Faculty

Brittany Weber

MD, PhD
Director, Cardio-Dermatology and Cardio-Rheumatology Program
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Dr. Weber is the Director of the Cardio-Dermatology and Cardio-Rheumatology Program, and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine with an MD-PhD in Immunology. She received internal medicine training, including serving as a chief medical resident, and cardiovascular training, including an advanced cardiovascular imaging research fellowship at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Her clinical interests include cardiovascular risk stratification and prevention with patients with systemic inflammatory disorders. Her research leverages advanced cardiovascular imaging (stress/PET and coronary CT), biomarkers, and immunology to investigate the relationships between systemic inflammation and CVD, with a focus on the coronary microcirculation and novel metrics of atherosclerotic plaque imaging. Her multi-disciplinary clinical and research program includes close collaborations between cardiology, rheumatology, and dermatology. As a testament to her success in this short time frame, she is the recipient of the 2025 American College of Cardiology (ACC) Douglas P. Zipes Distinguished Young Scientist Award.

2026 Sessions

Bridging Specialties for Better Care: The Cardiovascular-Dermatology Interface

Chronic inflammatory skin diseases like psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa, atopic dermatitis, and alopecia areata are now recognized as significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Meanwhile, cardiovascular conditions—like infective endocarditis, heart failure, and thromboembolism—can present with key skin findings that aid in diagnosis. This session explores the bidirectional relationship between skin and heart health, highlighting how therapies in one domain can impact the other, and emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary awareness. Despite growing evidence, clear screening guidelines for cardiovascular risk in dermatologic patients remain limited, making education and early recognition essential for improving outcomes.

Co-Host

Keynote Speaker

Saturday, March 14 7:00–7:45 AM
Co-Chairs

Alice Gottlieb

MD, PhD
Department of Dermatology
UT Southwestern Medical Center

Dr. Alice B. Gottlieb is an internationally recognized expert in the field of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Her research uses targeted immunobiologics as pathogenic probes, providing a new understanding of the pathogenesis of psoriasis and providing the foundation for biologic drug development in these two debilitating diseases. In addition, she is a noteworthy researcher, but she is also an exceptionally outstanding clinician and educator. She is triple board-certified in dermatology, rheumatology, and internal medicine, making her one of only a handful of doctors in the United States to be certified in all three specialties. Her research has helped the numerous students, residents, and fellows she has trained, as well as the dermatologic community at large, which wants to understand how to diagnose and manage psoriatic arthritis. Dr. Gottlieb is the recipient of numerous awards, including the American Academy of Dermatology’s (AAD) 2023 Master Dermatologist Award and the 2016 National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) Outstanding Educator in Psoriatic Disease Award.

Co-Chairs

Joseph Merola

MD, MMSc, FAAD, FACR
Department of Dermatology and Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology
UT Southwestern Medical Center and O'Donnell School of Public Health

Joseph F. Merola, MD, MMSc is Chair of Dermatology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX; he is Professor of Dermatology, Medicine and Rheumatology at UTSW and the Peter O’Donnell Jr School of Public Health. He holds the Mary Kay Distinguished Chair in Dermatology. Dr. Merola is board-certified in Dermatology, Internal Medicine, and Rheumatology. He earned his medical degree at the NYU School of Medicine and his Masters at Harvard Medical School. He completed an internship in Internal Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, residency in Dermatology at NYU Medical Center. He continued with a residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Rheumatology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital / Harvard Medical School in Boston. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Dermatology, is the Founding President of PPACMAN, is on the Scientific and Medical Boards of the National Psoriasis Foundation, Board of the International Dermatology Outcome Measures Group and president-elect of GRAPPA, the Board of the American Skin Association, on the Medical and Scientific Board of the Lupus Foundation of America. He is also the recent past president of the Medical Dermatology Society and is president-elect of the Rheumatology-Dermatology Society. He is a councilor for the International Eczema Council as well as the International Psoriasis Council. He has served on multiple committees including the AAD Guidelines Committee. Dr. Merola has published over 340 peer-reviewed publications and received numerous awards for education, research and mentorship.

Faculty

Brittany Weber

MD, PhD
Director, Cardio-Dermatology and Cardio-Rheumatology Program
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Dr. Weber is the Director of the Cardio-Dermatology and Cardio-Rheumatology Program, and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine with an MD-PhD in Immunology. She received internal medicine training, including serving as a chief medical resident, and cardiovascular training, including an advanced cardiovascular imaging research fellowship at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Her clinical interests include cardiovascular risk stratification and prevention with patients with systemic inflammatory disorders. Her research leverages advanced cardiovascular imaging (stress/PET and coronary CT), biomarkers, and immunology to investigate the relationships between systemic inflammation and CVD, with a focus on the coronary microcirculation and novel metrics of atherosclerotic plaque imaging. Her multi-disciplinary clinical and research program includes close collaborations between cardiology, rheumatology, and dermatology. As a testament to her success in this short time frame, she is the recipient of the 2025 American College of Cardiology (ACC) Douglas P. Zipes Distinguished Young Scientist Award.

