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A Conversation With John Barbieri, MD, MBA
Q. What part of your work gives you the most pleasure?
A. The best part of what I do is having the opportunity to learn every day, whether from patients or trainees, or through research. Dermatology is a fascinating specialty with many unanswered questions. It is exciting to bring questions from the clinic back to our research group and then take the findings back to the clinic to improve the care we are providing for our patients. Our trainees bring a wonderful passion and creativity to our work, and it is a pleasure to teach and learn from them.
Q. Who was your hero/mentor and why?
A. It is hard to pick a single person, but Dr Joel Gelfand and Dr David Margolis have had a tremendous influence on my career. They have pushed me to approach important questions with rigorous methodology so we can advance the field for our patients. I have also been incredibly fortunate to have trained under Dr Bill James, who is an unmatched model for leadership, and Dr Misha Rosenbach, whose energy and deeply caring attitude toward his patients and colleagues are infectious.
Q. What is your greatest regret?
A. I might be biased as a dermatologist with a research focus in epidemiology and clinical research, but I think you can never learn enough statistics and computer science. I would have loved to have spent more time in high school, college, and medical school learning statistics and computer science. So much of what we do, both in research and routine clinical care, requires a deep understanding of these fields.
Q. Are an understanding and appreciation of the humanities important in dermatology and why?
A. I have always been a firm believer in the value of exploring disciplines with diverse perspectives on how to approach the world. Of course, in medicine, an understanding of science and math is crucial to treat our patients effectively and conduct rigorous research. But so is an understanding of business and economics to be able to explore the interplay between different stakeholders in the health care system and identify strategies to bring better value to our patients. Or an understanding of psychology and behavioral economics to help change practices among both clinicians and our patients. Similarly, understanding and appreciating the humanities can help us better connect with our patients and empathize with their lived experience. In addition, the humanities have much to teach us about storytelling and effective communication styles, which are important to both patient care and research.
Q. What is the greatest political danger in the field of dermatology?
A. I think we cannot lose sight of how we can provide the highest quality care and value to our patients. I fear we may get caught up trying to fight to maintain the status quo rather than exploring innovative strategies that can improve our enjoyment of the practice of dermatology and bring tremendous value to our patients. We must make sure to keep an open mind and constantly be searching for novel ways to bring value to our patients, whether through new technologies and discoveries or innovative care models.
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Any views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and/or participants and do not necessarily reflect the views, policy, or position of The Dermatologist or HMP Global, their employees, and affiliates.
