UTMB MS3 Presents at 11th Annual Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Poster Session and QI Symposium

Congratulations to UTMB MS3 Sarah Ahmed for her recent research poster presentation, “Improving Outpatient Follow-Up in Inpatient Dermatology Consult Services Through Student-Led Care Coordination” at UTMB's 11th Annual Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Poster Session and QI Symposium. Her coauthors on this poster were Drs. Daphne Eckembrecher (PGY2) and Anthony Linfante (UTMB Professor Dermatology).

2026 AAD Innovation Academy - Call for Scientific Poster Submissions

 The 2026 American Academy of Dermatology Innovation Academy will take place this summer in New York City, July 16-19. Submissions for scientific posters are due by May 14^th.  We encourage all interested participants to submit their work and take advantage of this opportunity to share their research and connect with fellow attendees. Submission guidelines and additional conference information can be found on the conference website: 2026 AAD Innovation Academy: Abstracts.

Please ensure that all submission originating from the department of dermatology have been reviewed by a faculty member and include the faculty and resident names in the submission.

Record UTMB Posters and Abstracts at 2026 Annual American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS) Meeting in Austin, Texas

Congratulations to UTMB medical students, residents, and faculty for their research presentations at the 58th Annual ACMS meeting! The presentations were:

Dowdle TW, Driskill J, Pinto-Cuberos JM, Linfante A, Ahatov R, Wagner RF. Novel angiocentric pattern in basal cell carcinoma. Abstract published in: American College of Mohs Surgery 2026 Annual Meeting Abstract Supplement, April 30, 2026, Austin, TX.             

 

Jabin M, Rocker A, Alameddine R, Ahatov R, Wagner RF Jr. SGLT-2 Inhibitors and reduced risk of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC): A retrospective cohort study of patients with diabetes. ePoster, Annual Meeting of the American College for Mohs Surgery, April  30, 2026, Austin, Texas.

 

Jabin M, Rocker A, Alameddine R,  Ahatov R, Wagner RF Jr. GLP-1 receptor agonists and reduced risk ofmelanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC): A retrospective cohort study of patients with obesity. ePoster, Annual Meeting of the American College for Mohs Surgery, April  30, 2026, Austin, Texas.

 

Vu M, Momin F, Williams P. Avoiding overtreatment of a benign disease: Recognizing histopathologic differences between Darier’s disease and squamous cell carcinoma. Abstract published in: American College of Mohs Surgery 2026 Annual Meeting Abstract Supplement, April 30, 2026, Austin, TX. 

 

Vu M, Schmidt M, Gandhi S, Wagner RF Jr. GLPs significantly decrease the risk of post-operative surgical complications: a retrospective cohort study. ePoster, Annual Meeting of the American College for Mohs Surgery, April  30, 2026, Austin, Texas.

 

20th Annual Steps Against Melanoma Walk in Galveston

Galveston’s 20th Annual Steps Against Melanoma Walk took place this past weekend on April 25th! The event brought together melanoma survivors, their families, and a strong community of supporters for another meaningful and inspiring event. The event was coordinated by the Melanoma Walk Committee, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Interest Group, and AIM at Melanoma. 

We were honored to have Dr. Anthony Linfante as the opening speaker and all of our participants who made this event a success! Thanks to everyone’s hard work and generosity, we raised $5,100 in support of melanoma research. Donations will continue to be accepted until the end of the year, so please feel free to share the link with your friends and family via our website.

We hope to see everyone next year for Galveston’s 21st Melanoma Walk!

Texas Dermatological Society Spring 2026 - Congratulations to all participants!

Please join DIG in congratulating all UTMB faculty, residents, and medical students at the Texas Dermatology Society (TDS) Spring meeting hosted in Dallas, Texas on April 24th and 25th!

AWARDS

1st Place Resident Poster Presentation: 

Palmar Petechiae in a Patient Receiving Ibrutinib for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Olivia Arriaza, Luke Hamilton, Renat Ahatov, Antonio Jimenez, Brent Kelly

RESIDENT PODIUM PRESENTATIONS

Oxygen-Enriched Operating Rooms and Surgical Fires: An Underestimated Risk of Ambulatory Dermatologic Surgery

Fareen Momin, Antonio Jimenez, Marie Vu, Paige Hoyer Williams, Julie A Croley, Alyssa Hansen, Richard F. Wagner Jr. 

