Trustees Approve Creating A Department Of Dermatology
Within The Penn State College Of Medicine At Hershey

November 16, 2001
University Park, Pa. – The Board of Trustees today (Nov. 16) unanimously approved a proposal granting full departmental status to the division of dermatology at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine.

The decision means potential expansion of clinical programs, which will increase the ability to care for dermatology patients in the region and generate more revenue for the Medical Center. As a department, dermatology also expects to expand its research and educational programs.

Departmental status will also improve the ability of dermatology researchers at PSHMC/COM to draw down increased funds for research and improve efforts to recruit and retain talented faculty, residents and fellows. Retention and recruitment are vital to strengthening educational and research missions.

Darrell G. Kirch, M.D., dean of the College of Medicine and CEO of Penn State Hershey Medical Center, hailed the Board’s decision.

“I applaud the Board of Trustees for approving our plan. Dermatology is a field of medicine that shows tremendous growth potential,” said Kirch. “Our team of clinicians, researchers and teachers has an excellent track record of success. Given those factors, it makes sense to make dermatology a department. It will greatly enhance our mission to provide world class education, research and clinical care.”

Dermatology was founded as a division within the department of medicine at the medical center and College of Medicine in 1975. An interim chair of the department will be appointed while a search is conducted to find a permanent chair.

James G. Marks, Jr., M.D., currently serves as chief of the division of dermatology. Marks has been with the division since 1980. Along with colleague Elizabeth Billingsley, M.D., who specializes in skin cancer surgery, Marks is one of two current dermatology faculty physicians to be included in The Best Doctors in America.

“Dermatology at Penn State Hershey Medical Center historically has provided excellent patient care and tremendous educational opportunity for the next generation of professional dermatologists,” said Marks. “By becoming a department, our academic excellence and the balance of our mission will be expanded and strengthened.”

Currently, the division of dermatology has a 38 member staff, including nine faculty physicians and six residents, as well as four full-time researchers. Faculty physicians also conduct research on a part-time basis. The division includes Klaus Helm, M.D., nationally recognized dermatopathologist and Diane Thiboutot, M.D. whose research regarding the biology of acne has earned her international recognition.

In the future, the department of dermatology plans to increase its educational endeavors with fellowships in dermatopathology and dermatologic surgery, expand funded basic and clinical research, and open more clinical services to the community served by Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Last year, the Dermatology Clinic at the medical center logged more than 19,000 patient visits; this year, visits are on pace to exceed 20,000.

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Contact: Sean Young, College of Medicine, (717) 531-8606 or syoung@psu.edu.