Faculty Bibliography

The Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) is a validated patient-reported outcome measure for atopic dermatitis (AD), though its use in routine pediatric dermatology practice remains underexplored. In this cross-sectional study of 297 pediatric patients with AD at a tertiary pediatric dermatology clinic, POEM scores were collected and compared with physician-rated investigator global assessment (IGA) and IGA × body surface area, as well as treatment selection. Older patients (> 12 years) had significantly higher mean POEM scores (17.5 vs. 10.4; p < 0.001) with no significant differences observed by race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status; total POEM scores correlated strongly with IGA (r = 0.68) and moderately with IGA×BSA (r = 0.54), and higher severity scores were associated with more potent topical corticosteroids and systemic treatments (p < 0.001). POEM detected clinically relevant changes, aligned with physician-rated measures, and correlated with treatment intensity, underscoring its utility in both clinical practice and future predictive modeling applications.

BACKGROUND:Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors represent promising therapies for dermatologic conditions, including psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), atopic dermatitis (AD), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and vitiligo. There are little data available evaluating the composition of research cohorts for this emerging treatment modality. Adequate racial representation in clinical trials is essential. OBJECTIVE:To characterize the study populations of clinical trials for Janus kinase inhibitors for dermatologic indications. METHODS:Clinical trials were identified from January 2000 to March 2025 through PubMed using the following keywords: "Janus kinase inhibitor," "JAK inhibitor," "alopecia areata," "atopic dermatitis," "hidradenitis suppurativa," "systemic lupus erythematosus," "systemic sclerosis," "psoriasis," and "vitiligo." Additional trials were retrieved from ClinicalTrials.gov using the search term "JAK inhibitor." Each trial was reviewed for demographic data, including race and ethnicity. Additional variables collected included Fitzpatrick skin type and quality-of-life measures. The distribution of race among trial participants was compared to the current US population and the condition-specific prevalence data where available. RESULTS:Of 399 identified studies, 207 clinical trials were included in our analysis, including 57,112 study participants were analyzed. Among studies reporting race (57.5%), representation was predominantly White (75.1%), followed by Asian (13.2%), Black (6.6%), American Indian/Alaska Native (0.48%), Native Hawaiian (0.11%), and multiple races (0.43%). Underrepresentation was pronounced among Black participants in psoriasis (1.3%), SLE (1.0%), and vitiligo trials (5.1%), although higher in HS (27.9%). Representation in these trials significantly differed from the racial distribution of US patients with vitiligo (P=0.012) and AD (P=0.00088). White patients were overrepresented in vitiligo and AD trials (Pearson residual=1.06, 2.71), while Black patients were underrepresented in these trials (Pearson residual=-2.66, -2.14). Additionally, a minority of studies (28.98%) reported on QoL metrics, which are essential tools for measuring disease burden and impact on patients. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE/CONCLUSIONS:Reporting on racial data, Fitzpatrick skin type, and quality of life measures is lacking in clinical trials for Janus kinase inhibitors. These factors play a key role in addressing comorbidities and mitigating disease burden. These findings highlight a need for improved recruitment strategies targeting underrepresented populations in dermatologic clinical research. &nbsp.

BACKGROUND/UNASSIGNED:Academic dermatologists manage a broad array of responsibilities, often extending beyond clinical duties to include education, research, mentorship, and administrative work. OBJECTIVE/UNASSIGNED:This study aimed to quantify the scope of paid and unpaid responsibilities among academic dermatologists in the United States and identify disparities based on gender, career stage, and geography. METHODS/UNASSIGNED:A cross-sectional survey of 63 board-certified academic dermatologists from 12 institutions collected data on demographics, workweek allocation, after-hours tasks, compensation, burnout, and resilience from January to May 2025. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:Respondents reported spending 58.3% of their time on clinical care, 15.9% on administrative duties, 13.8% on education, and 11.9% on research. Nearly half received 11 to 50 daily patient messages via the clinical inbox, and over 80% took hospital call duties, with most receiving no extra compensation. Burnout affected 63.5% of respondents and was significantly more prevalent among women, early-career physicians, and those in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. Resilience scores were lower among women. Consulting opportunities, often associated with supplemental income and career advancement, were more common among male and senior physicians. Parental leave policies were inconsistently applied and poorly understood; nearly 20% of respondents had 8 or fewer weeks of paid parental leave. LIMITATIONS/UNASSIGNED:Study limitations include the relatively small sample size and overrepresentation of the Northeast region, potentially hindering generalizability. Additionally, no significant race-based differences were observed, which may be due to insufficient sample sizes within comparator groups. CONCLUSION/UNASSIGNED:These findings highlight the cumulative burden of undercompensated labor, inadequate institutional support, and gender disparities in workload and opportunity. Structural changes in compensation transparency, workload distribution, recognition of academic labor, and support for early-career and female physicians are essential to fostering sustainability and equity within academic dermatology.