2025 Integrative Dermatology Symposium Lectures

Sonal Choudhary, MD is a Board certified Dermatologist and fellowship trained Dermatopathologist, who joined the Department of Dermatology in 2016 upon completion of her Dermatopathology Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Choudhary received her undergraduate degree and medical degree from Vardhman Mahavir Medical College in New Delhi India. She completed a post-doctoral research fellowship at the University of Miami, where she remained to complete her Preliminary Internship in Internal Medicine, as well as her Residency Program in Dermatology. Dr. Choudhary also completed a fellowship in Integrative Dermatology, which concluded in February 2024.

While she offers care for all dermatologic conditions, her areas of clinical interest and research are atopic dermatitis, gut and skin microbiome, integrative dermatology, alternative therapies and approaches (herbs, supplements, functional medicine testing) to inflammatory skin diseases (Hidradenitis suppurativa, Acne, Psoriasis, hair loss), nutrition in cutaneous disease and dermatopathology. She is the director of the adult atopic dermatitis clinic and member of the PCOS collaboration group at UPMC Magee. Given her areas of training, Dr. Choudhary offers a holistic and integrative approach for various skin conditions.

Professional memberships

1. Member of Integrative Dermatology with Integrative Dermatology Certification Program/LearnSkin
2. Fellow of Pittsburgh Academy of Dermatology
3. Fellow of Pennsylvania Academy of Dermatology
4. Fellow of American Academy of Dermatology
5. Fellow of American Academy of Dermatopathology

Education & Training

• MBBS, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
• Clinical Internship, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
• Post Doctoral Fellowship, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
• Internship, University of Miami and Jackson Memorial Hospital
• Residency, Dermatology, University of Miami and Jackson Memorial Hospital
• Fellowship, Dermatopathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
• Fellowship in Integrative Dermatology with LearnSkin

Martha Viera, MD, is a dermatologist and cutaneous surgeon at Martha Viera Dermatology in Coral Gables, Florida.

Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Dr. Viera completed medical school in 2001 at Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV) in Caracas. Following medical school, she finished one year of general surgery and four years of dermatology residency at the University of Miami Miller Medical School. She has more than 20 years of experience in the field of medicine.

Dr. Viera has been part of several renowned health centers inside and outside of the United States, including the Hospital of Central University of Venezuela and the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida. She is a volunteer faculty member at the Department of Dermatology at the University of Miami, where she devotes her time to teaching the residents in training.

Dr. Jennifer Soung is a board certified dermatologist currently practicing at Southern California Dermatology in Santa Ana, CA and a Clinical Instructor at Harbor UCLA Dermatology. Dr. Soung has a strong interest in medical dermatology and clinical research. Dr. Soung is an expert in psoriasis treatment and has extensive experience using phototherapy, systemic medications and biologics in the treatment of psoriasis. From 2010-2015, she was an assistant professor at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine and the Director of Dermatology Clinical Research.

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.

Chef Kimber graduated from Le Cordon Bleu San Francisco in 2008, Shaw Academy with a Personal Nutrition Certification in 2015, and Yax Yoga Concepts 200 hour YTT in 2013. Kimber has been a Doterra Consultant since 2013. Kimber is the Owner and Chef of Happy Food Catering. Kimber is the Author of Happy Food Cookbook and Happy Baking & Desserts. Kimber is the ℅ of Happiness Drinks. Kimber is the C/F of Nourish Cafe & Market. Kimber is a 200 E-RYT with Yoga Alliance and is a yoga instructor at Sumits Hot Yoga and Lotus Columbia. Kimber is the Health and Food expert of Inside Columbia Magazine. Kimber is the cooking show host of nourished. on youtube. Host of the Holistic kitchen Podcast on Spotify. Kimber writes personalized recipes for people with different symptoms, diseases, cancers and food allergies. Kimber has also written meal plans with Dr. Raja Sivamani for Dermatology and Ayurvedic Meal Plans, and Dr. Jennifer Roelands for PCOS and Hashimoto Lifestyle Guides. Chef Kimber’s recipes are plant-based, organic, locally sourced, and free of gluten, soy, dairy, corn, peanuts, hydrogenated oil, preservatives and sugar.

Dr. Vivian Shi, MD is an Associate Professor of the Department of Dermatology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), where she directs the Eczema Clinic and Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinic.

Dr. Shi received her undergraduate degree in physiological sciences from UCLA, and
subsequently spent a year performing research on gene regulation in pathogenic bacteria in the department of microbiology at UCLA. She learned her medical degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. During that time, she also completed a fellowship in the Skin Immunology Laboratory. She was an integral part of the team characterizing the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis. She then completed her internship in Internal Medicine at the University of Chicago – NorthShore Health System, followed by a dermatology residency at the University of California, Davis, where she also served as chief resident.

