We have a front-row seat
From the Editor
Dr. Schwarzenberger is the former physician editor of DermWorld.
By Kathryn Schwarzenberger, MD, FAAD, September 1, 2025
Just as the skin offers a window into the health of an individual patient, the pattern of diseases we see in our patients can tell us a lot about the health of our communities. But we must open our eyes to see it and recognize our opportunity to participate as active partners in the public health arena. I recall two instances in which my patients manifested public health trends before the statistics were collected to back them up. In the early 2000s, Lyme disease was endemic to some of the states surrounding my home at the time in Vermont but was not believed to be “in” the Green Mountain State. All cases we diagnosed there were assumed to have been contracted via travel to endemic areas. That seemed to hold true until we started diagnosing Lyme disease in people who had never left the state. As I reported case after case to our public health department, I ended up on a first-name basis with the local officials and we conceded that Lyme had come to Vermont. Over the next few years, the data proved us correct. A comparable situation happened during my dermatology residency, when syphilis, a disease I had never seen in five years of postgraduate training, showed up one day in the emergency room. Over the next few months, many of my fellow residents had the pleasure of seeing copper pennies on the palms and soles. We knew before the journalists and statisticians that syphilis was on the rise in the country, and we were, indeed, correct. In our cover feature this month, we discuss how the skin tells many remarkable stories and gives us the opportunity to be sentinels on the public health front. I encourage everyone to watch for evolving trends in your area and get to know your public health colleagues. Who knows, you may find the next hot disease!
Are you just starting out in practice? Perhaps considering a change? DermWorld talks with your fellow AAD members to learn about the pros and cons of a variety of available practice models. Private practice is definitely not dead, but most of our colleagues today are choosing group practice in one of several different forms, including academic medicine. There are many factors to consider when choosing a practice model and several of our colleagues graciously shared what they love about their chosen practices. The good thing is that there is something for everyone out there; your job is to match your needs and desires with a practice that can deliver for you. Hopefully, this insightful article will give you something to think about in your search for the perfect practice!
Anyone who does procedures understands that at some point, complications will happen. As the number of cosmetic procedures has risen in the U.S. and other parts of the world, so have the complications. Fortunately, dermatology leads the way not only in developing and refining cosmetic procedures, but in managing the complications that we all hope will become less inevitable over time as we better understand the risks of each procedure. I would like to offer a special shout-out to our Brazilian colleagues who are at the forefront of the cosmetic wave, several of whom shared their expertise with us in this feature! Meus sinceros agradecimentos a todos!
As we ease into autumn, I hope everyone takes a little downtime to enjoy the quiet. This is my favorite time of year, even as we must acknowledge the shorter days and the coming darkness. There is still beauty in the remaining golden sunlight. Be well, everyone.
