The department of dermatology at the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University was one of the first academic units established in New York City around the middle of the 19th century.
Subsequently the department was located in the Vanderbilt Clinic at the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center (established by the affiliation of Columbia University and the Presbyterian Hospital of the City of New York in 1911) and its faculty has made numerous contributions to the development of dermatology including pioneering work in the early use of ionizing radiation, the treatment of syphilis, the expansion of basic knowledge in dermatological mycology including playing a major role in the discovery of the antifungal agent Nystatin.
The department also helped to develop the concept of treating patients with pemphigus vulgaris with high dose corticosteroids.
Subsequently the technique of photopheresis for cutaneous T cell lymphoma was developed in the department.
The department is a major center for basic science and clinical research.
BASIC SCIENCE RESEARCH: Over the past decade we have always ranked in the top ten dermatology departments nationwide in NIH funding.
The major foci of our current research interests include:
- Hair growth and its regulation;
- Stem cell biology;
- Skin carcinogenesis including non-melanoma skin cancer and melanoma;
- Genodermatoses including inherited blistering diseases.
Our Basic Science Research Group is comprised of 10 full-time faculty and 8 post-doctoral fellows.
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY UNIT: Our CPU has a broad portfolio of protocols with an emphasis on the treatment of fungal diseases, inflammatory diseases including psoriasis and atopic dermatitis and skin cancer chemoprevention.
AMBULATORY PRACTICE: The department has ambulatory practices at the New York Presbyterian Hospital (NYP) and in midtown Manhattan.
Our in-patient adult and pediatric consultation services at the Milstein Pavilion of NYP and the Morgan-Stanley Children's Hospital are outstanding.
We endeavor to provide state-of-the-art care to all of our patients and we offer a spectrum of medical and surgical dermatologic services from treating skin cancer to a variety of cosmetic procedures.
Our Practice is comprised of 13 full-time clinical faculty and 108 part-time faculty and 1 post-doctoral fellow in our Moh's Surgical unit of Dermatology.
MEDICAL EDUCATION: The department has made a major commitment to training the academic leaders of tomorrow.
We have a NIH Training grant and have designated one of our residency positions for training physician-scientists.
We are also actively involved in the education of medical students from Columbia University and other institutions as well as housestaff from other disciplines.
The department also recognizes the global expansion of our specialty and has established special collaborations with academic units in Europe and the Middle East.
The department has an extensive array of educational activities. These include the Introduction to Dermatology Course that is offered to all second-year medical students.
Our 4th year Elective in Dermatology is extremely popular.
In addition, we currently offer accredited fellowships in Mohs Micrographic Surgery/Procedural Dermatology and Pediatric Dermatology.
There is a continuing medical education grand rounds conference that is attended by our full-time and part-time faculty, residents, and medical students.
Our medical education/residency area is comprised of 18 post-doctoral residency fellows, who are located at New York Presbyterian Hospital and St. Lukes-Roosevelt Hospital.
DERMATOPATHOLOGY LABORATORY:
The department also has a large dermatopathology laboratory, provides expert gross tissue analysis and microscopic interpretation of skin biopsies.
Our lab processes over 150,000 specimens annually for Columbia University Medical Center and many private practices in the tri-state area.
Our lab is comprised of 4 full-time clinical faculty.
This department is committed to being a national and global leader in the field of dermatology.
We have a highly dedicated and gifted faculty and staff with strong support from outstanding academic institutions in New York City, one of the great cities of the world.
