New dermatology department to train physicians, researchers and safeguard skin health

Clara Curiel-Lewandrowski, MD, has been named the inaugural chair of the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson’s new Department of Dermatology, a unit that was formerly housed under the college’s Department of Medicine as the Division of Dermatology.

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Curiel-Lewandrowski, who was dermatology’s division chief since 2020, initiated the transition three years ago. She laid down much of the groundwork as a Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine fellow, when she created a roadmap for transforming a dermatology division into a department.

“Dr. Curiel-Lewandrowski has played an essential role in the transition of dermatology from a division in the Department of Medicine to its own department,” said Michael M.I. Abecassis, MD, MBA, the inaugural Humberto and Czarina Lopez Endowed Dean of the College of Medicine – Tucson. “Her track record of innovation as a physician-scientist and her passion for all facets of the college’s tripartite mission qualify her as the ideal inaugural chair. We are all extremely excited about the future of this new academic department under Dr. Curiel-Lewandrowski’s leadership.”

“This new department represents our commitment to serving a growing and diverse community across all aspects of our mission,” Curiel-Lewandrowski said. “We are expanding access to high-quality dermatologic care, preparing the next generation of medical professionals, and advancing research in areas such as skin cancer, complex inflammatory diseases and the effects of aging on skin health, among other fields. It’s a privilege to build a program that leverages the strengths of our institution to meet the real needs of Arizonans and beyond with purpose, innovation and collaboration.”

The creation of a new academic department will allow the college to pursue a greater educational and research focus on dermatology, which is especially important in a sun-drenched state such as Arizona. According to the National Cancer Institute, Arizona is tied at No. 4 in the nation for incidence of melanoma, a serious type of skin cancer that is linked to sun exposure, including a history of sunburn and daily exposure to ultraviolet light. Melanoma is the fourth most common type of cancer diagnosed in the state, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Other, more common types of skin cancer are also on the rise, though they are not tracked in national or state registries.

A testament to her focus on skin cancer, Curiel-Lewandrowski is affiliated with the University of Arizona Cancer Center as the director of the Cutaneous Oncology Program and Pigmented Lesion Clinic, as well as the co-founder and co-director of the Skin Cancer Institute, where she previously was the interim director of research. She is the co-principal investigator of a high-profile grant that supports research into skin cancer “chemoprevention,” treatments that can lower skin cancer risk by stopping or slowing cancer progression.

“Dr. Curiel-Lewandrowski’s appointment as the inaugural chair of dermatology brings to fruition a vision grounded in more than two decades of service to the University of Arizona and the Tucson community,” said Dan Theodorescu, MD, PhD, the Nancy C. and Craig M. Berge endowed chair for the director of the Cancer Center. “The new department is a testament to her leadership in skin cancer research, education and clinical care, directly addressing melanoma and sun-related skin disease in this region.”

“Dr. Curiel is an internationally known physician-scientist who innovates strategies for cancer prevention, detection and treatment, always putting her patients first,” said University of Arizona Provost Patricia Prelock, PhD. “She has been the principal investigator on prestigious grants, has her name on multiple patents and was named the 2018 Arizona Bioscience Researcher of the Year. She has been raising the university’s profile for more than two decades and will continue to do so as she leads our newest academic department into the future.”

The new department is expected to expand access to care in the region by increasing faculty capacity to care for Southern Arizona residents. Physicians based at the Banner – University Medicine Tucson dermatology clinic and the U of A Cancer Center work hand in hand with Banner specialists across multiple disciplines, including oncology, surgery, rheumatology, allergy and infectious diseases. Through this approach, the dermatology department collaborates to increase access to comprehensive care encompassing preventive, diagnostic, medical, surgical and aesthetic services to address a broad range of dermatological conditions.

“Under Dr. Curiel-Lewandrowski’s leadership, the new Department of Dermatology will improve access to care in a region that truly needs it, while expanding the training environment for dermatology residents, medical students and other trainees across the university and the state,” said Richard Orlandi, MD, CEO of Banner – University Medical Group.

Curiel-Lewandrowski believes that the separation of dermatology from the Department of Medicine aligns the medical school with others in the country.

“Dermatology has its own regulatory oversight and board certification, separate from other medical subspecialties,” she said. “Most programs across the country are structured as departments, which reflects the unique nature of our field. Dermatology is also highly multifaceted, with subspecialties that span surgery, medical dermatology, pediatrics, dermatopathology and procedural care — areas that typically thrive within the infrastructure and resources a dedicated department can provide.”

Curiel-Lewandrowski says she values the opportunity to educate her patients about keeping their skin healthy in one of the sunniest parts of the country.

“The most rewarding part of my job is seeing our patients receive comprehensive, compassionate and high-quality care,” Curiel-Lewandrowski said. “What makes it even more meaningful is knowing that this care is delivered alongside our commitment to educating the next generation of dermatologists and other health care providers, while also working tirelessly to close gaps in care through the research of our dedicated scientists at the University of Arizona and our collaborators across institutions. It’s incredibly special to witness how our work can truly touch and shape people’s lives.”