he will need to swim, because I am going to have to save the dog. The intersection between animals and man is an interesting dynamic, whether it be by chance encounter, for work, or simply for the joy of being together. This month’s fun feature by Assistant Editor Emily Margosian on zoonotic diseases in dermatology reminds us that, unfortunately, not all encounters with animals end well. Growing up in Texas, I learned at an early age that armadillos were not to be messed with; it was an easy sell given how scary they appeared. Lucky for those of you living in Wisconsin — where armadillos now live — you have the chance to interact with the only known non-human reservoir for leprosy. So, armadillos are easy to avoid, but what about all those kittens and guinea pigs with tinea? Harder to pass up those snuggles. Or what about the goat at the farm who shared a perfect scaly ringworm with my granddaughter; this might make you want to reconsider that next round of goat yoga. Fortunately, these cases are infrequent, but don’t forget to ask your patients about animal interactions next time you encounter dermatoses that might be transmitted by their furry friends. And enjoy our feature!
So, let’s be honest here. Do the words “quality improvement” make you grimace? They certainly did for me when I first encountered the concept. I felt overwhelmed by the idea of doing a big QI project and wondered how I could possibly fit one more thing into my already overscheduled day. The good news is that QI projects don’t have to be big and, if strategically chosen, may help you and your practice optimize relevant elements of your patient care. Assistant Managing Editor Allison Evans speaks with AAD members this month who are involved in the AAD’s many safety and quality initiatives, including our QI Education Workgroup. These dermatologists share their experiences with QI projects, and all agree that a successful project does not need to be big to be good. I encourage you to read this insightful article; you might even be inspired to try your own project soon.
While many of our articles in DermWorld focus on clinical topics, this month we chose to look at the lesser recognized, but incredibly important field of dermatology research. Contributing Writer Jan Bowers interviews some of our most successful researchers about their experiences in research. Funding for dermatology research remains a significant challenge, but our specialty has generously supported successful research which has helped advance our field dramatically. Read about some of these challenges, as well as opportunities that are out there for those brave (and talented!) enough to make it in the dermatology research world. On behalf of all of us who don’t do bench research, I offer thanks to those who do and encourage the rest of us to continue to support them as best we can.
It's hard to believe 2022 is coming to an end. We all hoped this would be the year COVID disappeared. While that has not happened, at least we are learning to live with it as life moves on for most of us. Let’s raise a glass to the upcoming year. May it be kind to all of us.
