Catherine Barker | Dermatology | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Catherine Barker | Dermatology | Best Researcher Award

 Dr. Dermatology Resident.,  Medical University of South Carolina, United states

Catherine Shirer Barker, MD, is a distinguished dermatology resident at the Medical University of South Carolina. Born and raised in South Carolina, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences with a Spanish minor, graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of South Carolina Honors College. She pursued a Doctor of Medicine degree at MUSC College of Medicine, completing medical school, followed by a preliminary internal medicine year. Her professional journey reflects a consistent commitment to patient care, medical education, and research excellence. Fluent in Spanish, she has worked extensively with underserved populations and volunteered as a medical interpreter, bridging linguistic and cultural gaps in healthcare delivery. Catherine’s multidisciplinary background, linguistic skills, and proactive leadership make her a dynamic early-career physician dedicated to advancing dermatologic care, global health, and health equity.

Professional Profile

ORCID

Education 

Dr. Barker earned her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences with a Spanish minor from the University of South Carolina Honors College, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Her undergraduate thesis explored physician perceptions of medication nonadherence among diabetic immigrant patients. She went on to pursue her Doctor of Medicine degree at the MUSC College of Medicine. Following medical school, she completed a preliminary internal medicine residency at MUSC, which provided a strong foundation in internal medicine. She is currently in her dermatology residency at MUSC. Throughout her training, she has maintained certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and completed comprehensive CITI training, including Good Clinical Practice for behavioral research, biomedical investigations, human subjects protection, and ICH guidelines for investigational trials. This educational path demonstrates her dedication to clinical medicine, research ethics, and specialized dermatologic care.

 Research Experience 

Dr. Barker’s research portfolio is both broad and impactful. As a medical student at MUSC, she contributed to major dermatopathology research, including a retrospective analysis of 879 direct immunofluorescence (DIF) specimens in bullous diseases, where she demonstrated that n-serrated waves should not exclude bullous lupus and that u-serrated patterns had limited sensitivity for diagnosis. At local free clinics in Charleston, she led a project identifying dermatologic care gaps among uninsured patients, managed IRB applications, surveyed seven clinics, and created a prescribing guide to reduce misdiagnoses. She also co-authored a retrospective study on nurse navigation’s impact on timelines to care in breast pathology, reinforcing the value of improved care coordination. Her undergraduate research addressed diabetic polypharmacy outcomes in hospital stays and explored IL‑33/ST2 pathways in tumorogenesis in murine models. Across these roles, she has been involved in data collection, protocol development, literature review, manuscript writing, IRB applications, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Research Focus 

Dr. Barker’s primary research interests lie at the intersection of dermatopathology, inflammatory/connective tissue dermatologic disease, and health equity. She is especially focused on serration patterns (u- versus n-serrated) in direct immunofluorescence specimens to refine diagnostic criteria for bullous diseases (e.g., bullous pemphigoid, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, and bullous lupus). She also investigates practical solutions to improve dermatologic access in underserved populations by implementing teledermatology programs, optimizing prescribing practices in free clinics, and assessing care delivery gaps between primary care providers and specialists. Her work extends to exploring immunomodulatory treatments—such as using dupilumab for actinic prurigo—and dermatologic implications of connective tissue and mycobacterial diseases. Moreover, her interest in global health and equitable access is evident in her outreach to uninsured and immigrant patient groups. Dr. Barker seeks to integrate clinical insights with novel diagnostic and therapeutic pathways to advance skin disease care in both academic and community settings.

Publication Top Notes

  1. Hudson K, Barker C, Oates J, Williams K. Rheumatologic manifestations in an X-linked chronic granulomatous disease carrier. American Journal of Medical Science. Accepted July 2025.
    Summary: Case series exploring autoimmune and rheumatologic features in female carriers of CGD—a novel clinical lens on CGD heterozygosity.

  2. Sagut P, Lyles E, Vroman J, Barker C, Juratli H, Bruner E, Self S, Elston D. A Comparative Study of Direct Immunofluorescence Patterns in Linear IgA Bullous Dermatosis versus Dermatitis Herpetiformis. American Journal of Dermatopathology. Published November 2024.
    Summary: Direct immunofluorescence patterns compared between two blistering disorders to improve differentiation and diagnostic accuracy.