Your Questions, Their Answers: March Q&A

Join a panel of leading dermatology experts for a dynamic, interactive Q&A session addressing the most pressing questions facing today’s dermatology practices. This session will focus on real-world clinical challenges, emerging trends, and practical strategies to optimize patient care, practice efficiency, and clinical decision-making. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage directly with faculty, gain expert insights on controversial and evolving topics, and leave with actionable takeaways they can immediately apply in practice on Monday.

Moderator

Panelist

Saturday, March 14 10:00–10:30 AM
Co-Chairs

Alice Gottlieb

MD, PhD
Department of Dermatology
UT Southwestern Medical Center

Dr. Alice B. Gottlieb is an internationally recognized expert in the field of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Her research uses targeted immunobiologics as pathogenic probes, providing a new understanding of the pathogenesis of psoriasis and providing the foundation for biologic drug development in these two debilitating diseases. In addition, she is a noteworthy researcher, but she is also an exceptionally outstanding clinician and educator. She is triple board-certified in dermatology, rheumatology, and internal medicine, making her one of only a handful of doctors in the United States to be certified in all three specialties. Her research has helped the numerous students, residents, and fellows she has trained, as well as the dermatologic community at large, which wants to understand how to diagnose and manage psoriatic arthritis. Dr. Gottlieb is the recipient of numerous awards, including the American Academy of Dermatology’s (AAD) 2023 Master Dermatologist Award and the 2016 National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) Outstanding Educator in Psoriatic Disease Award.

Co-Chairs

Joseph Merola

MD, MMSc, FAAD, FACR
Department of Dermatology and Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology
UT Southwestern Medical Center and O'Donnell School of Public Health

Joseph F. Merola, MD, MMSc is Chair of Dermatology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX; he is Professor of Dermatology, Medicine and Rheumatology at UTSW and the Peter O’Donnell Jr School of Public Health. He holds the Mary Kay Distinguished Chair in Dermatology. Dr. Merola is board-certified in Dermatology, Internal Medicine, and Rheumatology. He earned his medical degree at the NYU School of Medicine and his Masters at Harvard Medical School. He completed an internship in Internal Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, residency in Dermatology at NYU Medical Center. He continued with a residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Rheumatology at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital / Harvard Medical School in Boston. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Dermatology, is the Founding President of PPACMAN, is on the Scientific and Medical Boards of the National Psoriasis Foundation, Board of the International Dermatology Outcome Measures Group and president-elect of GRAPPA, the Board of the American Skin Association, on the Medical and Scientific Board of the Lupus Foundation of America. He is also the recent past president of the Medical Dermatology Society and is president-elect of the Rheumatology-Dermatology Society. He is a councilor for the International Eczema Council as well as the International Psoriasis Council. He has served on multiple committees including the AAD Guidelines Committee. Dr. Merola has published over 340 peer-reviewed publications and received numerous awards for education, research and mentorship.

Faculty

Andrew Blauvelt

MD, MBA
Owner
Blauvelt Consulting, LLC

Dr. Blauvelt is Owner of Blauvelt Consulting, LLC. He received his BS at Purdue University, his MD at Michigan State University, and a healthcare MBA at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). Dr. Blauvelt trained in dermatology at the University of Miami and in cellular immunology at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Earlier in his career, he held senior staff positions at the NIH, OHSU, and the Portland VA Medical Center as well as being Owner and President of Oregon Medical Research Center for 10 years. Dr. Blauvelt has published over 450 papers and spoken across the country and world on immunology, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis. Within psoriasis research, his laboratory published key papers on the role of IL-23/Th17 biology in this disease. In recent years, he has been the international lead/senior investigator on numerous important clinical trials in psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and other diseases, including KNOCKOUT. Dr. Blauvelt is also an elected member of the International Psoriasis Council and the International Eczema Council; he became Chair of the Medical Board for the National Psoriasis Foundation in 2023, an organization he has worked closely with for over 25 years in a variety of capacities.

Faculty

Brittany Weber

MD, PhD
Director, Cardio-Dermatology and Cardio-Rheumatology Program
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Dr. Weber is the Director of the Cardio-Dermatology and Cardio-Rheumatology Program, and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine with an MD-PhD in Immunology. She received internal medicine training, including serving as a chief medical resident, and cardiovascular training, including an advanced cardiovascular imaging research fellowship at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Her clinical interests include cardiovascular risk stratification and prevention with patients with systemic inflammatory disorders. Her research leverages advanced cardiovascular imaging (stress/PET and coronary CT), biomarkers, and immunology to investigate the relationships between systemic inflammation and CVD, with a focus on the coronary microcirculation and novel metrics of atherosclerotic plaque imaging. Her multi-disciplinary clinical and research program includes close collaborations between cardiology, rheumatology, and dermatology. As a testament to her success in this short time frame, she is the recipient of the 2025 American College of Cardiology (ACC) Douglas P. Zipes Distinguished Young Scientist Award.

Back to top