In dermatology, we are fortunate to have many insightful practitioners and great teachers and mentors. Some are bright stars in our special universe–others unsung heroes. All of these colleagues have much to share, from wisdom to humor to insights into dermatology and life. This column allows us to gain insight from these practitioners and learn more about them.
Alexander Egeberg earned his medical degree from the University of Southern Denmark. He later earned his PhD in dermatology and immunology from the University of Copenhagen, and subsequently pursued his dermatology residency and a postdoctoral fellowship at Gentofte University Hospital in Copenhagen. He also holds a postgraduate degree in economics from Copenhagen Business School, focused on health economics and public health.
Dr Egeberg has received recognition for excellence in dermatological research, and was named Future Leader in Dermatology by the European Society for Dermatological Research. He has extensive knowledge in publication planning and clinical trial designs, including pivotal trial and explorative/post hoc analysis from phase 1 to 4 studies. His research focus is on inflammatory skin diseases, in particular the epidemiology of psoriasis and the development and use of biologic therapies.
Other areas of interest include atopic dermatitis and rosacea. He currently works in the department of dermatology and allergy at Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, and teaches as an external associate professor at the University of Copenhagen, supervising a number of researchers and doctoral students.
Q. What part of your work gives you the most pleasure?
A. I enjoy the combination of research and clinical practice. Seeing directly how our treatments can significantly improve patients’ quality of life is incredibly rewarding. Moreover, the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges we face on a daily basis serves as inspiration for continued research. I am fortu nate to work with a committed team of highly skilled and motivated people who make me look forward to coming to work each day.
Q. Are an understanding and appreciation of the humanities important in dermatology and why?
A. Absolutely. From the humanities comes the empathy and the ability to better understand and identify patients’ problems and feelings. As dermatologists, it is important not to define patients by their disease. To this end, I try to use terms such as “patient with psoriasis” rather than “psoriasis patient.” There is truth in the saying that you gain respect in drops, but can lose it in gallons. When we as physicians are attentive and caring for our patients, they are more likely to adhere to their therapy, which in the end leads to better a treatment outcome.
Q. What is your greatest regret?
A. I try not to let the past define me, and usually have very few regrets. I believe in the saying, “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.” This is true for treating patients, as well as in my own life. Consequently, I will rather attempt and fail, than regret not trying.
Q. Which patient had the most effect on your work and why?
A. For me, the biggest impact was not made by one patient alone. Rather, it was the first time when I visited a hospital in a developing country. Patients with pronounced and severe skin disease, surely candidates for traditional systemic (if not biologic) therapy, were only receiving topical treatment. In my country (Denmark), where health care is free and unfettered and medicine is either free or partially reimbursed, we sometimes forget the lack of access to medicines that still exist in many countries.
Q. What is the best piece of advice you have received and from whom?
A. The best advice I had with regard to treating patients was from a mentor, who said: Ask yourself these 3 questions: (1) How would you treat if the patient was your mother? (2) What would you do if you had to pay for the treatment yourself? (3) Could you defend your treatment decision on national television? This advice stuck with me, and I try to remember it with all my patients.
Q. What is the greatest political danger in the field of dermatology?
A. The greatest challenge we have in dermatology is to preserve broadness of the specialty while still maintaining a high quality of treatment. Dermatology requires an in-depth knowledge of various topics such as internal medicine, surgery, immunology, allergy, and oncology. At the same time, there is increasing pressure to treat an ever -growing number of patients with the same or fewer resources available. n
Dr Barankin is a dermatologist in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is author-editor of 7 books in dermatology and is widely published in the dermatology and humanities literature.
In dermatology, we are fortunate to have many insightful practitioners and great teachers and mentors. Some are bright stars in our special universe–others unsung heroes. All of these colleagues have much to share, from wisdom to humor to insights into dermatology and life. This column allows us to gain insight from these practitioners and learn more about them.
Alexander Egeberg earned his medical degree from the University of Southern Denmark. He later earned his PhD in dermatology and immunology from the University of Copenhagen, and subsequently pursued his dermatology residency and a postdoctoral fellowship at Gentofte University Hospital in Copenhagen. He also holds a postgraduate degree in economics from Copenhagen Business School, focused on health economics and public health.
Dr Egeberg has received recognition for excellence in dermatological research, and was named Future Leader in Dermatology by the European Society for Dermatological Research. He has extensive knowledge in publication planning and clinical trial designs, including pivotal trial and explorative/post hoc analysis from phase 1 to 4 studies. His research focus is on inflammatory skin diseases, in particular the epidemiology of psoriasis and the development and use of biologic therapies.
Other areas of interest include atopic dermatitis and rosacea. He currently works in the department of dermatology and allergy at Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, and teaches as an external associate professor at the University of Copenhagen, supervising a number of researchers and doctoral students.
Q. What part of your work gives you the most pleasure?
A. I enjoy the combination of research and clinical practice. Seeing directly how our treatments can significantly improve patients’ quality of life is incredibly rewarding. Moreover, the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges we face on a daily basis serves as inspiration for continued research. I am fortu nate to work with a committed team of highly skilled and motivated people who make me look forward to coming to work each day.