Dr. Shi’s research and clinical interests are in complex inflammatory skin conditions (such atopic dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and psoriasis), skin barrier repair, transepidermal drug delivery, and integrative dermatology. She has served as the principal investigator for numerous industry-sponsored and investigator-initiated clinical and translational studies. She has published over 150 peer-reviewed articles and is the editor for two reference dermatology textbooks on atopic dermatitis and hidradenitis suppurativa. She is on the Board of Directors for the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation, advisory board of the National Eczema Association, and is a member of the International Eczema Council.

Gary Harker is the Director of Client Experience at Legally Mine. He and his wife have been married for 18 years and are the parents of 3 children. Mr. Harker is an entrepreneur, author licensed professional, creative director and educator for healthcare professionals.

Speaking to audiences worldwide for more than 20 years, Gary is able to engage audiences on difficult subjects, taking the complex and making them palatable.

As an entrepreneur Mr. Harker understands the necessity for Asset Protection first hand. Protecting the people closet to you, including your family, associates and employees

Dr. Peter Lio is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Pediatrics at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, completed his internship in Pediatrics at Boston Children's Hospital, and his Dermatology training at Harvard where he served as Chief Resident in Dermatology. Dr. Lio is the founding director of the Chicago Integrative Eczema Center and has spoken nationally and internationally about atopic dermatitis, as well as alternative medicine.

Associate Professor and Dermatology Director at the UCSF Centre for Itch and Neurosensory Disorders at the University of California in San Francisco, California, US

Sarina Elmariah, MD, PhD, is a board-certified dermatologist and developmental neuroscientist. She is also Associate Professor and Dermatology Director at the UCSF Centre for Itch and Neurosensory Disorders at the University of California in San Francisco. Her research interests lie in general dermatology, skin cancer detection and treatment, chronic itching disorders, allergic skin reactions and wound healing, and aims to promote innovation and discovery in the neuroimmune cutaneous areas and improve how we characterize, diagnose and manage common skin disorders. 

She has published numerous articles and abstracts in dermatology and neuroscience journals, including the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and the Journal of Neuroscience. Additionally, she has authored many online publications and a book chapter and is a reviewer for many top-tier dermatology and scientific journals. She has also received numerous awards, including the Saul Winegrad Award for her outstanding graduate thesis, and the Balduin Lucke Memorial Prize for superior research in Medicine and Biology, the Dermatology Foundation Physician-Scientist Career Development Award, and the American Academy of Dermatology 2018 Young Investigator Award.

Dr. Swanson is a board-certified dermatologist and pediatric dermatologist. She obtained her medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans. She performed her dermatology residency at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. After that, she completed a fellowship in Pediatric Dermatology at Phoenix Children’s Hospital in Arizona. She was in private practice in Colorado from
2011 thru 2020. She moved to Boise, Idaho in summer 2020 to become the first and only pediatric dermatologist in the state of Idaho.
She is active in local and national medical societies and organizations. She loves lecturing at conferences discussing pediatric dermatology with audiences across the country. Since moving to Idaho, she works in private practice at Ada West Dermatology and she is on staff at St Luke’s Children’s Hospital where she sees hospital consults and performs procedures.

Dr. Michael Traub's father was a dermatologist, and this inspired him to become the leading expert in skin in the naturopathic profession. He has taught dermatology at five of the seven accredited naturopathic medical schools in North America and is the author of “Essentials of Dermatologic Diagnosis and Integrative Therapeutics.” He has been medical director of Lokahi Health Center in Kailua Kona, Hawaii for the past 32 years. He has been actively engaged in clinical research throughout most of his career. His most recent investigation is “Efficacy and Safety of Kamedis Eczema Treatment in Children and Adults with Atopic Dermatitis.”

Greg Maguire, Ph.D., a former professor of neuroscience at the University of California, San Diego, a Fulbright-Fogarty Scholar at the National Institutes of Health, USA, is a scientist, innovator, teacher, healthcare professional. He has over 100 publications and numerous patents. His book, "Adult Stem Cell Released Molecules: A Paradigm Shift To Systems Therapeutics" was published by Nova Science Publishers (NY) in 2018. He is co-founder of NeoGenesis Inc, a skin care and therapeutics company headquartered in San Diego, CA.

Dr. Stephen Lewellis is a board-certified dermatologist with expertise in both conventional and integrative dermatology. He completed his MD and PhD at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and his dermatology residency at Stanford University.

He is the founder of Above & Beyond Dermatology, an independent, integrative dermatology practice in central Wisconsin that offers office visits, virtual care, and house calls. He's also the Medical Director of Skinnovations Medical Aesthetics and host of Above & Beyond Dermatology, a podcast dedicated to bucking the conventional wisdom of taking care of patients and taking care of business. Additionally, he's a Founding Medical Partner at Doctor Pedia and Executive Director of Dermatology at FirstHx.

