Keynote Speaker

  • Jonah Shacknai, JD
  • Executive Chairman , Dermarché Labs

Jonah Shacknai is Executive Chairman of Dermarché Labs. Prior to co-founding Dermarché, Mr. Shacknai was the founder of Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation (NYSE: MRX), and served as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for 25 years, until the acquisition of the Company in 2012. Medicis was one of the leading medical dermatology and aesthetics companies in the world. Mr. Shacknai was involved directly in the development, regulatory approval, and marketing of over 40 products.

Mr. Shacknai has an extremely well diversified corporate and public service background, beginning with his various senior positions in the U.S. government. He was also a member of the Commission on the Federal Drug Approval Process, and the National Council on Drugs. In November 1999, Mr. Shacknai was selected to serve on the Listed Company Advisory Committee to the New York Stock Exchange (“LCAC”). In May 2002, Mr. Shacknai was honored with a Doctorate of Humane Letters by the NYCPM, an affiliate of Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, and in the fall of 2001, he received the “National Award” from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge. In January 2000, Mr. Shacknai was selected as “Entrepreneurial Fellow” at the Karl Eller Center of the University of Arizona.

Mr. Shacknai is Vice President of the board of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, and President of the MaxInMotion® Foundation, a non-profit organization assisting economically challenged and handicapped student athletes. In 1997, Shacknai received the Arizona Entrepreneur of the Year award, and was one of three finalists for “U.S. Entrepreneur of the Year”. Mr. Shacknai has served as a member of the National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Advisory Council of the National Institutes of Health, and on the U.S.-Israel Science and Technology Commission, both federal cabinet-appointed positions. Mr. Shacknai earned a B.S. degree from Colgate University, and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. Mr. Shacknai received the “President's Award” from the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and “Lifetime Achievement” awards from several dermatology institutions.

Speakers and Panelists

  • Jack L. Arbiser, MD, PhD, FAAD
  • Thomas J Lawley Professor of Dermatology , Emory University School of Medicine, Winship Cancer Institute

Jack L Arbiser, M.D.,Ph.D. is the Thomas J Lawley Endowed Professor of Dermatology at Emory University. He obtained a combined BS/MS in organic chemistry at Emory University in 1983 under thesis mentor Dennis Liotta. Following his work with Dr Liotta, Dr. Arbiser worked in antiviral chemistry with Dr Raymond Schinazi. His introduction of Drs Schinazi and Liotta led to the development of Emtriva, which is taken by up to 90% of HIV positive individuals in the US. He obtained an M.D./Ph.D at Harvard Medical School, under the mentorship of Dr Joseph Majzoub in signal transduction. After internship at Boston's Beth Israel Hospital, he completed residency at the Harvard Dermatology Program and a Howard Hughes Postdoctoral Fellowship with Judah Folkman, M.D., father of the field of angiogenesis. He has been a member of the Department of Dermatology at Emory University for 17 years, and has served as co-founder of 2 companies, Accuitis, which is developing a topical proteasome inhibitor for rosacea and other inflammatory skin disorders, and ABBY which is developing NADPH oxidase inhibitors for glioblastoma and other solid tumors. He has nearly 200 publications and 15 US Patents, and many international patents.

  • Douglas C. Canfield
  • Founder and President , Canfield Scientific, Inc.

Douglas C. Canfield is the founder and President of Canfield Scientific, Inc., the world’s leading provider of optical imaging and specialized clinical imaging and analysis solutions for dermatologists and plastic surgeons.

Canfield Scientific specializes in photographic documentation to help demonstrate drug efficacy in clinical drug trials worldwide. Mr. Canfield pioneered the use of specialized devices in medical photography and has developed a wide range of innovative solutions for research and practice. Canfield’s patented technology includes multi-spectral and multi-modal 2D and 3D image capture systems, digital asset management, aesthetic simulation, and applications for detection, measurement and analysis for various skin conditions. These technologies have contributed to the development of numerous treatments and procedures and has significantly advanced the use of optical imaging in both clinical research and practice.

Mr. Canfield received his degree in Business Administration from Rutgers University, and is an Adjunct Clinical Professor of Medicine and Cardiology at Georgetown University School of Medicine.

