Dermatology’s Holiday Wish List: Part 2

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.

Don’t miss even more holiday wish lists from Hilary Baldwin, MD; Douglas DiRuggiero, DMSc, MHS, PA-C; Diego Ruiz DaSilva, MD; Ted Rosen, MD; Patrick Burnett, MD, PhD; and Lisa Weiss, PA-C.

John Barbieri, MD, MBA, emphasized the promise of precision dermatology as understanding of inflammatory skin disease biology continues to deepen. He highlighted the potential clinical value of transcriptomic profiling to characterize disease-driving pathways at the individual patient level, allowing clinicians to select targeted therapies with greater accuracy, improved outcomes, and fewer adverse effects.

Ted Rosen, MD, focused on diagnostic innovation, envisioning a reliable, machine learning–enabled adjunct to dermoscopy. Such technology could provide high-confidence melanoma risk assessments in real time, reducing diagnostic uncertainty, improving early detection, and minimizing reliance on subjective interpretation.

Peter Lio, MD, identified prior authorizations as a major obstacle to effective care, noting that the time and effort required to secure medically necessary treatments detracts from patient-centered practice and contributes to clinician burnout.

Shanna Miranti, MPAS, PA-C, echoed a similar sentiment, advocating for the complete elimination of prior authorization barriers to allow timely access to appropriate therapies and restore clinicians’ ability to practice medicine without unnecessary friction.

Larissa Schmidt, DPM, part of the clinical sister duo with Miranti, offered a practical and preventative perspective in a field outside of dermatology, highlighting the importance of proper footwear in podiatry. She emphasized well-structured, supportive shoes, particularly during the holiday season, as an underappreciated but impactful intervention to promote lower-extremity health and overall patient comfort.

As you make your wish lists and check them twice, let us know: what do you hope to see as a change in dermatology in 2026? Email DTEditor@mmhgroup.com for an opportunity to be featured.