Alexa Hetzel

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.

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.

Alexa Hetzel, DMSc, PA-C, is a board-certified Physician Assistant specializing in medical dermatology with over 12 years of experience in Dermatologoy and clinical research. She currently serves as a Principal Investigator and has participated as a sub-investigator in hundreds of dermatology clinical trials, contributing to the advancement of therapies across numerous inflammatory skin diseases.

Alexa is recognized as a national educator and key opinion leader in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, delivering educational programs and speaking at regional and national conferences. She serves as a liason on various conference boards and is passionate about advancing the role of physician assistants and nurse practitioners through education, leadership, and research.

She earned her Doctor of Medical Science degree with a focus on quality improvement, completing a project that significantly reduced the time to biologic therapy initiation for patients with psoriasis through the implementation of a patient-centered education program. Her professional interests include clinical research, evidence-based practice, provider education, and improving access to innovative dermatologic therapies.

Jennifer Stein, MD PhD is a professor at NYU School of Medicine where she serves as the Associate Vice Chair of the dermatology faculty practice and the associate director of the Pigmented Lesion Section. As a specialist in early detection of melanoma and management of patients with atypical moles, she uses advanced imaging methods such as dermoscopy and sequential dermoscopic imaging for melanoma surveillance. She has lectured and published widely about melanoma in special situations such as pregnancy, and in special locations such as on the face, hands and feet.

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.

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.

Alexa Hetzel, DMSc, PA-C, is a board-certified Physician Assistant specializing in medical dermatology with over 12 years of experience in Dermatologoy and clinical research. She currently serves as a Principal Investigator and has participated as a sub-investigator in hundreds of dermatology clinical trials, contributing to the advancement of therapies across numerous inflammatory skin diseases.

Alexa is recognized as a national educator and key opinion leader in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis, delivering educational programs and speaking at regional and national conferences. She serves as a liason on various conference boards and is passionate about advancing the role of physician assistants and nurse practitioners through education, leadership, and research.

She earned her Doctor of Medical Science degree with a focus on quality improvement, completing a project that significantly reduced the time to biologic therapy initiation for patients with psoriasis through the implementation of a patient-centered education program. Her professional interests include clinical research, evidence-based practice, provider education, and improving access to innovative dermatologic therapies.

Jennifer Stein, MD PhD is a professor at NYU School of Medicine where she serves as the Associate Vice Chair of the dermatology faculty practice and the associate director of the Pigmented Lesion Section. As a specialist in early detection of melanoma and management of patients with atypical moles, she uses advanced imaging methods such as dermoscopy and sequential dermoscopic imaging for melanoma surveillance. She has lectured and published widely about melanoma in special situations such as pregnancy, and in special locations such as on the face, hands and feet.