2018 Medical Professional Award Winners

This award honors highly meritorious efforts by health professionals in the field of psoriatic disease education. The educator has been chosen for their significant, long-term national or international contributions to psoriatic disease education.

Kristina Callis Duffin, M.D., M.S., Associate Professor of Dermatology in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Utah

Kristina Callis Duffin, M.D., M.S. is an Associate Professor of Dermatology in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Utah. Dr. Callis Duffin is a graduate of the University of Washington School of Medicine and is board-certified in internal medicine and dermatology. Her clinical focus is the care of patients with psoriasis. She has participated in over 40 clinical trials for new psoriasis therapies. She has served 6 years on the Medical Board of the National Psoriasis Foundation. Dr. Callis Duffin has reviewed material for several leading journals including JAAD and JAMA Dermatology, and has authored or co-authored over 60 peer-reviewed articles, reviews or book chapters on psoriasis.

Since 2002, she has been teaching investigators on clinical trial measures such as PASI and partnered with Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) to develop standardized online training modules for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis measures.  She is currently the Vice President of GRAPPA, and also serves on the Board of IDEOM, the International Dermatology Outcomes Measures initiative aimed at standardizing outcome measures used in clinical trials. She is co-leading IDEOM’s work to develop a core measurement set for psoriasis clinical trials.

The Outstanding Physician-Clinician award recognizes a physician for outstanding achievements in improving psoriatic disease clinical practice and who has played a major or lasting role with national impact in improving the quality of life of patients and their families. The winner of this award is actively involved in the clinical care of patients with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis and has an outstanding track record of sharing their expertise with other health care professionals as documented by presentations and/or authorship of books, articles and reference materials.

Erin Boh, M.D., Ph.D., Chair of Clinical Dermatology at Tulane University School of Medicine

Dr. Erin Boh has been in academic dermatology for 28 years, all at Tulane Medical School. Dr. Boh has been chair of the department for the past 12 years. Dr. Boh has worked to ensure resident excellence and has expanded the research clinical unit at Tulane. She has been PI on over 100 clinical studies over the last 10 years, many of which involve psoriasis. She has authored and co-authored several chapters in dermatology textbooks on psoriasis and many drugs used for its treatment.

The majority of Dr. Boh’s clinical practice is with psoriasis and she has been a pioneer in the use of biologics. She has been an advocate of the NPF for years and has donated lecture time for lay conferences and physician/resident conferences. Dr. Boh has been active with NPF through serving on the Medical Board, member of the President’s Council membership and participated in the NPF Resident’s meeting.

In the past, Dr. Boh has been president of the Louisiana Dermatology Society and has served on its executive committee for 12 years. Currently, she serves on the executive committee for the Zola Cooper Society, a yearly clinicopathologic conference.  Additionally, she is a member of the executive committee for the Tulane School of Medicine, chair of the Billing and Finance committee, a senator for the Tulane University senate.  She is also on the Board of Directors for AAD. Dr. Boh received “Best Doctors in Louisiana” for over 10 years and “Best Doctors in New Orleans” for 17 years as well as “Top Dermatologists in the US”. 

The NPF Health Professional of the Year award recognizes a health care professional who has promoted NPF’s mission of improving the life for people with psoriatic disease through exceptional contributions to key initiatives of the Foundation. The winner has been actively involved in the NPF at the affiliate, local or national level within the last five years, and has a history of contributions to NPF goals and objectives. 

Erik Gilbertson, M.D., FAAD, Division Head and Clinical Dermatologist at Scripps Clinical Medical Group, Director of the Regional Hansen’s Disease Center

As a dermatologist, Erik Gilbertson, M.D., is experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer, acne, psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo and other skin disorders. Dr. Gilbertson is currently the Division Head and Clinical Dermatologist at Scripps Clinical Medical Group. He is also the Director of the Regional Hansen’s Disease Center in San Diego.

Dr. Gilbertson is involved in clinical research studies for new psoriasis treatments and is a featured speaker at National Psoriasis Foundation meetings. He is also involved in the education of new dermatologists as a volunteer assistant clinical professor in the department of medicine at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD).

Dr. Gilbertson was nominated as one of San Diego’s Top Doctors by the San Diego County Medical Society for the past four years. He has also been the director of the Regional Hansen’s Disease Center in San Diego, CA since 2010.

He is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, past president of the San Diego Dermatological Society and current head of the division of dermatology at Scripps Clinic. Dr. Gilbertson is a San Diego native and fluent in both Spanish and Norwegian.

The Outstanding Allied Health award recognizes an allied health professional for outstanding achievements in improving psoriatic disease clinical practice and who has played a major or lasting role with national impact in improving the quality of life of patients and their families. The winner is actively involved in the clinical care of patients with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis and is well-known nationally or internationally for exceptional clinical knowledge and expertise.

Elizabeth Reilly, BSN, RN at University of Pennsylvania Health System

Elizabeth Reilly, BSN, RN has worked in the University of Pennsylvania Health System since 1984.  Her nursing experience includes work in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Internal Medicine, and Hospice and Home Care.  She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau and the Dermatology Nurse Association.

She has worked in the Phototherapy/Psoriasis Unit of the Department of Dermatology at Penn for 25 years, initially under the tutelage of Dr. Cynthia Guzzo and Dr. Kays Kaidbey, and more recently Dr. Abby Van Voorhees and Dr. Joel Gelfand.  As senior staff nurse Elizabeth has cared for thousands of patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. Her approach includes patient education with compassion for the many emotional and physical effects of psoriasis on each individual patient.