  • Kevin D. Cooper, MD, FAAD
  • Professor and Chair , Department of Dermatology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University

Kevin D. Cooper, M.D. joined Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Case Medical Center in 1995 from prior positions at the University of Michigan and the National Institutes of Health, following training at Oregon Health Sciences University and the University of Florida. He has developed a highly matrixed department that intersects ten geographical clinical dermatology practice sites with QI teaching, skin biology-specific research cores, and a complementary portfolio of research programs that span basic laboratory, translational, and clinical trial investigations. With interests in inflammatory-mediated skin diseases, lymphoma, and photomedicine/photoimmunology, Dr. Cooper has been continuously federally funded since 1986 and has published over 300 papers and chapters. He enjoys mentoring faculty, residents, fellows, and students across each of these dimensions.

Dr. Cooper is the Professor and Chair of the Department of Dermatology at both Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) School of Medicine and University Hospitals Case Medical Center (UHCMC) in Cleveland, Ohio. He is a Staff Physician for the Dermatology Service at the Cleveland VA Hospital. Dr. Cooper is the Director of the NIAMS Skin Diseases Research Center at CWRU, focusing on creating advances in skin diseases, and the Director of the Murdough Family Center for Psoriasis. Dr. Cooper is a co-inventor of the first biologic to be FDA-approved for psoriasis, and he is a co-founder of Fluence Therapeutics, a start-up biomedical company created to develop a novel photodynamic therapy for psoriasis and lymphoma. He enjoys consulting in the early phases of product development for skin care and pharmaceuticals. Dr. Cooper is currently an elected member of the American Academy of Dermatology Board of Directors and its Executive Committee, and is Chair of the Council on Science and Research. He is a past President of the Society for Investigative Dermatology and the Association of Professors of Dermatology

  • Stephen C. Davis
  • Research Professor , Department of Dermatology & Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami

Stephen C. Davis is currently a Research Professor at the University of Miami Department of Dermatology & Cutaneous Surgery. He has over 30 years experience using various wound healing and infection models in swine. He works with a large number of companies in research and development of various products that are on the market today, e.g. DuoDerm dressing, Kerlix A.M.D., Liquid Bandage, Iodosorb, Procellera, etc. Professor Davis is a Principle Investigator or Co-Investigator on research grants totaling over $20 million from various DARPA, Canadian Defense, Army, Office of Naval Research, NSF, NIH grants as well as numerous industry studies.

  • Dan Dubin, MD, FAAD
  • Vice Chairman , Leerink Partners
  • Founder , MEDACorp

Dr. Dubin has advised life sciences companies and investors for nearly 20 years and has executed numerous public offering, private placement, partnership, and M&A transactions for clients. He also leads Leerink Partners’ dermatology and medical aesthetics advisory practice and has expertise in executing crossover private placements and Form 10 alternative go-public transactions.

In 1996, he founded MEDACorp, a provider of insights on the commercial potential of biotherapeutics and medical devices to healthcare companies and investors. In 2001, Dr. Dubin merged MEDACorp into Leerink Partners and joined its Board of Directors and Executive Committee. He serves as a director of Living Proof and an advisor to SKS Ocular. He has also served as Chairman of MetaWorks which was sold to UBC in 2005.

Dr. Dubin is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Harvard Medical School and completed both an internship in Medicine and a residency in Dermatology at the Massachusetts General Hospital. He was an Instructor in Dermatology at Harvard Medical School and held a staff appointment at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital where he was the Ambulatory Medical Director of Clinical Dermatology and a member of the Clinical Executive Committee. He has published over 30 manuscripts in peer reviewed publications and performed a NIH training fellowship at the Harvard Skin Disease Research Center.

  • Peter M. Elias, MD
  • Professor Emeritus , Department of Dermatology, University of California San Francisco
  • Staff Physician , Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco

Dr. Elias received his medical degree from the University of California San Francisco and trained in dermatology at Harvard University. Dr. Elias has authored or co-authored over 600 peer-reviewed scientific articles and review articles, and he has edited or co-authored three books on the subject of the skin barrier in health and disease. He is an invited speaker at national and international scientific meetings; and has been a consultant to the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

He has contributed to the present wealth of knowledge on both the structure and myriad functions of mammalian stratum corneum. His pioneering research since the 1970's has dispelled the myth of the stratum corneum as a "dead, keratinized, basket-weave" structure, to establish the iconic "brick and mortar" model. Through his efforts, the stratum corneum is now viewed as a metabolically active, two-compartment composite that functions as a biosensor. Th e resultant "outside-in" concept of the barrier as a prime mover in the pathogenesis of cutaneous disease has also been a highlight of his work, with the paramount role of skin barrier dysfunction in disease pathogenesis now widely recognized.

