The Dermatology Department’s Origins

Dermatology at the Hitchcock Clinic began under the leadership of Dr. Lobitz in 1947 and later with Dr. Jillson in 1959. A residency program was established in 1948, with 1 resident. We adopted the Mayo model style of training, which continues today. The focus was on inpatient dermatology. Patients were geographically concentrated in Winifred Raven House during these early years. Training in Dermatopathology would expand in 1969 under the leadership of Dr. Clendenning. Dartmouth Dermatology was an early leader in the advanced treatment of psoriasis, bringing the Goeckerman and UVB therapies to the rural northeast. Under Dr. Baughman, light therapy would expand with the establishment of a PUVA treatment site at Dartmouth for almost 30 years. Laser treatments such as CO2 and Argon arrived in the 1970s to further advance the practice. In addition, Dartmouth Dermatology was an early adopter of immunomodulators, such as cyclosporine to treat psoriasis. Dr. Spencer brought Mohs surgery to Dartmouth for the treatment of skin cancer. Dr. Collison continued to expand Mohs surgery at Dartmouth.

Over the years, the department would train some of the well-known leaders, editors, and experts in the field of dermatology, such as Dr. Dick Dobson, Dr. Thomas Habif, Dr. June Robinson, Dr. Kathryn Zug, and Dr. Shane Chapman. Dr. Habif improved medical photography in dermatology and was the founder and sole editor of Habif’s Clinical Dermatology. Dr. Robinson would return to Dartmouth, having become the first female Mohs surgeon, with expertise in melanoma, and a leader in the American Academy of Dermatology, and editor for the Archives of Dermatology. Dr. Kathryn Zug was a world expert in allergic contact dermatitis and published extensively on the subject. Training in the department would continue to expand over time with Dr. James Dinulos starting a pediatric fellowship and training our first pediatric fellow, Dr. Nicole Pace who continues to work in the department.

Dr. Shane Chapman would eventually take the reins of the section of dermatology in 2010 and expanded the number of faculty and breathe of specialty care in dermatology, culminating in dermatology becoming a Department in 2020. The Department of Dermatology has continued to grow with 13 specialty clinics in areas such as Contact Dermatitis, Cutaneous Lymphoma, and Dermatology-Rheumatology. The Department has a basic science research laboratory under the direction of Dr. Matthew Hayden and is looking to expand this footprint. The future of the young Department looks bright and research and clinical interest continue to grow.