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Advantages and Constraints of the Fitzpatrick and Skin Typing Classification Systems

Sunday, December 1, 2024 at 12:00 AM (CST) to Friday, December 31, 2027 at 11:59 PM (CST)

On-Demand Video

2023 Meeting the Challenge Summit

Population Descriptors in Dermatology 

Session 2: Advantages and Constraints of the Fitzpatrick and Skin Typing Classification Systems

This meeting was planned and organized by the 2023-2024 SOCS Diversity in Dermatology Clinical Trials Task Force co-chaired by Drs. Valerie D. Callender and Valerie M. Harvey. More details can be found here

Lecture: The Eumelanin Human Skin Colour Scale; A Proof-of-Concept Study

Speaker: Ophelia E. Dadzie, BSc (Hons), MBBS, FRCP, DipRCPath (Dermpath), MSc (Genomic Medicine)

Consultant Dermatologist, The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation

Chair of the Dermatological Lexicon Group, British Association of Dermatologists

Dr. Dadzie is a Consultant Dermatologist at The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. She is also a trained Dermatopathologist  (FRCP (DipRCPath (Dermpath)), and also holds a MSc in Genomic Medicine. Dr. Dadzie has a long-standing interest in human cutaneous diversity, having lectured and published in this field. Currently, she is the chair of the Dermatological Lexicon Group of the British Association of Dermatologists, through this collaborative research group, a new method for classifying human skin colour has been proposed --The Eumelanin Human Skin Colour Scale.


Lecture: Bridging Gaps: The Skin Color and Ethnicity Scale

Speaker: Pearl E. Grimes, MD, FAAD

Director, The Grimes Center for Medical and Aesthetic Dermatology

Director, The Vitiligo & Pigmentation Institute of Southern California

Dr. Grimes is a renowned dermatologist and global expert in vitiligo and pigmentation disorders. As the Director of the Vitiligo and Pigmentation Institute of Southern California and the Grimes Institute for Medical and Aesthetic Dermatology, she specializes in diverse dermatologic health and aesthetic concerns, providing top-tier care with a strong focus on patient safety. Dr. Grimes is also a distinguished author and lecturer, having written extensively on pigmentation disorders, cosmetic procedures, and the vital role of Vitamin D in health. Her dedication to educating the public extends beyond medicine as she founded the non-profit organization CARRY, aiming to empower at-risk youth through innovative programs. Dr. Grimes has received numerous awards for her contributions to dermatology and is widely recognized for her patient-centered approach.


Lecture: Fitzpatrick' Skin Phototype and Individual Typology Angle

Speaker: Henry W. Lim, MD, FAAD

Former Chair

Department of Dermatology

Dr. Lim, former Clarence S. Livingood chair and chairman of the Department of Dermatology at Henry Ford Health in Detroit, is a distinguished figure in dermatology. He holds an M.D. (cum laude) from SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University and completed his dermatology residency at New York University School of Medicine. Dr. Lim has held leadership positions in various dermatological associations, including president roles in the American Academy of Dermatology, American Board of Dermatology, American Dermatological Association, American Society for Photobiology, and International Union of Photobiology.

In 2019, he became a Board member of the International League of Dermatological Societies, later serving as its president starting in July 2023. Dr. Lim has received numerous accolades, including 14 presidential citations from the AAD, an Honorary Membership of the AAD in 2020, and the Fred W. Whitehouse, MD, Distinguished Career Award of the Henry Ford Medical Group. 

Dr. Lim's contributions to dermatology are reflected in his extensive publication record, with over 570 articles and 11 edited textbooks..


Lecture: Advantages and Constraints of the Fitzpatrick and Other Skin Typing Classification Systems

Speaker: Susan C. Taylor, MD, FAAD

Bernett L. Johnson Endowed Professor

Director, Skin of Color Research Fellowship

Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Past Vice-President American Academy of Dermatology (2020-2021)

Founder, Skin of Color Society

Dr. Taylor is the Bernett Johnson Endowed Professor of Dermatology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. In addition, she is Emeritus Professor in the Department of Dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, NY. She received her medical degree from Harvard Medical School in Boston and is a diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Dermatology.

Dr. Taylor’s clinical and research focus includes pigmentary disorders, acne, and alopecia. Her work has focused on advancing clinical knowledge and addressing gaps in central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia. She also serves as Principal Investigator for Phase II through Phase IV clinical research trials. Dr. Taylor has over 100 original publications as well as five books, including Taylor and Kelly’s Dermatology for Skin of Color. She has given more than 80 lectures both nationally and internationally. 

Dr. Taylor was elected President-elect of the American Academy of Dermatology and will take office in March 2024. She is active in a number of dermatologic organizations in addition to serving as a peer reviewer and on editorial boards for multiple publications. Dr. Taylor is the founding member and past president of the Skin of Color Society. 

Moderator

Seemal R. Desai, MD, FAAD

President, Medical Director, Innovative Dermatology

Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology, UT Southwestern

Dr. Seemal Desai is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology, and a Board Certified Dermatologist. He graduated with honors from Emory University. He received his medical training at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, and received his Doctor of Medicine degree with Magna Cum Laude with honors. Following medical school, Dr. Desai completed his dermatology residency at The University of Alabama at Birmingham where he was Chief Resident.

Dr. Desai has been active on a local, state, and national level with numerous medical organizations, and is also actively involved in teaching and mentoring medical students and residents. He is the Founder & Medical Director of Innovative Dermatology, a state-of-the-art private practice in the Dallas area, and also serves as Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Desai is a Past President of the Skin of Color Society and currently serves as AAD President-Elect. Upon assuming the Presidency of AAD in 2024, Dr. Desai will be the youngest dermatologist to serve in that capacity.