Over the past 30-plus years, Dr. Elias' lab has been the destination for more than 70 young investigators, representing multiple countries, a trend that still continues to enrich the field of academic dermatology with an armamentarium of techniques and disciplines on the cutting edge of science on epidermal structure and function. Dr. Elias continues to mentor his vast network of associates and postdoctoral fellows, past and present, several of whom have achieved leadership roles in academia and industry the world over.

  • Barbara A. Gilchrest, MD, FAAD
  • Professor , Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Editor-in-Chief , Journal of Investigative Dermatology

Barbara A. Gilchrest, M.D., received her undergraduate and medical training from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard Medical School (HMS) respectively. After a post-doctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Howard Green at MIT in 1977, Dr. Gilchrest joined the Department of Dermatology and Division on Aging at the HMS, where she established a tissue culture laboratory to study the aging process in human skin, with support from the National Institute on Aging (NIA). From 1985 until 2008, Dr. Gilchrest served as Professor and Chairman of Dermatology at the Boston University School of Medicine, where she directed a large laboratory and an NIH-sponsored post- doctoral research training program. Her laboratory studied cellular aging, regulation of melanogenesis, and telomere-based protective responses in the skin; complementary clinical research interests focused on therapeutic uses of light in dermatology. She remained as Professor on a part-time basis until 2014 while serving as Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2012-17). In 2015 she joined the Department of Dermatology at the Massachusetts General Hospital and HMS as Professor- in-Residence.

Dr. Gilchrest is the author of over 400 scholarly articles, reviews, abstracts, and textbook chapters; and author or editor of eight books. She has served in leadership positions for all the major dermatologic organizations; on the National Advisory Council on Aging and the Board of Scientific Counselors of the National Cancer Institute; as associate editor or editorial board member of several major clinical and research journals; as a consultant or scientific advisory board member for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies; and as a member of the MIT Corporation (1995-2005). Dr. Gilchrest is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, and a Charter member of the National Academy of Inventors.

  • Neal Hunter
  • Managing Director , Know Bio, LLC

Neal Hunter is the founding investor of Novan, Inc. and served as the Company’s Chairman for eight years, personally orchestrating the fund raising of over $70M in private financing from high net worth individuals through his network originating in Research Triangle Park, NC and an additional $30M in institutional funding. His 25 year track record of successfully raising capital for technology companies in both the public and private sectors began as a Co-founder of Cree, Inc. (NASDAQ:CREE). Mr. Hunter served multiple roles at Cree, including as the public company CEO and Chairman from 1994 to 2001 and then Chairman until 2005. He was also instrumental in the creation and start-up of LED Lighting Fixtures, Inc. which he co-founded in 2005 to accelerate the use of LEDs in general illumination applications and was subsequently sold in 2008 for over $100M. In total, Mr. Hunter has been either co-founder, founder, co-founding investor or founding investor in over ten significant start-up ventures in the areas of semiconductor materials and devices, aesthetic materials, software, gourmet food service, commercial and residential real estate, LED lighting systems and life sciences. All of these start-ups advanced to successful businesses except for one casualty.

Mr. Hunter’s proven expertise in technology transfer, from inception of innovations to the creation of market-changing products, has led to the transition to his new role as Managing Director of KnowBio, LLC, an RTP based incubator for platform based medical technology and biotechnology companies. His focus is on building world-class management teams and helping co-founders meet growth goals and personal wealth objectives through strategies that allow for significant growth while limiting dilution.

  • Andrew Koopman
  • Associate Director of New Ventures , New York University Office of Industrial Liaison

As the Associate Director of New Ventures, Andrew works with investors and entrepreneurs to facilitate the formation and growth of new life science companies that focus on the development and commercialization of NYU’s technologies. In addition to more than a decade in academic technology transfer, Andrew has 16 years of varied experience in the biotechnology industry. He has held scientist, laboratory supervisor, and project manager positions in the course of his employment at two successful biotechnology startup companies, as well as Johnson & Johnson and Hoffman-LaRoche. During this period he was involved in the development of several therapeutic and diagnostic products currently on the market.

