RDS 2026 ANNUAL MEETING

Joseph F. Merola, MD, MMSc, FAAD, FACR is President of the Rheumatology-Dermatology Society and Professor and Chair of Dermatology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. Uniquely triple board-certified in dermatology, rheumatology, and internal medicine, he also serves as Professor of Medicine in the Division of Rheumatology and Professor in the Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health.

Dr. Merola earned his MD from NYU School of Medicine and his MMSc from Harvard Medical School. He completed an internship in internal medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, dermatology residency at NYU where he served as Chief Resident, followed by a residency in internal medicine and fellowship in rheumatology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Prior to joining UT Southwestern as Chair in 2023, he served as Founding Director of the Clinical Unit for Trials and Innovation and was Vice Chair of Dermatology and Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Dr. Merola has had a major impact on the dermatology-rheumatology interface, particularly in cutaneous and systemic lupus and psoriatic disease. He is the Founding President of the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Clinics Multicenter Advancement Network (PPACMAN) Consortium and serves on the Medical and Scientific Boards of the Lupus Foundation of America, the National Psoriasis Foundation. He is the Co-President of GRAPPA and on the Board of IDEOM and the American Skin Association. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Dermatology. He was inducted to the Association of American Physicians in 2026.

Dr. Michelle S. Min is a board-certified UCI Health dermatologist and associate professor and director of rheumatologic dermatology at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. She specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of connective tissue disease, include cutaneous lupus, dermatomyositis, scleroderma, psoriasis and vasculitis. She earned her medical degree at Boston University School of Medicine, followed by an internal medicine internship at Carney Hospital in Dorchester, Massachusetts. She completed a dermatology residency at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, followed by a fellowship in dermatology and rheumatology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Dr. Alisa Fermia is a New York dermatologist and associate professor at NYU Langone Medical Center. She specializes in dermatology, with a particular focus on autoimmune cutaneous connective tissue diseases. Dr. Fermia manages complex autoimmune conditions that can affect both the skin and internal organs. She is also actively involved in medical education and has received multiple teaching awards for her dedication to training the next generation of physicians. Dr. Femia’s clinical work has been recognized nationally and internationally. She is frequently invited to speak on topics related to medical dermatology and is an active participant in national medical societies.

Dr. Benjamin Chong is a professor in the Department of Dermatology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He holds the Anita C. Gilliam, MD., PhD Professorship in Dermatology and specializes in general dermatology with an expertise in cutaneous lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, and sarcoidosis. Dr. Chong is Director of the UT Southwestern Connective Tissue Disease Clinic and Medical Director of the Parkland Health and Hospital System Dermatology Clinic. He is the principal investigator of the UT Southwestern Cutaneous Lupus Registry which contains clinical and historical data as well as blood and skin samples from more than 300 patients. Dr. Chong has authored many peer-reviewed journal manuscripts, four book chapters and is a member of several national, professional medical organizations.

Dr. Tony Fernandez currently practices both medical dermatology and dermatopathology at the Cleveland Clinic where he also serves as Director of Medical and Inpatient Dermatology. Clinically, he specializes in treatment of systemic autoimmune and inflammatory diseases with prominent cutaneous involvement. His research interests mirror his clinical interests, with ongoing projects involving psoriasis, dermatomyositis, lupus erythematosus, and pemphigus vulgaris. He is also active in a variety of national, professional organizations and was named chair of the Finance Committee for the American Society of Dermatopathology.

Dr. Lauren Graham is Director of the Autoimmune Blistering Skin Disease Clinic at UAB Medicine Associate and Co-Director of the Rheum/Derm Clinic. She also serves as a professor in dermatology with a specific interest in autoimmune blistering diseases and rheumatological skin diseases like cutaneous lupus, morphea, psoriasis, and dermatomyositis. Dr. Graham was a Patient Experience Leader for 2023 and 2024 at UAB by achieving a >95% or higher top box rating in satisfaction. She was chosen as Faculty Educator of the Year for the Department of Dermatology in 2024.

Dr. Christopher Richardson is an associate professor in the Department of Dermatology and Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology (AIR) in the Department of Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center where completed his medical school and dermatology training. He studies autoimmune diseases of the skin, practices general dermatology and conducts ongoing research projects and clinical trials involving cutaneous lupus, dermatomyositis and scleroderma.

Dr. Ruth Ann Vleugels is Vice Chair for Academic Affairs at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Department of Dermatology. She serves as Director of the Autoimmune Skin Disease Program, Connective Tissue Disease Clinics, and Atopic Dermatitis Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Co-Director of the Rheumatology-Dermatology Program at Boston Children’s Hospital. She is a past president of the New England Dermatologic Society and is president of the Rheumatologic Dermatology Society. She was elected to the board of directors of the American Academy of Dermatology and is an international expert in autoimmune connective tissue diseases. Her clinical research focuses on rare autoimmune skin diseases and emerging medical therapies.

Dr. Ruth Ann Vleugels is Vice Chair for Academic Affairs at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Department of Dermatology. She serves as Director of the Autoimmune Skin Disease Program, Connective Tissue Disease Clinics, and Atopic Dermatitis Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Co-Director of the Rheumatology-Dermatology Program at Boston Children’s Hospital. She is a past president of the New England Dermatologic Society and is president of the Rheumatologic Dermatology Society. She was elected to the board of directors of the American Academy of Dermatology and is an international expert in autoimmune connective tissue diseases. Her clinical research focuses on rare autoimmune skin diseases and emerging medical therapies.

Dr. Avery LaChance is a dermatologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital where she serves as the dermatology department’s Director of Health Policy and Advocacy and Director of the Connective Tissue Disease Clinic. Dr. LaChance is on the board of directors for the Massachusetts Academy of Dermatology and New England Dermatological Society. She is a committee member of the American Academy of Dermatology as well as the Massachusetts Medical Society. Dr. LaChance teaches medical students, residents, and fellows at Harvard Medical School and conducts research on connective tissue disease and health policy.