Hair Health Series

Dr Tosti is Fredric Brandt Endowed Professor of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery at the University of Miami. She trained in Dermatology in Bologna, Italy, which is the oldest university in the world ,and was full Professor of Dermatology in Bologna before moving to Miami in 2010.

Dr Tosti is internationally recognized as an expert on hair and nail disorders . She started a clinic dedicated to hair disorders at the University of Bologna in 1982, the very first hair clinic in the world— as there were very few people interested in hair at that time. She was president and founding member of the European Hair Research Society and is now President of the American Hair Research Society. She is founding member and President of the International Society of Trichoscopy. She was president of the European Nail Society and Council of Nail Disorders. She is regularly invited worldwide as a speaker and she has been directing sessions and symposia at the AAD, EADV and World Congress of Dermatology .She organized several meetings on diagnosis and treatment of hair and nail disorders in Italy including a very successful annual Course on hair, nail and cosmetics in Capri . She is founder member of the International Academy of Trichoscopy an educational organization. She is author of more than 600 peer reviewed papers (h index 55 on Scopus) and editor/co-editor of 30 books including 10 published book on diagnosis and treatment of hair disorders .She is editor in chief of Skin Appendage Disorders.

Dr Tosti trained hundreds of dermatologists from all around the world and is proud to say that many of them are today recognized as experts in hair and nail disorders.

Dr. McMichael is a Philadelphia native who received her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. She completed Internship at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia and her Dermatology residency training at the University of Michigan School of Medicine. Dr. Amy McMichael, MD has been a faculty member at Wake Forest Baptist Medical center since 1994. She is currently Professor and Chair of the Department of Dermatology at Wake Forest School of Medicine. She also served as the Residency Director of the department for 12 years. Dr. McMichael’s clinical and research interests include: hair and scalp disorders and skin of color. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and a past Chair of the Skin of Color Society and the National Medical Association Dermatology Section. She has served as Vice President of the Womens Dermatologic Society and Secretary/Treasurer of the North American Alopecia Research Society. She is currently serves as a member of the Board of the American Academy of Dermatology. She is co-editor of the text Hair Diseases:Medical, Surgical, and Cosmetic Treatments, serves on the editorial boards of JAMA Derm, Cosmetic Dermatology and The Dermatologist, and is the author of numerous journal articles and chapters. She is also an active member of the Greensboro Medical Society.

Ciara Grayson is a fourth year medical student at Florida State University College of Medicine. She received her undergraduate degree from Florida State University and Master’s in Biomedical Sciences from Florida State University College of Medicine. She served as president of Student National Medical Association (SNMA) and was a Student Advisory Council Representative. Ciara is also a member of Gold Humanism Honor Society. She is excited to pursue a career in dermatology and practice patient-centered care to individuals of all ages. Her special interests in dermatology include hair loss, acne, and increasing access to dermatologic care in underserved populations. Ciara enjoys mentoring, baking and gardening.

Dr. Geraldine Ranasinghe is a soon to be PGY 3 dermatology resident at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. She has published and presented several studies on hair disorders and has a particular interest in hair research. Outside of residency, she enjoys spending time with her husband outdoors, yoga, cooking and traveling.

Jerry Shapiro is a Professor of Dermatology at the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. He is a world renown expert in disorders of the scalp and hair. He has published over 200 peer reviewed articles, 4 books in 3 languages, dozens of book chapters, and lectured internationally on 4 continents. He has trained over 30 Hair Fellows from all over the world.

Jessica completed her BSc at York University in Toronto, ON and has completed her Doctor of Naturopathy degree from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. She believes that integrative medicine with an evidence-based approach can allow practitioners to better support patients and optimize patient care. Jessica is passionate about bridging naturopathic and conventional medicine in clinical dermatology.

Kristen Lo Sicco, MD FAAD completed her dermatology residency at UPMC and fellowship in complex medical dermatology at NYU, with a clinical focus on hair and scalp disorders as well as autoimmune connective tissue disorders (ACTD). She is currently an Assistant Professor of Dermatology at NYU and the Associate Director of the historic Skin and Cancer Unit. It was during her dermatology residency that she discovered the need for more dermatologists who specialize in alopecia and the importance of giving a voice to a population of people who often feel disregarded. Dr. Lo Sicco quickly realized the significant impact alopecia has on a person’s confidence and overall quality of life. She recognizes the importance of individuality when it comes to the effect a diagnosis has on someone as well as their response to treatment. In addition to lecturing at national and international conferences, including the American Academy of Dermatology, she has authored or coauthored over 50 peer reviewed publications in addition to 9 book chapters. At NYU Langone, she works with an incredible group of people to conduct clinical research and novel therapeutic trials with a focus on alopecia and complex medical dermatology. Together they strive to ultimately broaden their understanding of hair loss and ACTD, in addition to providing new therapies used to treat them.

Katerina Svigos is a dermatology research fellow in The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, and a 4th year medical student at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Her dermatology interests include hair loss and conditions of the scalp, as well as mixed connective tissue disease. She will be graduating medical school in May 2021 and pursing a residency in dermatology.

Kaitlyn Yin is a fourth year medical student at New York University Grossman School of Medicine. Prior to medical school, she attended Princeton University where she majored in economics with a minor in Global Health and Health Policy. She plans on specializing in dermatology, and has a particular interest in hair due to the unique personal significance it holds for each individual. She currently works with Dr. Jerry Shapiro and Dr. Kristen Lo Sicco on alopecia research, which she hopes to continue in the future.

Dr. Melissa Piliang joined the staff at the Cleveland Clinic after completing both a residency in dermatology and a fellowship in dermatopathology at the Cleveland Clinic. She is a graduate of Indiana University School of Medicine and holds a Bachelor’s degree from PurdueUniversity. Her areas of interest are alopecias, androgen disorders, cutaneous infections and dermatopathology. She has authored numerous scientific papers and textbook chapters. At Cleveland Clinic Dr. Piliang serves as Vice Chair of Education in the Dermatology and Plastic Surgery Institute, associate program director for the dermatology residency and the dermatopathology fellowship and co-director of the Dermatopathology Section.

Dr. Piliang is active in American Academy of Dermatology, the American Society of Dermatopathology, the Women’s Dermatologic Society serving on boards and chairing many committees and is President-Elect of the Ohio Dermatologic Association Dr. Piliang regularly appears in print, radio and television media including The Dr. Oz Show and Magazine, The New York Times, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, Fox 8 Cleveland, Cleveland Plain Dealer, The Weather Channel, Women’s Health and Martha Stewart Living among many others.

Dr. Raja Sivamani is a board-certified dermatologist and practices as an integrative dermatologist at Pacific Skin Institute. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Clinical Dermatology at the University of California, Davis and Director of Clinical Research and the Clinical Trials Unit.He is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the California State University, Sacramento and an Associate Professor of Dermatology at California Northstate University, College of Medicine.He engages in clinical practice as well as both clinical and translational research that integrates bioengineering, nutrition, cosmetics, and skin biology. With training in both Allopathic and Ayurvedic medicine, he takes an integrative approach to his patients and in his research.He has published over 100 peer-reviewed research manuscripts, 10 textbook chapters, and a textbook entitled Cosmeceuticals and Active Cosmetics, 3rd Edition with a passion for expanding the evidence and boundaries of integrative medicine for skin care.