Prior to joining the NYU Office of Industrial Liaison, Andrew was Managing Director of Biomedical and Biotechnology Industries at Beroff Associates, Corporate Financial Consultants and Investment Bankers. He has also provided consulting to a number of startups, investment groups, and economic development agencies, and currently serves on the board of two life science companies. Andrew received a B.S. in Biology from Binghamton University, an M.S. in molecular biology from Seton Hall University with a minor in business administration at the Stillman School of Business, and is proud alum of Stuyvesant High School in New York City.

  • Henry W. Lim, MD, FAAD
  • Chairman and C.S. Livingood Chair of the Department of Dermatology , Henry Ford Hospital

Henry W. Lim is Chairman and C.S. Livingood Chair of the Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Hospital, and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA. He received his M.D. from SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA, and completed his dermatology residency at New York University School of Medicine. Prior to coming to Henry Ford Hospital, he was a Professor of Dermatology at NYU School of Medicine, as well as the Chief of Staff of the New York VA Medical Center. He has published more than 350 articles, and is a recognized authority on photodermatology. He has been listed on America’s Top Doctors for many years.

Dr. Lim has served as president of Michigan Dermatological Society, vice president of the American Academy of Dermatology, president of the American Board of Dermatology, and is the president of the American Dermatological Association. He is the incoming president elect of the American Academy of Dermatology, the world largest dermatologic society. He was an Associate Editor of the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, and was Editor-in-Chief of Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine. He is currently a Senior Editor of Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, a member of the editorial board of Photodermatology, Photoimmunology, and Photomedicine and Journal of Dermatological Sciences. He was a former editorial board member of Journal of Investigative Dermatology, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, and JAMA Dermatology. He is an elected honorary member of dermatology organizations in Austria, the Philippines, and China. Dr. Lim is the editor/co-editor of five published textbooks: Clinical Photomedicine, Photoaging, Photodermatology, Clinical Guide to Sunscreens and Photoprotection and Cancer of the Skin. He is also a co-editor of three textbooks in preparation: Dermatology for Skin of Color (2nd edition), Vitiligo: Medical and Surgical Management (2nd edition), and Principles and Practice of Photoprotection.

  • Ellen Lubman, MBA
  • Vice President, External Science and Innovation , Allergan, Inc.

Ellen came to Allergan after joining predecessor company, Forest Laboratories, in February 2014 as Vice President, Strategy and Innovation.

Ellen's mandate is to bring novel initiatives, products, and opportunities to Allergan’s pipeline and increase the company's access to scientific and structural innovation in defined areas of therapeutic expertise.

Ellen has more than 15 years of experience throughout the biopharmaceutical industry. Starting her career as a pharmaceutical representative with Abbott Laboratories, Ellen then joined investment banking firm, Robertson Stephens. There she was as a biotechnology equity research analyst during the height of the genomics revolution where she focused on early stage drug discovery and development companies. After completing her master of business administration (MBA) from Stanford Graduate School of Business with a focus on Global Management, Ellen was a founding member of a biotechnology private equity fund, Celtic Pharma.

Ellen has worked with venture capital funds and seed-stage, biotech, and pharma companies, in business and corporate development, operations, and strategy roles for Amgen, Kadmon Corporation, and Bristol-Myers Squibb, where she was instrumental in executing the "String of Pearls" targeted growth strategy.

  • Dieter Manstein, MD, PhD
  • Assistant Professor of Dermatology , Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School

Dieter Manstein, M.D., Ph.D. is Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School and heads his research laboratory at the Cutaneous Biology Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital. His research is focused on innovative use of energy-based devices, mainly within the area of dermatology. Many of the major current device treatments in dermatology are the direct result of his inventions and research. Notable examples are fractional photothermolysis (Fraxel) and non-invasive fat removal by cold (CoolSculpting). He also contributed significantly to advances in the area of hair removal, tattoo removal and laser-tissue interaction in general.