Dr. Lewellis is passionate about combining evidence-based care with functional medicine principles to treat skin, hair, and nail conditions in ways that often result in improvements below the surface as well. He serves his team members, patients, and audience by adhering to his Core Four Values: Hospitality, Trust, Access & Accountability.

Valerie A Stern, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C is a board certified, SDPA Dermatology Diplomate Fellow practicing integrative dermatology. Valerie has specialized in dermatology for over 20 years and practices general, surgical, cosmetic and laser dermatology from an integrative standpoint. 

Valerie received her degree in Physician Assistant Medicine from Keck, USC School of Medicine, she then obtained her masters degree in dermatology from the University of Nebraska Medical School followed by doctorate degrees in medical science with emphasis on dermatology and physician assistant education from Lynchburg University in Virginia.  

Valerie lectures and teaches at USC Keck School of Medicine, Department of Physician Assistant Studies as well as acting as an expert in legal case testimonial during malpractice litigation involving advanced practice providers. Valerie has been an international laser trainer, educator and lecturer for two large laser companies over the past 15 years. 

Valerie is passionate about providing the highest quality care to each and every patient she sees. She believes that internal optimization is key to overall health which manifests outwardly onto the skin. Understanding root cause etiology plays a significant role in keeping the skin at its best.

In her free time, Valerie loves to study, learning all she can about environmental interactions and genetic predisposition, focusing on such factors as toxins in our homes, the foods we consume, and the products we put on our skin daily, all of which impact our overall health and well being.  

Valerie’s goal is to provide each patient with the education and comprehensive care they deserve through quality interactions using a team approach, helping to achieve success in their skin health goals. 

Neal Bhatia, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in San Diego, California. He serves as Director of Clinical Dermatology at Therapeutics Clinical Research and as chief medical editor for Practical Dermatology. He is widely published and has a background in immunology as well as interests in mechanisms of therapy, skin cancer, and medical dermatology.

Nada Elbuluk, MD MSc specializes in pigmentary disorders and skin, hair and nail conditions affecting individuals of color, along with general medical and cosmetic dermatology. She is the founder and director of the USC Skin of Color and Pigmentary Disorders Program at Keck Medicine of USC. She also established the USC Skin of Color and Pigmentary Disorders Research Fellowship and the Dermatology Diversity and Inclusion Program at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

Dr. Elbuluk received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Princeton University. She received her medical degree and master’s degree in clinical research at the University of Michigan. She completed her dermatology residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Afterwards, she was a fellow and clinical instructor in the Dermatology Department at the University of Pennsylvania and then spent four years as an assistant professor at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine, where she was the founder and director of the pigmentary disorder clinic and served as the diversity ambassador for the department.

Dr. Elbuluk’s clinical and research interests include such pigmentary disorders as vitiligo and melasma, as well as conditions that cause lightening or darkening of the skin. Among the procedures she performs are chemical peels, microneedling, lasers and botulinum toxin injections for all skin types. 

In addition, Dr. Elbuluk is devoted to ensuring health equity for all patients and improving health disparities. A passionate teacher, she created a Skin of Color educational curriculum for Keck Medicine dermatology residents and serves as the director of curriculum equity for the Keck School.  

Dr. Elbuluk serves on the board of directors of the Global Vitiligo Foundation and the Women’s Dermatologic Society. She also holds various leadership roles and memberships in the Skin of Color Society, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the American Academy of Dermatology. Additionally, she is a sought-after media expert and has been widely interviewed by local, national and international news platforms, including print, radio and TV, on a range of topics related to dermatology, as well as health equity. 

Outside of her clinical practice, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, along with traveling, playing tennis and trying new foods.

Dr. Joseph Alban is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Board Certified Herbalist. He has run a private practice in New York City for seventeen years.

Dr. Alban graduated from Touro College’s Graduate Program in Oriental Medicine, obtaining a Masters of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine and completed a Doctor of Acupuncture at Five Branches Univerisity. He completed a Chinese Medicine hospital residency in Hunan, China where he trained in acupuncture, Chinese medicine dermatology, and Tui Na medical massage.

He has received the Traditional Chinese Medicine Dermatology Diploma from world-renowned expert Mazin Al-Khafaji. Dr. Alban sits on the board of the International Traditional Chinese Medicine Dermatology Association (ITCMDA). He is also the Traditional Chinese Medicine editor for Learn Skin and on the board for the Integrative Dermatology Symposium. He is the head editor and a contributing author of the ebook An Introduction to Chinese Medicine Dermatology which resulted from a collaboration of the ITCMDA and Learn Skin.

Zoe Diana Draelos, MD, is a research and clinical board-certified dermatologist and a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. She is in solo private practice in High Point, North Carolina, and a Consulting Professor of Dermatology at Duke University.

