Our last departmental update appeared just six months into my tenure as chair in spring 2020. Since then, our department has experienced steady, intentional growth—even amid the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. What has emerged is not simply expansion, but a culture defined by purpose, resilience, and excellence.

I have long believed that what truly distinguishes individuals—and institutions—is not what we do, but how we do it. In that spirit, I am immensely proud of our dermatology team, who bring unbridled passion and a sense of purpose to every aspect of their work. From delivering exceptional patient care to providing thoughtful mentorship and scholarly guidance to trainees, this team pours heart and soul into our shared mission.

To date, 68 residents and 23 procedural dermatology fellows have graduated from our program. Our current senior PGY-4 residents continue this tradition of excellence. We are delighted that Amylee Sam, MD, and her classmate, Meera Ricci, MD, have both decided to sign with Loma Linda University Faculty Medical Group (LLUFMG) to continue their careers in academic dermatology, beginning in summer 2026. While we were close to a “hat trick,” with our third senior resident, we wish Louisa Liu, MD, every success as she joins a private practice in Las Vegas, Nevada.

As of January 2026, our department includes nine LLUFMG physicians, four physician assistants, nine residents, one fellow, and more than 20 dedicated support staff, all united by a deep commitment to the LLU mission. Our team provides care across multiple sites, including the LLU Faculty Medical Clinics, Riverside University Health System (RUHS), and Social Action Community Health (SAC Health).

A guiding mantra for me has been to maximize efficiency and optimize workflows: making the job 20% more efficient can make a team feel 20% richer—without increasing wages—and this philosophy has paid dividends. LLUFMG dermatology billed visits increased from 25,785 in 2020 to 44,212 in 2025, despite only a modest net increase in provider staffing. Mohs surgery volume grew from 1,355 cases in 2022 to 1,732 cases in 2025 with the same two surgeons. At RUHS, patient encounters rose from 5,000 in 2024 to 6,200 in 2025 without additional faculty FTE.

Academically, our faculty continue to excel. Over the past three years, LLU dermatology FMG faculty have produced 70 PubMed-indexed publications and delivered 154 national and regional presentations, solidifying our reputation at the forefront of dermatologic innovation.

Beyond our clinic walls, our department remains committed to community service. In partnership with the School of Medicine Dermatology Interest Group, we maintain an active presence in Street Medicine and provide regular skin cancer screenings, including recent events serving firefighters across California. In 2025, Ashley Elsensohn, MD, also participated in a SAC Health-   led mission trip to Belize, delivering dermatologic care to underserved communities.

Since spring 2020, we have relocated our department home base to expand capacity, relaunched the MSDO fellowship, opened new clinics in Beaumont and Rancho Cucamonga, expanded services to SAC Health, introduced a Mohs for Melanoma program utilizing immunohistochemistry, and recruited outstanding new physician faculty to LLUFMG dermatology: Ashley Elsensohn (2021), Rummit Dhillon (2024), and My Diep (2025).

Together, these accomplishments reflect not just growth, but momentum. I am deeply grateful to our alumni, faculty, trainees, and staff for helping shape a department that continues to lead with excellence, innovation, and heart.