Reconstructive Utility of Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty and Full-Thickness Skin Grafting in Mohs Micrographic Surgery

Julien Bourgeois, Juan Pinto-Cuberos, Richard F. Wagner Jr. 

Reduced Risk in Melanoma & Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers in Obese Patients on Semaglutide & Tirzepatide

Mohamad Jabin, Rashwan Alameddine, Allison Roecker, Renat Ahatov, Richard F. Wagner Jr. 

Up in Smoke: Uncovering a Hidden Health Risk in Dermatologic Practice

Marie Vu, Frank Winsett

RESIDENT POSTERS

Fibrous Hamartoma of Infancy Presenting as a Large Mass in a 4-Month-Old Male

Vivian Rojas, Madelyn Schmidt, Erica Kelly

Pediatric erythrokeratodermia variabilis with favorable response to secukinumab

Lynchi Nguyen, Sarah Kesaria, Bernard Gibson, Lindy Ross 

Chromoblastomycosis Recurrence After Conventional Excision: The Role of Mohs Micrographic Surgery

Mojahed M.K. Shalabi, Christopher Richter, Umayr R. Shaikh, Leela K. Raj, Melissa Laughter, H. William Higgins II

Digital Disparities: Skin of Color Visibility in Dermatologic Content on Instagram

Alyssa Hansen, Lynchi Nguyen, Fareen Momin, Janice Wilson

Merkel Cell Carcinoma Mimicking a Benign Subcutaneous Nodule: A Case of Delayed Diagnosis

Daphne G. Eckembrecher, Sydney McDaniel, Janice M. Wilson, Bernard R. Gibson

Breaking the Surface: A Rare Case of Perforating Osteoma Cutis 

Mary Cavanagh, Luke Hamilton, Janice Chang, Brandon P. Goodwin

Fever, Ferritin and Flares: A Young Woman’s Presentation of Adult-Onset Still’s Disease

Benjamin Garcia, Sarah Ahmed, Brandon Goodwin, Brent Kelly, Anthony Linfante

Standardizing Dermatology Medical Student Education Using a Structured Curriculum and Pre- and Post-Rotation Assessments: A Quality Improvement Initiative 

Peter Nguyen, Whitney Harrell, Anthony Linfante

MEDICAL STUDENT PODIUM PRESENTATIONS

Mapping the Gap: Geographic Barriers to Mohs Surgery in Texas

Shawn Lim, Joshua Wang, Kush Maheshwari, Travis S. Dowdle, Richard F. Wagner Jr. 

Shade Coverage in Galveston Schools: A Map to Guide Targeted Dermatological Community Intervention

Sydney McDaniel, Kassianna Elizondo, Daphne G. Eckembrecher, Michael G. Wilkerson

Association Between GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Use and Incident Hair Loss

Zainab Yousaf, Alyssa Hansen, Lindy Ross

MEDICAL STUDENT POSTERS

Colchicine Successfully Treats Refractory Palisading and Neutrophilic Granulomatous Dermatitis Associated with Mixed Connective Tissue Disease

Madelyn Schmidt, Julien Bourgeois, Anthony Linfante

Natural History of a Large, Complicated Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans Requiring Interdisciplinary Management

Danielle Miller, Kristen Kay, Anthony Linfante, Janice WIlson

Pediatric Non-Segmental Vitiligo with Morphea-Lichen Sclerosus Overlap and Anogenital Scarring: A Rare Immune-Mediated Association

Caludia N. Dubocq Ortiz, Daphne G. Eckembrecher, Brandon Goodwin, Ayezel Munoz Gonzalez

Isotretinoin Exposure and Long-Term Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Risk in Acne Patients: A TriNetX Retrospective Cohort Study

Elizabeth McCarthy, Katherine Benandi, Kristin Wolf

Trends in Medicare Utilization and Spending for Skin Cancer Treatment Procedures, 2018-2023

Alekhya Gurram, Amna Sidiq, Fareen Momin, Travis S. Dowdle, Richard F. Wagner Jr. 