Dr. Manstein received advanced dual training in Physics and Medicine. He obtained a Master’s in Physics and Ph.D. in biomedical physics from the University of Münster, Germany. He also completed his medical training at the University of Münster and entered a dermatology residency program in Ahaus, Germany. He completed a research fellowship at the Wellman Center of Photomedicine in Boston, a special clinical dermatology-training track and a clinical fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Manstein holds active medical licenses in Germany, as well as in Massachusetts and Florida in the U.S.

Dr. Manstein has published over 50 original medical articles and chapters in the field of cutaneous device treatments. Among those are several landmark papers introducing new concepts and treatments, which have become the standard of care. He is a frequently invited speaker at many of the national and international meetings in this field.

Dr. Manstein received multiple honors and awards, including the Horace Furumoto Innovator Award and the Ellet H. Drake Award from the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery. He is actively involved in fostering innovation for dermatological device treatments and is founding member of several start-ups in this area. His contributions to the field of dermatology and laser surgery are regularly featured in many media outlets, and in 2014 he was recognized by Allure Magazine as Influencer of the Year.

  • Vijendra Nalamothu, PhD
  • Chief Executive Officer , Tergus Pharma

Dr. Vijendra Nalamothu has been a leader in topical pharmaceutical development for more than two decades. He holds several of patents and his efforts have led to a number of successful commercial products. His passion is to develop products that speak for themselves, leading him to be a co-founder of Tergus, shepherding the company to its industry leading position in the marketplace.

After earning his PhD in Pharmaceutics from the University of the Science's Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, he worked at Sanofi-aventis Worldwide Dermatology (Dermik) as the Head of early compound assessment and preclinical group. He has also served as Global Head of dermatology R&D at Promius Pharma, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, where he spearheaded the development of specialty branded dermatological products from concept to commercialization.

Dr. Nalamothu's interests include novel dosage form design and development of topical drug products. His commitment to quality and excellence led him to create the first Quality by Design (QbD) program for topicals, numerous articles and accolades. He is a sought-after speaker at conferences worldwide.

  • Daniel Piacquadio, MD
  • Founder, Chief Executive Officer and President , Therapeutics, Inc.

Dr. Piacquadio is the Founder and CEO/President of Therapeutics, Inc. He has been active in clinical research and medical product development since 1985, when he worked as the Director of Research and Development for Oncotherm, a biotechnology company in the field of hyperthermia where his responsibilities included regulatory affairs and clinical development. Since that time, he has started the clinical research program for the Division of Dermatology, University of California, San Diego. From 1989 to 1997, he served as Director of this organization, which became regarded as one of the leading academic product development groups in the United States. In 1997 he started Therapeutics, Inc as a research and development business dedicated to the field of dermatology serving the needs of the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and investment community.

Dr. Piacquadio has also actively participated in the development of a wide variety of biotechnology start-ups and medical product development programs. He has been instrumental in the pre-clinical and clinical development phase of a variety of soft tissue augmentation products including Hylaform (Biomatrix) and was instrumental in regulatory strategy and clinical development of the first laser based hair removal technology pioneered by Thermolase among others. As a consultant for the FDA Generic Drug Group he assisted in the development of the current bioequivalency standards for topical steroids. Presently he serves in an advisory capacity for a variety of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

Dr. Piacquadio received his B.S. degree in Biomedical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He received his graduate clinical training at Brown University as an intern in Internal Medicine and his Dermatology training at University of California, San Diego.

  • Joyce Rico, MD, MBA, FAAD
  • Chief Medical Officer , Novan, Inc.

M. Joyce Rico, MD, MBA, is the Chief Medical Officer at Novan Therapeutics and a board-certified dermatologist. Prior to joining Novan, Joy served as Vice-President for Medical Affairs and Medical Science at Astellas Pharma. She has served on the faculty at Duke University, New York University, Northwestern University and the University of Miami. She received her MD from the University of Florida, her MBA from DePaul University, and completed her Dermatology residency at the University of Miami.

  • Adam M. Rotunda, MD, FACMS, FAAD
  • Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology , David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA
  • Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology , University of California, Irvine UC

Adam M. Rotunda, M.D., F.A.A.D., F.A.C.M.S., graduated from the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University, summa cum laude with Honors in Nutritional Sciences and was Valedictorian of his medical school class at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. He was a resident in Dermatology at the University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA, David Geffen School of Medicine. Dr. Rotunda completed a Fellowship in Mohs micrographic skin cancer and reconstructive surgery with Richard G. Bennett, M.D. at UCLA, the University of Southern California (USC) and in Santa Monica, CA. In 2007-2008, Dr. Rotunda served as the Medical Director of Dermatology Research and Development at Allergan, Inc., then founded his private dermatologic surgery practice in Newport Beach, CA.

