SUMC Medical Staff Update

Dermatology

Dermatologists confront a broad spectrum of skin conditions- from diaper rash to cancer and debilitating genetic disorders. The Department of Dermatology offers general and specialty patient care, conducts basic and clinical research and provides education at many levels. This month Fact File talks with Alfred T. Lane, professor and chair of dermatology, and Kimberly Sawitke, clinic manager.

1. The Department of Dermatology recorded approximately 19,000 adult and 1,000 pediatric patient clinic visits in the 1997-98 fiscal year.

2. The department includes 13 faculty - two at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, four at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System and seven at Stanford. Thirteen residents rotate among the sites. Many of the 84 voluntary clinical faculty members (VCF) actively participate in clinical programs. Two dermatologic pathologists are based in the Department of Pathology. The clinics employ two registered nurses, two LVNs, and two medical assistants. Seventeen fellows, primarily researchers, work in a variety of programs.

3. In addition to general adult and pediatric dermatology clinics, the department offers a wide range of subspecialty services, including blistering diseases, M. Peter Marinkovich, chief; lymphoma, Youn Kim; melanoma, Susan Swetter; and Mohs' (named after its founder) micrographic surgery, Jon C. Starr. Other programs include cosmetic surgery (with an expansion of laser services expected early this year), collagen vascular disease, complex dermatosis, skin cancer, dermopathology, dyplastic nevus/atypical nevi, eczema, keratanization disorders, non-healing wounds, psoriasis and skin care, scleroderma, ulcers and visible tumors.

4. Stanford is the Western regional site of the National Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) Registry. Approximately 10 patients from all over the world visit the EB clinic at Stanford each month. Joseph McGuire, professor of dermatology and of pediatrics, directs the EB Clinic. Primary investigators are Paul Khavari, an associate professor, and M. Peter Marinkovich and G. Scott Herron, assistant professors.

5. Pediatric patients, except for epidermolysis bullosa patients, are seen during the three half-day pediatric dermatology clinics each week at Packard Children's Hospital. (EB pediatric patients are seen at Stanford Clinics).

6. An oral medicine clinic opened in January to serve EB patients and others. The clinic will be staffed by two dentists with subspecialty training.

7. The department provides contract services for Stanford students through Cowell Student Health Service.

8. Alfred T. Lane, professor of dermatology and pediatrics, received his MD from Ohio State University in 1973. He finished a pediatric residency at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles in 1976. After three years of private practice in Southern California, Lane completed a dermatology residency at the University of Colorado in 1982. He joined the pediatric dermatology faculty at the University of Rochester in 1982 and came to Stanford as an associate professor six years later. His primary clinical and research interests include infant skin care and pediatric dermatology. He became chair of dermatology and professor of dermatology and of pediatrics in 1996.

Kimberly Sawitke received her RN degree from Ohio State University in 1980 and her MBA from Golden Gate University in 1989. She began her nursing career at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1997. She came to Stanford as dermatology nurse manager from a management position in the Division at UCSF.

9. General and subspecialty clinics may be reached at (650) 723-6316. A phone tree offers expedited physician access. Physicians may contact Lane at 723-6105.

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