A Systematic Review of Women in Mohs Micrographic Surgery (MMS): Gender Diversity, Reimbursement Gaps, and Physician Perspectives

Smiti Gandhi, Marie T. Vu, Madelyn Schmidt, Paige Hoyer Williams 

Continuous Glucose Monitor Device-Associated Cutaneous Mycobacterium abscessus Infection: A Novel Source of Primary Inoculation

Luke Hamilton, Travis S. Dowdle, Antonio Jimenez, Janice M. Wilson, Brandon P. Goodwin 

Comparing Psychiatric Comorbidities in Patients on Cyclosporine with Atopic Dermatitis or Psoriasis

Destinee Elliott, Luke Hamilton, Isha Jhingan, Eric Cline, Nicole Papac

The Role of Telemedicine in Mohs Micrographic Surgery: A Scoping Review

Luke Moore, Ruth Hong, Julien Bourgeois, Juan Pinto-Cuberos, Frank Winsett

Acute Localized Exanthematous Pustulosis: A Two-Patient Case Series Highlighting Diagnostic Overlap with Infectious and Inflammatory Facial Dermatoses

Cutler Cannon, Kristen Kay, Julien Bourgeois, Anthony Linfante, Brent Kelly, Brandon Goodwin

Intralesional MMR vs. Candida Antigen for Adult Cutaneous Warts: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis 

Shawn Lim, Sophia Choi, Sarah Kesaria, Anthony Linfante

Evaluating Malignancy Risk of Anti-RNA Polymerase III Antibodies in Systemic Sclerosis: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Sydney McDaniel, Katherine Benandi, Olivia Arriaza, Anthony Linfante

A Rare Case of Methotrexate Toxicity Mimicking Psoriasis

Sarah Ahmed, Kristin Geh, Brent Kelly, Anthony Linfante

Social Media and the rise of infant skin care: Navigating digital trends and clinical guidance

Helena M. Nammour, Samruddhi Arkatkar, Amna Sidiq, Alisha Kashyap, Rashid M. Rashid

Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Incident Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Propensity-Matched Cohort Study

Zainab Yousaf, Kush Maheshwari, Ayezel Munoz Gonzalez

Infection with Hepatitis C, Not Hepatitis B Confers Increased Risk for Lichen Planus

Gengi Kleto, Umer Nadir, Sahithi Talasila, George M. Jeha, Stanislav N. Tolkachjov 

Galveston’s 20th Annual Steps Against Melanoma Walk

The 20th Annual Steps Against Melanoma Walk is happening this Saturday, April 25th on the Seawall at 9AM! We’ll be honoring those who have been impacted by melanoma and advocating for research and education. 

Our very own Dr. Linfante will be speaking during the opening ceremony! We will also be having a raffle at the event for amazing items from Chicken n Pickle, Pleasure Pier, Top Golf, and more! Grab plenty of snacks to fuel your run and skincare freebies for afterwards (and some other giveaway goodies too!) 

Please register on our website to make check-in a quick process and to fundraise in support of our mission! Thank you to The Pause Life and Iovance for sponsoring our walk. We hope everyone can join us to take steps against melanoma :)

DIG 2026-2027 Officers

DIG 2026-2027 Officers

President

Alekhya Gurram

Vice President

Jun Park

Secretary

Zainab Yousaf

Research

Chair: Andrew Spires

Committee: Sara Morakabian, Cutler Cannon

Stay Shady

Chair: Suzanne Sajid

Committee: Braxton Shaw, Presley Limon 

Education

Chair: Amna Sidiq

Committee: Isabelle Bergman, Elizabeth McCarthy 

Fundraising

Chair: Smiti Gandhi 

Committee: Kassianna Elizondo 

Melanoma Walk

Chair: Matthew De La Garza

Committee: Emma Chen, Stephanie Rivera-Ithier

Psoriasis Walk

Chair: Ria Kanotra