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 engagement, poster presentations, the NextGen Research Forum, Camp Wonder at PeDRA, Dash for Discovery, and plenty of community-building fun. Tune in to see how PeDRA brings people together to move pediatric dermatology research forward.Register Now!Conference DetailsBachmann Bupp EpisodeThis episode is presented by Disc Medicine. Although Disc Medicine provided funding for this PeDRA Pearls Podcast, the contents of the podcast were developed independently by PeDRA. Learn more about Disc Medicine.

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 ongoing patient education, stronger support tools, and meaningful mentorship in pediatric dermatology research. This episode highlights how patient-centered research can help families move from results to real-life care. This project was funded through a 2024 PeDRA Research Fellowship Grant, Assessment of Parent-Child Comprehension of Pediatric Patch Testing and Barriers to Improvement, and has resulted in one publication, Beyond the Grid: A Case Series of Parent-Child Comprehension of Patch Testing Results, published in Pediatric Dermatology in 2026.This episode is presented by Disc Medicine. Although Disc Medicine provided funding for this PeDRA Pearls Podcast, the contents of the podcast were developed independently by PeDRA. Learn more about Disc Medicine.

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 initiation, and why access, mentorship, and health equity are essential to improving dermatologic care.This episode is presented by Disc Medicine. Although Disc Medicine provided funding for this PeDRA Pearls Podcast, the contents of the podcast were developed independently by PeDRA. Learn more about Disc Medicine.

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 PeDRA can turn ideas into meaningful research.This episode is presented by Disc Medicine. Although Disc Medicine provided funding for this PeDRA Pearls Podcast, the contents of the podcast were developed independently by PeDRA. Learn more about Disc Medicine.

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 populations, and meaningful outcomes. He also discusses the importance of mentorship and collaboration, as well as the unexpected opportunities that can shape a research career. As PeDRA’s inaugural Research Fellow, Delaney shares his vision for advancing research to improve patient outcomes and strengthen the pediatric dermatology community.This episode is presented by Disc Medicine. Although Disc Medicine provided funding for this PeDRA Pearls Podcast, the contents of the podcast were developed independently by PeDRA. Learn more about Disc Medicine.

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, and patient-reported outcomes are helping shape the future of meaningful therapies. Now a graduate student at the University of Colorado Anschutz, Stefanos is researching rare genetic skin diseases and is a recipient of a 2025 PeDRA Research Fellowship, working under the mentorship of Ganna Bilousova, PhD.This episode is presented by Disc Medicine. Although Disc Medicine provided funding for this PeDRA Pearls Podcast, the contents of the podcast were developed independently by PeDRA. Learn more about Disc Medicine.

Join Jenn Dawson and Mitchell Hanson for some quick-hitting "research hot takes!"Topical Therapies Supporting Links and Articleshttps://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-optionshttps://www.arcutis.com/arcutis-announces-publication-of-positive-long-term-safety-and-efficacy-data-with-zoryve-roflumilast-cream-0-05-for-treatment-of-mild-to-moderate-atopic-dermatitis-in-children-ages-2-5/Social Unrest Leads to Access Barriers Supporting Links and ArticlesC. L. Presley, J. Meisenheimer VII, C. W. Rundle, S. Maguiness, I. A. Maher, and A. J. M. Anderson, “Social Unrest and Its Implications on the Pediatric Dermatological Patient: Lessons From a Single Center Academic Dermatology Department,” Pediatric Dermatology (2026): 1–2, https://doi.org/10.1111/pde.70260.Mukerjee K, Shah S, Falusi O. State Policies and Access to Care for Immigrant Children—Implications for Pediatric Health Outcomes. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(12):e2545833. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.45833Skin of Color in Pediatric Dermatology Supporting Links and ArticlesDondi, A., Ranieri, A., Andreozzi, L., Leuzzi, M., D'Alanno, G., Pierantoni, L., Zama, D., Battelli, E., Calegari, R., Borghesi, A., Lanari, M., & Neri, I. (2026). Skin of Color in Pediatric Dermatology: A Cross-Sectional Retrospective Analysis Addressing Inclusive Diagnosis and Care. Life (Basel, Switzerland), 16(4), 578. https://doi.org/10.3390/life16040578Fagan E, Reagen C, Ituarte B, Shet P, Shaver-Dominguez N, Harter N, Wei EX, Oudenhoven M. Trends in Pediatric Representation Within Skin of Color Dermatology Literature: A Decade-Long Analysis. Pediatr Dermatol. 2026 Jan-Feb;43(1):95-97. doi: 10.1111/pde.16038. Epub 2025 Aug 13. PMID: 41611238.This episode is presented by Disc Medicine. Although Disc Medicine provided funding for this PeDRA Pearls Podcast, the contents of the podcast were developed independently by PeDRA. Learn more about Disc Medicine.

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 study, including post-isotretinoin care, stigma, laser hair removal, GLP-1 receptor agonists, hormonal therapies, and gender-affirming care. The conversation highlights how collaboration across clinicians, researchers, patients, and families is helping better shape care for children and adolescents living with chronic inflammatory skin disease.This episode is presented by Disc Medicine. Although Disc Medicine provided funding for this PeDRA Pearls Podcast, the contents of the podcast were developed independently by PeDRA. Learn more about Disc Medicine.

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 collaboration, mentorship, and curiosity in shaping meaningful research for patients and families.This episode is presented by Disc Medicine. Although Disc Medicine provided funding for this PeDRA Pearls Podcast, the contents of the podcast were developed independently by PeDRA. Learn more about Disc Medicine

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 also explores personalized treatment, whole-person health, access to care through clinical research, and the growing opportunities for pediatric dermatologists to participate in research outside traditional academic settings.This episode is presented by Disc Medicine. Although Disc Medicine provided funding for this PeDRA Pearls Podcast, the contents of the podcast were developed independently by PeDRA. Learn more about Disc Medicine