Evolving Pediatric Melanoma Care at Maui Derm NP+PA Fall 2025

On the last day of the Maui Derm NP+PA Fall Meeting, Elena Hawryluk, MD, PhD, a board-certified dermatologist and associate professor at Harvard Medical School, offered key insights into the evolving landscape of pediatric dermatology and melanoma management. As the fellowship director in pediatric dermatology at Harvard and a clinician with a focus on pigmented lesions and melanoma in children, Hawryluk brought a unique perspective to the Pigmented Lesion Clinic session.¹

Kicking off the session, Hawryluk highlighted updates from the Children’s Oncology Group, emphasizing the newly released guidelines on pediatric cutaneous melanoma, atypical Spitz tumors, and non-Spitz melanocytomas. Through a case-based approach, she and her colleagues examined how these guidelines inform practical decision-making—from diagnostic workups and histologic testing to surgical considerations such as margins and sentinel lymph node biopsy.

Hawryluk was joined by 2 expert colleagues: Vinny Seiverling, MD, of the University of Pittsburgh, who shared her expertise on dysplastic nevi and led a dermoscopy workshop, and Sameer Gupta, MD, a Mohs surgeon from Mass Eye and Ear in Boston, who discussed both surgical and non-surgical approaches to lentigo maligna and melanoma in situ.

A standout moment in Hawryluk’s talk was her review of recent advances in melanoma oncology. She shared an enthusiastic overview of developments that are transforming treatment for patients with stage III and IV disease, including adjuvant and neoadjuvant immunotherapy, combination checkpoint inhibition strategies (anti-LAG-3 and PD-1), adoptive cell therapy using tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and the emerging role of personalized immunotherapy and mRNA vaccines.

In this interview with Dermatology Times, Hawryluk reflected on the deep personal and professional rewards of working in pediatric dermatology. She emphasized the meaningful joy of helping young patients and their families and expressed a strong commitment to advancing the specialty through innovation, research, and collaborative care.

“I'm continually inspired by how the field of pediatric dermatology is evolving,” Hawryluk said. “I'm so passionate about continuing to grow and contribute in this specialty and help shape a future where pediatric patients receive even more specialized and compassionate care.”

Click here for more exclusive conference coverage and expert insights from Maui Derm NP+PA Fall, courtesy of Dermatology Times.

Reference

1. Gupta S, Hawryluk E, Seiverling E. Pigmented Lesion Clinic – Part 1 and 2. Presented at: Maui Derm NP+PA Fall 2025; September 20-23, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee.