Dermatology’s Holiday Wish List: Part 1

As the holiday season comes to a close, Dermatology Times asked clinicians from across the country, “If you could give any gift to dermatology, what would it be?”

Answers varied from AI-enhanced tools for improved skin detection to policy changes in prescription access. The overall theme, however, remained clear: improve patient care.

Hilary Baldwin, MD, highlighted acne and rosacea management, noting that many recent therapeutic advances have already fulfilled parts of her professional wish list. Her remaining wish centers on isotretinoin: a formulation with fewer adverse effects and less stigma. Despite its unmatched efficacy for severe acne and select rosacea phenotypes, patient fear and misinformation continue to limit appropriate utilization.

Douglas DiRuggiero, DMSc, MHS, PA-C, emphasized the erosion of prescribing autonomy. He described a shift from a true prescription pad to what has become a “suggestion pad,” constrained by insurance formularies. His ideal gift would be restored clinical authority, allowing shared decision-making to directly translate into patient access to optimal therapies without administrative barriers.

Diego Ruiz DaSilva, MD, envisioned accelerated progress toward precision dermatology. He described personalized medicine driven by skin-level biomarker or cytokine analysis, enabling clinicians to match targeted therapies to individual inflammatory profiles with greater efficacy and safety.

Ken Korber, PA-C, focused on time as the most valuable resource. Additional visit time would allow deeper clinical assessment, patient education, and relationship-building—elements increasingly compressed in modern practice.

Patrick Burnett, MD, PhD, echoed access concerns, mentioning disparities driven by insurance and socioeconomic status. His ideal gift would ensure that therapeutic decisions are guided by disease severity and patient need rather than coverage limitations.

Finally, Lisa Weiss, PA-C, looked toward diagnostic augmentation, envisioning advanced tools, such as AI-enabled Meta glasses, to support differential diagnosis in complex or atypical presentations.

Collectively, these wish lists reflect a shared desire for innovation that meaningfully enhances clinical decision-making, patient access, and the practice of dermatology itself.

Stay tuned for more holiday wish lists from John Barbieri, MD, MBA; Ted Rosen, MD; Peter Lio, MD; Larrisa Schmidt, DPM; and Shanna Miranti, MPAS, PA-C.