  3. Barker C, Elston D, Lee K. Generalized Fixed Drug Eruption: A Case Series and Literature Review. Cutis, July 2024.
    Summary: Case series of generalized fixed drug eruptions, synthesizing treatment outcomes and literature-based management comparisons.

  4. Barker C, Elston D. Asymptomatic Erythematous Plaque in an Outdoorsman. Cutis, April 2024.
    Summary: Clinical vignette of an outdoor-activity-related dermatologic presentation, highlighting diagnostic considerations.

  5. Barker C, McGovern TW, Elston DM. Botanical Briefs: Phototoxic Fig Trees. Cutis, April 2024.
    Summary: Educational brief describing plant‑induced phototoxic dermatoses related to fig tree exposures.

  6. Barker C, Sattele L, Strat N, Snyder A, Siegel M, Wine Lee L. Dupilumab as Treatment for Actinic Prurigo. JAAD Case Reports, March 2024.
    Summary: Case series documenting success of dupilumab in treating refractory actinic prurigo, offering mechanistic and therapeutic insights.

  7. Barker C, Bruner E, Self S, Elston D. U‑Serrated and N‑Serrated Patterns in Bullous Pemphigoid, Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita, and Bullous Lupus: A Retrospective Observational Study. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Feb 2024.
    Summary: Large DIF study examining serrated immunofluorescence patterns to refine diagnostic thresholds for bullous dermatoses—finding n-serration not exclusionary for lupus and low sensitivity of u-serration for bullous lupus.

  8. Barker C, Alshaikh H, Elston D. Dermatology Practice Updates in Mycobacterial Disease. International Journal of Dermatology, Dec 2023.
    Summary: Review article summarizing emerging diagnostic and treatment modalities in dermatologic manifestations of mycobacterial infection.

  9. Chung C, Barker C, Mukherjee R, et al. The Impact of Nurse Navigation on Timeliness to Treatment for Benign Breast Pathology. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, Aug 2023.
    Summary: Study linking nurse navigation programs with shorter referral-to-treatment intervals in high-risk benign breast lesions.

  10. Lateef A, Barker C, Snyder A, et al. Adverse events seen with fillers. Dermatology Reviews, July 2023.
    Summary: Review of complications associated with cosmetic fillers, with recommendations for prevention and management.

Conclusion

Dr. Catherine Shirer Barker stands out as an exceptionally strong candidate for a Best Researcher Award, particularly in early-career or resident categories. Her work bridges clinical dermatology, social determinants of health, and translational science with notable clarity, productivity, and compassion. With continued trajectory toward independent funding and broader-scale research leadership, she is poised to become a national leader in dermatologic research.

 

Salvador Gonzalez | Skin Cancer Prevention | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Salvador Gonzalez | Skin Cancer Prevention | Best Researcher Award

Clinician/Researcher, Alcalá University, Spain

Dr. Salvador González is an accredited Full Professor at the Quality and Accreditation Evaluation National Agency (ANECA) and an Associate Professor in Medicine at Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain. He also serves as an advisor in the Dermatology Department at Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid. Dr. González has a remarkable career in dermatology and medical research, having held prestigious academic and clinical positions worldwide. He has taught at renowned institutions such as Harvard Medical School, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and Universidad de Alcalá. His dedication to advancing dermatology spans clinical practice, teaching, and groundbreaking research. He has been instrumental in photodynamic therapy (PDT), reflectance confocal microscopy, and skin cancer prevention. His expertise has earned him global recognition and a multitude of awards, making him a leading figure in dermatology.

Profile

Scopus

Education

Dr. Salvador González’s academic journey began at the Universidad de Málaga, Spain, where he earned his MD in 1982. His specialization in dermatology was pursued at the Dermatology Department of the same university from 1982 to 1985. He furthered his education with a Diploma in Public Health from the National Health Institute, Madrid, in 1986, and later obtained his Ph.D. in Medicine (Cellular Biology, with a focus on dermatology) from the University of Málaga in 1990. His advanced studies laid the groundwork for his extensive work in medical research and dermatology. Throughout his career, Dr. González has continually expanded his academic horizons through positions at prestigious institutions such as Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, earning global recognition for his expertise in dermatology and his research in skin cancer and innovative medical technologies.

