After graduating from Harvard Medical School Dr. Falanga completed internship and residency training in Internal Medicine at the University of Miami and at the University of Pennsylvania, respectively. Full time faculty appointments followed, including at the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Miami, and finally at Boston University, where he is Professor Emeritus in Dermatology and Biochemistry. During and after clinical training he developed a life-long interest in the basic science aspects of wound healing and failure to heal. Among his contributions are a better understanding of the regulation and molecular aspects of recombinant growth factors, particularly transforming growth factor-β, the effects of hypoxia on collagen gene regulation, and the use of bioengineered skin and laboratory-cultured stem cells in chronic wounds. He led the studies resulting in the first FDA approval of bioengineered skin in chronic wounds and showed that bone marrow-derived cultured mesenchymal stem cells enhance wounds characterized by impaired healing. He has shed greater light on ways to improve the healing of inflammatory skin ulcerations,and has characterized the importance of wound bed preparation. In 2003 he spent a year in the laboratory of Anita Roberts, PhD, at the NIH National Cancer Institute, where he also developed a new murine model for assessing wound closure. He has mentored many outstanding clinicians and scientists who have made important contributions to wound healing. He is presently working in the Mass General Brigham network of Adult and Pediatric Dermatology (APDerm). His work remains focused on innovative ways to enhance cutaneous wound healing.