Dr. Rotunda has authored over 50 original scientific articles and book chapters, and has lectured and chaired expert panels at over 60 national and international physician conferences. His special interests include Mohs skin cancer micrographic surgery, surgical reconstruction, injectable fat loss therapies and creating lasting extraordinary patient experiences and outcomes.

Dr. Rotunda co-invented Kybella (deoxycholic acid), a first-in-class injectable adipolytic agent for the reduction of small volumes of localized fat, during his dermatology residency. In 2015, Allergan acquired Kythera Biopharmaceuticals, the biotech start-up that researched and developed Dr. Rotunda’s invention for over a decade. This protocol and treatment has been hailed as one of the most important advances in aesthetic medicine since Botox.

Dr. Rotunda is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology, a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, a Fellow of the American College of Mohs Surgery, an Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA (UCLA), and an Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the University of California, Irvine (UCI).

  • Camille D. Samuels, MBA
  • Partner , Venrock

Camille D Samuels is a Partner at Venrock, a venture capital firm established in the late 1960s as the venture arm of the Rockefeller family. She was the founding investor in Kythera and served on its board until its $2.1 B sale to Allergan in 2015. Venrock is also a major investor in derm companies Zeltiq (Ticker: ZLTQ, makers of Coolscuplting) and Anacor (Ticker: ANAC). Cami currently serves on the board of RegenXBio (Ticker: RGNX), Spirox, and Unity.

Prior to Venrock, Cami spent over a decade as a Managing Director at Versant Ventures, a leading life sciences venture capital firm. She has had the honor of serving as a board member or a board observer on many innovative healthcare companies including Achaogen (AKAO), Carmenta (acq. by Progenity), Fluidigm (FLDM), Genomic Health (GHDX), Novacardia (acquired by Merck), ParAllele (acq. by Affymetrix), and Syrrx (acq. by Takeda).

Prior to her venture career, Cami held business development and strategic marketing roles at Tularik (acq. by Amgen) and Genzyme (acq. by Sanofi). She also worked as a management consultant to consumer, healthcare, and biotech companies at LEK Consulting.

Ms. Samuels received a B.A. in Biology from Duke University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, both with high distinction.

  • Eric Schweiger, MD, FAAD
  • Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer , Schweiger Dermatology Group

Eric Schweiger, MD, FAAD., is the founder and C.E.O. of Schweiger Dermatology Group (SDG), the leading dermatology practice in the New York metro area.

SDG was founded by Dr. Schweiger in 2010 with one office and a single employee and has since grown to 19 offices with over 200 employees and 45 healthcare providers. Over the past three years, Dr. Schweiger has raised over $23 million of private equity and debt capital which has been deployed to help facilitate SDG’s growth via a combination of de novo offices and strategic acquisitions.

The mission of SDG is to make high-quality dermatology services easily accessible to people throughout the metro New York City area. Wait times to see a dermatologist are historically long, and Dr. Schweiger’s goal is to increase access to dermatologic care by opening new practices and revitalizing existing practices by offering same-day appointments and extended hours. Today, SDG provides dermatology care to over 150,000 patient annually.

Dr. Schweiger received his B.A. from the University of Michigan and his M.D. degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He completed his post-doctoral training at New York University and the University of Kansas Medical Center, where he served as chief dermatology resident. Dr. Schweiger currently serves as Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical School in New York City.

  • Stacey Seltzer, MBA
  • Partner , Aisling Capital

Ms. Seltzer joined Aisling in 2008 and currently serves as a Partner. Previously, Ms. Seltzer was at Schering-Plough, where she held roles in business development, marketing and sales, most recently serving as the U.S. Schering-Plough Brand Lead for Zetia for five years. While in business development, Ms. Seltzer was involved in the structuring and negotiation of several deals with an aggregate value in the billions, ranging from in-licensing deals to broad development and commercialization alliances. Prior to Schering-Plough, Ms. Seltzer was the Director of Business Development for Akceli, a biotechnology company developing cell-based microarrays. Ms. Seltzer began her career as a management consultant for McKinsey & Company.

