Dermatology began at Indiana University with the appointment of Dr. Alembert Brayton in the early 1900's as the first Professor of Dermatology and Syphilology. At that time, as in most medical schools, dermatology was a section of Internal Medicine. Dr. Brayton was succeeded by a number of dermatologists who taught at the medical school while simultaneously maintaining private practices in Indianapolis; these included Drs. Frank Cregor, Frank Gastineau, John Brayton, James Gosman, Boynton Booth and Robert Jenkins. The efforts by these early physicians fostered a strong "town-gown" bond that remains in place today.
The first residency program in Indiana was established at the Marion County General Hospital, now named the Wishard Memorial Hospital, by Dr. John Dalton who served as Chief of Dermatology from 1948 to1960. Dr. Booth then took over Dr. Dalton's position and directed the residency program.
In 1963, Dermatology was made a Department in the Indiana University School of Medicine and Dr. Victor Hackney was recruited from Stanford University to be the first chairman. The residency program and clinical service at the Marion County General Hospital, and the clinical service at Indiana University were merged into the new Department. The Department grew with the addition of full-time faculty including Dr. Arthur Norins in 1964 and Dr. Walter Epinette in 1971, both also from Stanford University.
In 1976, Dr. Norins succeeded Dr. Hackney as Chairman and the number of faculty continued to grow. Additional faculty included Stephen Wolverton in general dermatology. The number of dermatology residents expanded to six, two per year. The clinics at the Riley Hospital for Children and the Roudebush Veterans Administration Medical Center were incorporated into the training and service program expanding the venues for teaching and clinical service. This period also saw the expansion of the research efforts with the establishment of the Hackney Laboratory for Investigative Dermatopathology in 1990. Dr. Dan Spandau was appointed the first director of the laboratory and has developed a research program in molecular biology of the skin.
In 1993, Dr. Evan Farmer was recruited from Johns Hopkins University to succeed Dr. Norins as Chairman. Dr. Farmer's interests included dermatopathology, graft-versus-host disease and clinical dermatology with emphasis on outcome studies. Dr. Farmer was named the first Kampen - Norins Chair in 1997. Dr. Farmer recruited Dr. Charles Lewis from Brooke Army Medical Center to head the Regenstrief Dermatology Clinics in 1994. In 1995 Dr. Jeffrey Travers (investigative dermatology) was recruited.
In 2001, Dr. Farmer left Indiana to become Dean and Provost at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Following a nationwide search, Jeffrey B. Travers, MD, Ph.D. was chosen as Chair. Newer (2004-2009) additions to the faculty include Drs. Gary Dillon (general dermatology, Dermatopathology), Nico Mousdicas (Contact & Occupational Dermatology), Anita Haggstrom (pediatric dermatology), Lawrence Mark (melanoma, lymphoma), Ally-Khan Somani (Mohs surgery, investigative dermatology), Najwa Somani (Dermatopathology, hair disorders), and Alison Klenk (general dermatology). A new satellite office was opened at 103rd and Springmill Road in Carmel Indiana. The number of residents was expanded to the current three per year.
Philanthropy has greatly assisted the Department in fulfilling its missions of excellence in clinical, research and investigative dermatology. The Kampen-Norins Chair was a kind gift from the Kampen family, and Dr. Travers is its current occupant. The Arthur Norins Professorship was established in the late 1990s from grateful alumni and friends of the Department and Dr. Haggstrom is its current occupant. Dr. Stephen Wolverton is the Theodore Arlook Professor, a professorship set up by the family of the late dermatologist Dr. Arlook. Dr. Lawrence Mark holds the Charles Lewis Professorship, which was made possible by the generosity of departmental alumni, friends, and Dr. Lewis' former trainees.
Teaching of dermatology has always been strong, well-developed and exciting at Indiana University. The faculty has a wide range of interests. The Department has been recognized for its efforts and its faculty has been honored by many awards.
With its heritage of excellence in teaching and service and its broadening base in research, the Department is well-positioned to thrive in the 21st century. The faculty is excited about the profession of dermatology in the present and look forward to the future with the incorporation of new ideas and technology in the program. We are seeking resident and faculty colleagues with this sense of excitement to join us in this endeavor.
