PeDRA Pearls

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls, host Jenn Dawson talks with Ilka Netravali, MD, about insights from the National Alopecia Areata Foundation’s annual conference. Dr. Netravali explores emerging treatments for pediatric alopecia areata, the research questions that matter most to patients and families, and the importance of individualized care. Dr. Netravali also discusses the powerful role of community in helping children and caregivers feel supported and connected. The conversation highlights a central message: meaningful care means treating the child and family, not just the alopecia.

For patient and caregiver resources, please visit www.naaf.org.

This episode is presented by Palvella Therapeutics. Although Palvella Therapeutics provided funding for this PeDRA Pearls Podcast, the contents of the podcast were developed independently by PeDRA. Learn more about Palvella Therapeutics.

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls, Deepti Gupta, MD, joins Jenn Dawson to discuss how patient meetings advance care and research for congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN). Reflecting on the Nevus Outreach Conference, Dr. Gupta highlights how collaboration among families, clinicians, researchers, and advocates can amplify patient voices, inspire new research questions, and improve education for rare disease communities. Dr. Gupta brings a unique perspective to this work as both a clinician-researcher in the field and a mother of a child living with CNM, providing valuable insight into both the scientific and lived experiences of this condition

This episode is presented by Disc Medicine. Although Disc Medicine provided funding for this PeDRA Pearls Podcast, the contents of the podcast were developed independently by PeDRA. Learn more about Disc Medicine.

In this bonus episode of PeDRA Pearls, Carrie Coughlin, MD, MPHS, is joined by a panel of experts to explore how quality improvement and implementation science can help clinicians translate evidence into better, more sustainable care in pediatric dermatology. Through practical examples, Larry Eichenfield, MD, Joanna Tu, MD, and Enyo Ablordeppey, MD, MPH, discuss patient safety, dissemination, implementation and de-implementation, and strategies to identify barriers, measure outcomes, and support lasting change. Listeners will gain ideas for launching projects at any scale—from focused improvements within a clinic to broader system-wide initiatives—and for adapting solutions to their local context.

Through a special collaboration, PeDRA and Lilly have released a new funding opportunity to support healthcare improvement (HCI) initiatives related to adolescent atopic dermatitis (AD). With an application deadline of September 30, 2026, this new program may fund up to two projects, each with a budget of up to $450,000. Learn more and apply.

In this episode, Laura Douglas, Senior Manager of Grants and Impact at the Arthritis National Research Foundation (ANRF), discusses the importance of funding early-career investigators and advancing pediatric arthritis and autoimmune disease research. Learn how ANRF and PeDRA are partnering through the Rheum for Kids grant to support innovative research at the intersection of rheumatology and dermatology. Click here for more information about the grant, and here for information about ANRF.

This episode is presented by Disc Medicine. Although Disc Medicine provided funding for this PeDRA Pearls Podcast, the contents of the podcast were developed independently by PeDRA. Learn more about Disc Medicine.

• PeDRA Conference Registration
• Dash for Discovery
• Arthritis National Research Foundation
• Anna Costello, MD Webinar

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls, host Jenn Dawson welcomes back Emily Gorell, DO, of the University of Colorado to discuss the growing momentum within the epidermolysis bullosa (EB) community. They explore the impact of new and emerging therapies, the importance of centering patient voices, and ongoing challenges related to treatment access and adult EB care. The conversation also highlights opportunities for multidisciplinary collaboration and the vital role of patient-focused meetings in advancing meaningful progress in EB research, care, and advocacy.

Pediatric Dermatology Journal

This episode is presented by Disc Medicine. Although Disc Medicine provided funding for this PeDRA Pearls Podcast, the contents of the podcast were developed independently by PeDRA. Learn more about Disc Medicine.

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls, Jenn Dawson and PeDRA’s Executive Director, Mike Siegel, PhD, preview the upcoming PeDRA Annual Conference, happening October 15–17 in Alexandria, Virginia. Centered on the theme “From Intention to Impact: Making Space for Research,” the conversation highlights what attendees can expect—from collaborative sessions and CME opportunities to patient and industry engagement, poster presentations, the NextGen Research Forum, Camp Wonder at PeDRA, Dash for Discovery, and plenty of community-building fun. Tune in to see how PeDRA brings people together to move pediatric dermatology research forward.

• Register Now!
• Conference Details
• Bachmann Bupp Episode

This episode is presented by Disc Medicine. Although Disc Medicine provided funding for this PeDRA Pearls Podcast, the contents of the podcast were developed independently by PeDRA. Learn more about Disc Medicine.

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls, Jenn Dawson speaks with Sarah Kamsiah Zemlok, MD, and Jeff Yu, MD about their PeDRA-funded research on how children and families understand patch testing results. Their conversation explores the challenges of translating results into everyday allergen avoidance, especially across home, school, daycare, and other environments. They also discuss the importance of ongoing patient education, stronger support tools, and meaningful mentorship in pediatric dermatology research. This episode highlights how patient-centered research can help families move from results to real-life care. This project was funded through a 2024 PeDRA Research Fellowship Grant, Assessment of Parent-Child Comprehension of Pediatric Patch Testing and Barriers to Improvement, and has resulted in one publication, Beyond the Grid: A Case Series of Parent-Child Comprehension of Patch Testing Results, published in Pediatric Dermatology in 2026.

This episode is presented by Disc Medicine. Although Disc Medicine provided funding for this PeDRA Pearls Podcast, the contents of the podcast were developed independently by PeDRA. Learn more about Disc Medicine.

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls, Jenn Dawson speaks with Courtney Smith, MD and Howa Yueng, MD, MSc, about their research on acne risk and dermatologic care among transgender and gender-diverse adolescents receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy. They discuss how patient-centered questions shaped the study, what their findings reveal about acne risk following testosterone or estradiol initiation, and why access, mentorship, and health equity are essential to improving dermatologic care.

This episode is presented by Disc Medicine. Although Disc Medicine provided funding for this PeDRA Pearls Podcast, the contents of the podcast were developed independently by PeDRA. Learn more about Disc Medicine.

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls, Jenn Dawson talks with Tina Ho, MD, PhD, and Joy Wan, MD, about the Atopic Dermatitis and Psoriasis Focused Study Group and its collaborative efforts to advance pediatric dermatology research. They explore the impact of eczema on children and families, the importance of patient-reported outcomes and treatment access, and how bringing researchers together through PeDRA can turn ideas into meaningful research.

This episode is presented by Disc Medicine. Although Disc Medicine provided funding for this PeDRA Pearls Podcast, the contents of the podcast were developed independently by PeDRA. Learn more about Disc Medicine.

In this episode of PeDRA Pearls, Jenn Dawson welcomes Delaney Ding, PeDRA’s Research Fellow, to discuss his journey as an MD-PhD student and his work at the intersection of pediatric dermatology, epidemiology, data science, and patient advocacy. Delaney shares insights from his research on skin cancer among people living with HIV, as well as his commitment to patient-centered research, vulnerable populations, and meaningful outcomes. He also discusses the importance of mentorship and collaboration, as well as the unexpected opportunities that can shape a research career. As PeDRA’s inaugural Research Fellow, Delaney shares his vision for advancing research to improve patient outcomes and strengthen the pediatric dermatology community.

This episode is presented by Disc Medicine. Although Disc Medicine provided funding for this PeDRA Pearls Podcast, the contents of the podcast were developed independently by PeDRA. Learn more about Disc Medicine.