Q. Are an understanding and appreciation of the humanities important in dermatology and why?
A. Absolutely. From the humanities comes the empathy and the ability to better understand and identify patients’ problems and feelings. As dermatologists, it is important not to define patients by their disease. To this end, I try to use terms such as “patient with psoriasis” rather than “psoriasis patient.” There is truth in the saying that you gain respect in drops, but can lose it in gallons. When we as physicians are attentive and caring for our patients, they are more likely to adhere to their therapy, which in the end leads to better a treatment outcome.
Q. What is your greatest regret?
A. I try not to let the past define me, and usually have very few regrets. I believe in the saying, “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.” This is true for treating patients, as well as in my own life. Consequently, I will rather attempt and fail, than regret not trying.
Q. Which patient had the most effect on your work and why?
A. For me, the biggest impact was not made by one patient alone. Rather, it was the first time when I visited a hospital in a developing country. Patients with pronounced and severe skin disease, surely candidates for traditional systemic (if not biologic) therapy, were only receiving topical treatment. In my country (Denmark), where health care is free and unfettered and medicine is either free or partially reimbursed, we sometimes forget the lack of access to medicines that still exist in many countries.
Q. What is the best piece of advice you have received and from whom?
A. The best advice I had with regard to treating patients was from a mentor, who said: Ask yourself these 3 questions: (1) How would you treat if the patient was your mother? (2) What would you do if you had to pay for the treatment yourself? (3) Could you defend your treatment decision on national television? This advice stuck with me, and I try to remember it with all my patients.
Q. What is the greatest political danger in the field of dermatology?
A. The greatest challenge we have in dermatology is to preserve broadness of the specialty while still maintaining a high quality of treatment. Dermatology requires an in-depth knowledge of various topics such as internal medicine, surgery, immunology, allergy, and oncology. At the same time, there is increasing pressure to treat an ever -growing number of patients with the same or fewer resources available. n
Dr Barankin is a dermatologist in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is author-editor of 7 books in dermatology and is widely published in the dermatology and humanities literature.
In dermatology, we are fortunate to have many insightful practitioners and great teachers and mentors. Some are bright stars in our special universe–others unsung heroes. All of these colleagues have much to share, from wisdom to humor to insights into dermatology and life. This column allows us to gain insight from these practitioners and learn more about them.
Alexander Egeberg earned his medical degree from the University of Southern Denmark. He later earned his PhD in dermatology and immunology from the University of Copenhagen, and subsequently pursued his dermatology residency and a postdoctoral fellowship at Gentofte University Hospital in Copenhagen. He also holds a postgraduate degree in economics from Copenhagen Business School, focused on health economics and public health.
Dr Egeberg has received recognition for excellence in dermatological research, and was named Future Leader in Dermatology by the European Society for Dermatological Research. He has extensive knowledge in publication planning and clinical trial designs, including pivotal trial and explorative/post hoc analysis from phase 1 to 4 studies. His research focus is on inflammatory skin diseases, in particular the epidemiology of psoriasis and the development and use of biologic therapies.
Other areas of interest include atopic dermatitis and rosacea. He currently works in the department of dermatology and allergy at Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, and teaches as an external associate professor at the University of Copenhagen, supervising a number of researchers and doctoral students.
Q. What part of your work gives you the most pleasure?
A. I enjoy the combination of research and clinical practice. Seeing directly how our treatments can significantly improve patients’ quality of life is incredibly rewarding. Moreover, the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges we face on a daily basis serves as inspiration for continued research. I am fortu nate to work with a committed team of highly skilled and motivated people who make me look forward to coming to work each day.
Q. Are an understanding and appreciation of the humanities important in dermatology and why?
A. Absolutely. From the humanities comes the empathy and the ability to better understand and identify patients’ problems and feelings. As dermatologists, it is important not to define patients by their disease. To this end, I try to use terms such as “patient with psoriasis” rather than “psoriasis patient.” There is truth in the saying that you gain respect in drops, but can lose it in gallons. When we as physicians are attentive and caring for our patients, they are more likely to adhere to their therapy, which in the end leads to better a treatment outcome.
Q. What is your greatest regret?
A. I try not to let the past define me, and usually have very few regrets. I believe in the saying, “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.” This is true for treating patients, as well as in my own life. Consequently, I will rather attempt and fail, than regret not trying.
Q. Which patient had the most effect on your work and why?
A. For me, the biggest impact was not made by one patient alone. Rather, it was the first time when I visited a hospital in a developing country. Patients with pronounced and severe skin disease, surely candidates for traditional systemic (if not biologic) therapy, were only receiving topical treatment. In my country (Denmark), where health care is free and unfettered and medicine is either free or partially reimbursed, we sometimes forget the lack of access to medicines that still exist in many countries.
Q. What is the best piece of advice you have received and from whom?
A. The best advice I had with regard to treating patients was from a mentor, who said: Ask yourself these 3 questions: (1) How would you treat if the patient was your mother? (2) What would you do if you had to pay for the treatment yourself? (3) Could you defend your treatment decision on national television? This advice stuck with me, and I try to remember it with all my patients.
Q. What is the greatest political danger in the field of dermatology?
A. The greatest challenge we have in dermatology is to preserve broadness of the specialty while still maintaining a high quality of treatment. Dermatology requires an in-depth knowledge of various topics such as internal medicine, surgery, immunology, allergy, and oncology. At the same time, there is increasing pressure to treat an ever -growing number of patients with the same or fewer resources available. n
Dr Barankin is a dermatologist in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is author-editor of 7 books in dermatology and is widely published in the dermatology and humanities literature.