Experience

Dr. Salvador González has an illustrious career spanning over three decades. From 1985 to 1993, he worked as a Clinical Dermatologist for the Penitentiary Health and National Health System in Málaga, Spain. He then pursued significant research in the U.S. as a Beca de Investigación at the Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) from 1993 to 1995. Dr. González’s academic roles include serving as a Dermatology Professor at Harvard Medical School from 1997 to 2000. His academic journey further included being an Assistant Biochemist at MGH, Boston, and an Associate Scientist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, from 2003 to 2017. He is currently an advisor to the Dermatology Department at Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain. Dr. González has also held leadership positions in various biopharmaceutical companies, contributing significantly to medical advancements in dermatology, particularly skin cancer and photomedicine.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Salvador González has received numerous prestigious awards and honors throughout his career. In 1999, he was awarded the Alexander A. Fisher Bronze Award by the American Society of Contact Dermatitis. He was named an Honorary Member of the Dermatology Mexican Society and the International Plastic Dermatology Society in 1999 and 2000. He received two Research Awards from The Skin Cancer Foundation in 2000 and 2001. In 2004, Dr. González became an Honorary Member of the Dermatology Academy of Saudi Arabia. His distinguished career has also led to global recognition, including being selected for “Who’s Who” in the USA and being awarded the Melilla’s Year Citizen Award (2005). Notable honors include the 2014 Khosrow Montaz Memorial Lectureship Award from Massachusetts General Hospital, the 2015 Gold Medal from Forum Europe for his contributions to medicine, and the Presidential Citation from the American Academy of Dermatology in 2017 for his work on Reflectance Confocal Microscopy.

Research Focus

Dr. Salvador González’s research focus lies primarily in dermatology, with an emphasis on skin cancer prevention, photodynamic therapy (PDT), and reflectance confocal microscopy. His work has significantly advanced the understanding of basal cell carcinoma, Bowen’s disease, and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, particularly in terms of their response to PDT. He has also explored the effects of personalized photoprotection and the impact of blue light on retinal pigment epithelial cells. Dr. González’s research has led to breakthroughs in the clinical application of PDT and new insights into the molecular markers that affect treatment responses. His commitment to advancing non-invasive diagnostic tools, like reflectance confocal microscopy, has revolutionized skin cancer detection. Dr. González continues to lead studies that bridge the gap between basic dermatological science and clinical practice, with a long-term goal of improving patient outcomes and advancing personalized treatments in dermatology.

Publication

  1. Analysis of Tumoral, Stromal, and Glycolytic Markers in the Response of Basal Cell Carcinoma and Bowen Disease to Photodynamic Therapy in Real Life
  2. Personalized Photoprotection: Expert Consensus and Recommendations From a Delphi Study Among Dermatologists
  3. Comparative Response to PDT with Methyl-Aminolevulinate and Temoporfin in Cutaneous and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells
  4. The Effect of Fernblock® in Preventing Blue-Light-Induced Oxidative Stress and Cellular Damage in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells
  5. Application of Dermoscopy and Reflectance Confocal Microscopy in Vivo in the Evaluation of Nevi in Children
  6. New Trends on Personalized Sunscreens
  7. Reflectance Confocal Microscopy Terminology in Spanish: A Delphi Consensus Study
  8. International Expert Recommendations on Image Acquisition for In Vivo Reflectance Confocal Microscopy of Cutaneous Tumors
  9. The m-TORC1 Inhibitor Sirolimus Increases the Effectiveness of Photodynamic Therapy in the Treatment of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Impairing NRF2 Antioxidant Signaling
  10. Conventional PDT Versus One PDT Session Plus 3% Diclofenac Gel for Severe Skin Field Cancerization of the Face and Scalp: Randomized Controlled Trial Assessing Clinical and Histological Response