The Department of Dermatology at Columbia University offers a full range of services for children and adolescents with skin disorders.  Our pediatric dermatologists see patients in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.  Children with common conditions such as atopic dermatitis, acne, hemangiomas and birthmarks as well as more complex disorders including genetic diseases that affect the skin and dermatologic manifestations of systemic illness, benefit from the expertise of our nationally recognized physicians.

Children with vascular birthmarks including hemangiomas and port-wine stains benefit from expertise in laser treatment that may be performed in the office or ambulatory operating room setting at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital.  Children and adolescents with more complex vascular birthmarks can be seen in a specialized clinic which was co-founded by Dr. Maria Garzon the Director of Pediatric Dermatology, and is staffed by specialists in pediatric dermatology, pediatric surgery, plastic surgery, interventional radiology, hematology, oncology at other specialties at the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of NY Presbyterian.  The interdisciplinary team works cooperatively to develop the optimal treatment approach for these challenging vascular birthmarks.

Dermatology Staff

Maria C. Garzon, MD, FAAP, FAAD
Director/Founder, Division of Pediatric Dermatology
Associate Professor of Clinical Dermatology and Clinical Pediatrics
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

Dr. Maria Garzon joined the faculty of the College of Physicians and Surgeons and the staff of Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York- Presbyterian in 1995 and founded the Division of Pediatric Dermatology.  She is an Associate Professor of Clinical Dermatology and Clinical Pediatrics at the College of Physicians & Surgeons at Columbia University.  Dr. Garzon received her undergraduate degree from Harvard University and her medical degree from the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University.  She completed her pediatric residency at Babies Hospital, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and her Dermatology residency at Columbia University.  She was a fellow in Pediatric Dermatology at Children’s Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL.  Dr. Garzon is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Academy of Pediatrics.  She is Board Certified in Pediatric Dermatology.  She is the author of numerous articles and book chapters on a wide variety of topics in pediatric dermatology.  Her current research interests focus on of vascular birthmarks in children.  She is nationally recognized as a leader in this field and has lectured at numerous medical meetings including the American Academy of Dermatology, American Academy of Pediatrics, National Institute of Health and International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies.

Kimberly D. Morel, MD, FAAP, FAAD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology and Clinical Pediatrics

Dr. Kimberly Morel is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology and Clinical Pediatrics at the College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University. She joined the staff of Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian in 2003. Dr. Morel received her undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her medical degree from SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn, New York. She completed her residency training in both Pediatrics and Dermatology at the New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University and is board certified in both Pediatrics and Dermatology. Additionally, she was a fellow in Pediatric and Adolescent Dermatology at the Children’s Hospital, San Diego/University of California, San Diego. Dr. Morel is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is a member of the Society for Pediatric Dermatology, the Hemangioma Investigator Group, the Epidermolysis Bullosa Interest Group and is on the Scientific Advisory Board of DebRA (the Dystropic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association of America). Dr. Morel also performs pulsed dye laser therapy for vascular birthmarks. She is the author of several articles and book chapters regarding skin conditions in pediatric patients. Her current research interests include atopic dermatitis, hemangiomas of infancy, pediatric cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and epidermolysis bullosa.

Teaching

The Division of Pediatric Dermatology plays an active role in the academic life of students and residents at Columbia University.  Dr. Garzon is the Course Director for Second Year course in Dermatology and also works with medical students in their fourth year as a preceptor.  Members of the Dermatology faculty teach medical students in the classroom, clinical conferences, as well as during patient sessions. Medical students may also benefit from elective mentorship during their fourth year of medical training. Drs. Garzon and Morel are also actively involved in the teaching of the pediatric residents at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital.

Research

Dr. Maria Garzon is a member of Hemangioma Investigator Group.  This is a group of academic pediatric dermatologists who collaborate on research related to infantile hemangiomas.  They recently completed a prospective study of Hemangiomas of Infancy which enrolled over 1,040 children across the country.  Current studies include research on the incidence and management of problematic hemangiomas including large facial hemangiomas, multiple hemangiomas and lumbosacral hemangiomas.

Dr. Kimberly Morel is involved in clinical research regarding atopic dermatitis, hemangiomas of infancy, pediatric cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and epidermolysis bullosa.

The Division of Pediatric Dermatology is also involved in other research activities relating to alopecia areata, psoriasis and molluscum contagiosum. In addition, the Division collaborates with the Department of Genetics on investigative work for a variety of rare genetic skin disorders.