Building Social and Scientific Networks to Grow Our Global Skin Biology Community

The field of skin biology is beautifully dynamic and growing rapidly. This expanding wave of new knowledge is transforming the clinical practice of Dermatology on a constant basis. Key to translating the new knowledge being acquired about skin disease is the conduit of skills and knowledge that can reliably move such discoveries through the maze of activities needed to bring change to clinical practice. There are many links in this chain. We must maintain a diverse physician scientist workforce that can conduct basic and clinical research and serve as teaching faculty in departments of Dermatology. Researchers with broad expertise in basic, translational and clinical research are also needed for the field to thrive. To achieve success in moving knowledge from the bench to the bedside, individuals are needed both in departments of dermatology and other university departments, as well as in private enterprise conducting skin-related research and product development.