Ms. Seltzer serves as a director of Aimmune Therapeutics and Miramar Labs. Previously, she served as a Board observer for Agile Therapeutics, Durata Therapeutics and ZELTIQ Aesthetics. She also acted as the Aisling representative for its investment in Precision Dermatology and was closely involved in Aisling’s investments in Cytos, Dermira and PowerVision.

Ms. Seltzer received her M.B.A. from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where she was a Palmer Scholar. She received her M.S. and B.S. from Yale University, awarded cum laude in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry.

  • Mark P. Seraly, MD, FAAD
  • Founder and Chief Medical Officer , Iagnosis

Mark P. Seraly, MD is the CMO and Founder of Iagnosis®.

Iagnosis®, the parent company of DermatologistOnCall®, is a telehealth company that provides patients with quality, affordable online skin care though a virtual office platform. Through store-and-forward technology, DermatologistOnCall® gives patients the opportunity to obtain a diagnosis, treatment plan and prescription within three business days via the internet.

Dr. Seraly is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology and emerging thought leader in the field of “direct-to-consumer” store-and-forward Teledermatology. Seraly is a graduate of Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and completed his residency and Chief residency at the University of Pittsburgh. He is the author of more than 30 papers on dermatology, and has lectured nationally and internationally. Seraly is a member of the Leader’s Society and a Sustaining member of the Annenberg circle. Dr. Seraly treats more than 9,000 patients annually at his physical practice in McMurray, Washington County and virtually through DermatologistOnCall®.

  • Michael Sherling, MD, MBA, FAAD
  • Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder , Modernizing Medicine, Inc.

Dr. Michael Sherling is the Chief Medical Officer and Co-founder of Modernizing Medicine, Inc., a healthcare IT company that is revolutionizing the way in which medical information is created, consumed and utilized to increase efficiency, lower costs and improve outcomes.

Founded in February 2010, Modernizing Medicine has grown to approximately 300 employees and has raised over $49M in funding.

Known for its progressive growth as a medical technology company, the company is frequently recognized for its achievements. The South Florida Business Journal honored Modernizing Medicine as the #1 Fastest Growing Company in the Fast 50 for the second consecutive year and selected the company as the #1 Best Place to Work in 2015. In 2014 Red Herring named Modernizing Medicine to its Top 100 North America list, and the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce honored the company as the Business of the Year. In the same year the U.S. Chamber of Commerce named Modernizing Medicine the Small Business of the Year Regional Finalist, and honored Michael and CEO and co-founder Dan Cane with the Leadership in Health Care Award. Forbes named the company as one of America’s Most Promising Companies in 2013 and 2015. Additionally, the South Florida Business Journal selected Modernizing Medicine as the Business of the Year in 2012 and 2015.

Michael is responsible for developing and designing the dermatology-based software, and supervising the medical arm of ophthalmology, orthopedics, plastic surgery, otolaryngology, gastroenterology, rheumatology and urology software. In 2015, Black Book Research named three of the Modernizing Medicine’s electronic medical record (EMR) systems the top ranked for their specialties – dermatology, orthopedics and otolaryngology.

Michael has been a dermatologist since 2006 and is currently practicing in a comprehensive skin care dermatology group in Palm Beach County, Florida. He is an expert in medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology. Michael is board certified by the American Board of Dermatology and licensed in the state of Florida. Prior to relocating to Florida, he was the Associate Director of Laser Medicine and Skin Health at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He has several publications in peer reviewed medical literature.

Michael obtained his BS in Biology at Brown University with honors in 1996, his MD from Yale School of Medicine with honors in 2002, and his MBA from Yale School of Management in 2002. He received his clinical training at Harvard Medical School, where he served as chief resident in dermatology and was the youngest physician to serve as the Associate Residency Program Director for Harvard Medical School's Department of Dermatology.

  • Andy Sklawer, MBA
  • Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder , Brickell Biotech, Inc.

Mr. Sklawer is Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Brickell Biotech, Inc. Prior to Brickell, he served as the Head of Operations at Concordia Pharmaceuticals, Inc., an anti-cancer drug development company, acquired by Kadmon Corporation. Prior to joining Concordia, Mr. Sklawer held various corporate roles at Verid, Inc., a developer of security technology, acquired by EMC Corporation.

Mr. Sklawer holds a B.A. degree in Marketing from the University of Florida and earned his M.B.A from the University of Miami.

  • Nathan Stasko, PhD
  • Co-Founder, President, Chief Executive Officer, Director , Novan, Inc.

Nathan Stasko, PhD, is co-founder, President and Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Novan, Inc. Dr. Stasko has led the transformation of the Company's nitric oxide platform from the academic benchtop to Phase 3 clinical trials and is considered a leading expert in the field of nitric oxide. He is an inventor of the core Novan technology and of more than 100 patent filings, 19 of which have issued, and has authored several peer-reviewed manuscripts pertaining to the chemical storage and controlled release of nitric oxide. Dr. Stasko has led the Company through each of its private financings totaling more than $100 million, as well as the award of government grants and contracts totaling $15 million, the latter ultimately resulting in Novan's national recognition as a Tibbetts Award winner for excellence in Small Business Innovation Research. He has assembled a team of highly experienced executives and skilled professionals with drug development and commercialization expertise, who share his vision to position Novan as a commercially successful leader in the dermatology market.

Additionally, he has fostered a culture of community involvement and charitable giving through the Company's collective support of a variety of service groups such as the Durham Rescue Mission, North Carolina Food Bank, Toys for Tots Foundation and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Dr. Stasko earned his Ph.D. and an M.S. in chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a B.S. in chemistry from Hampden-Sydney College.

  • Thorsten Thormann, PhD, MSc
  • Senior Vice President, New Product Discovery , LEO Pharma

Thorsten was appointed Senior Vice President of New Product Discovery, a business unit with more than 200 dedicated scientists and specialists at LEO Pharma in January 2013. In this role, the priorities for Thorsten Thormann have been to continue the building of a strong Research & Development project pipeline at LEO Pharma.

Prior to this, Thorsten held a double role of Director of Biological Research and Director of Pharmaceutical Technologies, respectively. Here he was responsible for disease specific experimental platforms linking biochemistry and exploratory clinical testing as well as refocusing the early formulation and CMC to build a platform for product improvements based on usability and user experience. Thorsten has also held the position as Head of Department, Molecular Biomedicine and Head of Section for Product Reprofiling.

Throughout these positions, Thorsten has gained insights into the importance of having strong ideation processes to create confidences in new targets and concepts as well as establishing high value of life cycle management and product improvements to meet real patient needs.

Thorsten Thormann has a Master of Science in Chemistry from University of Roskilde and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Protein Biology from University of Copenhagen.

  • Ken Washenik, MD, PhD, FAAD
  • Chief Medical Officer and Medical Director , Bosley Medical Groups

Ken Washenik, MD, PhD, is the Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director of the Bosley Medical Groups, the world’s largest hair restoration practice, and the former Chief Executive Officer of the Aderans Research Institute, a biotechnology firm involved in researching tissue engineered hair follicle neogenesis and cellular based hair restoration.

Dr. Washenik is the Immediate-Past President and a Board member of the North American Hair Research Society and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Hair Foundation. He is also the Treasurer, a Fellow and on the Board of Governors of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery, and a Board member of the Cicatricial Alopecia Research Foundation, as well as a member of the American Academy of Dermatology and the medical honor society, Alpha Omega Alpha. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology and a member of the Dermatological Society of Greater New York and the Los Angeles Metropolitan Dermatological Society.

The former director of the Dermatopharmacology Unit at the New York University School of Medicine, Dr. Washenik continues to serve as a faculty member in the Department of Dermatology. In 2014, he was the recipient of the Platinum Follicle Award from the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery.

Dr. Washenik, a well-known national and international lecturer, has presented many seminars on hair growth and loss, dermatopharmacology, and dermatology-related issues. His Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree is in Cell Biology and focused on hormone metabolism.

Dr. Washenik has published numerous scientific and medical articles in peer-reviewed journals including Endocrinology, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Archives of Dermatology, The Lancet, and the New England Journal of Medicine.

Advancing Innovation in Dermatology, Inc. is a registered IRS 501(c)(3) organization designated as a public charity in the United States.

Advancing Innovation in Dermatology, Inc. is a registered IRS 501(c)(3) organization designated as a public charity in the United States.