In 1988, she founded Dermatology Consulting Services, PLLC, to initiate and perform research in aging skin, acne, rosacea, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, actinic keratoses, eczema, and aesthetic procedures in the cosmetic, OTC drug, and pharmaceutical arenas.

Prior to pursuing a medical career, Dr. Draelos completed an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering and was elected a Rhodes Scholar. A member of Sigma Xi research honorary and Alpha Omega Alpha medical honorary, she is the author of 14 books including Cosmetics in Dermatology (fourth edition) and Hair Cosmetics.

She is the editor of Cosmetic Dermatology: Products and Procedures (third edition) and Cosmeceuticals (fourth edition), with translations into seven languages. She has contributed chapters to 44 textbooks, written 197 posters, served as the principal investigator on 1,054 studies, and authored 674 published papers.

She has served on or contributed to 38 journal editorial boards, functioned as the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology for 10 years, and was a past member of the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. She was elected Vice-President of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Dr. Draelos is recognized as a pioneer in cosmetic dermatology and has received numerous awards, including a lifetime achievement award from Health Beauty America for her research and the 2008 DermArts Award for her contributions to dermatology.

In 2010, she received the Albert Kligman Innovation Award, and in 2016 she was awarded a Presidential Citation from the American Academy of Dermatology for her research contributions to advance the specialty.

She received the prestigious Maison de Navarre Award from the Society of Cosmetic Chemists in 2017 for her contributions to the art and science of cosmetics. In 2019, she was the inaugural recipient of the Florence Wall Award from the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, naming her as one of the most influential women in cosmetic science.

Dr. Adriana Cruz studied medicine and dermatology at the Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia. She conducted a research fellowship at University of Connecticut and worked for more than 12 years in syphilis related research projects. Dr. Cruz has served as an advisor for Colombian Ministry of Health, as a teacher at Universidad del Valle and CIDEIM and currently is part of the Colombian Dermatology Society – AsoColDerma’s directive board. Dr. Cruz enjoys leading and organizing academic events and also devotes time for social responsibility activities.

Médica y dermatóloga formada en la Universidad del Valle, Colombia, con un posdoc en investigación en la Universidad de Connecticut. Ha sido asesora del Ministerio de Salud, docente universitario, hace parte de la Junta Directiva de la Asociación Colombiana de Dermatología - AsoColDerma, miembro de la AAD, CILAD. Actulamente cursando el Certificado de Dermatología Integrativa LearnSkin en USA. Líder de opinión y gestora de actividades académicas y de responsabilidad social en la Ciudad de Cali. Cuenta con varias publicaciones en revistas internacionales indexadas y ha participado como conferencista en varios escenarios.

Dr. Daveluy is a professor and program director at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He earned a bachelor's in science from Michigan State University. He completed medical school and his dermatology residency at Wayne State University.

He holds special interests in teledermatology, noninvasive skin imaging, skin of color, integrative dermatology, and complex medical dermatology, including hidradenitis suppurativa. He is active on AAD committees, including Performance Measure and DataDerm Oversight. He is the past president of the Wayne County Medical Society and Michigan Dermatological Society. He serves on the board of directors of the HS Foundation and editorial board for the JAAD and JAAD Case Reports and is building a growing body of publications of his own. He lives across the border in Windsor, Ontario, Canada with his husband and two very spoiled dogs

Dr. Hadar Lev-Tov is a board-certified dermatologist with extensive research experience. Throughout his training and in daily practice, he has always believed that the key to achieving health for his patients is grounded in his ability to truly connect to their experiences and perceptions of health and well-being. Maimonides, one of the greatest philosophers of all time realized that human knowledge, often represented as "science," is limited. As a physician, he feels he would be a fool to believe all is known. Maimonides said, "The physician should not treat the disease but the patient who is suffering from it." LearnSkin is his journey to a better understanding of his patients.

Dr. Rubaina Dang is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor practicing in California. She specializes in a variety of hormonal, gastrointestinal and dermatological related conditions, providing a comprehensive approach on healing from the inside out. She is passionate about regenerative aesthetics, serving as a PRP educator and trainer to the medical community. In addition, she has been a hair health educator at Nutrafol and is currently serving as a primary investigator for various clinical trials at the Integrative Research Institute. She is passionate about utilizing integrative therapeutics to support the body internally as well as topically, empowering others to achieve healthy skin from within.

After finishing Medical School and Dermatology Residency at the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Bodemer completed a fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. She was the first Dermatologist to be board certified in both Dermatology and Integrative Medicine and currently is the only Dermatologist to serve on the Integrative Medicine Board. She has authored academic texts and curriculum and has spoken widely on a variety of topics related to Integrative Dermatology. She has always been drawn to exploring how lifestyle choices impact skin health and disease and feels that the most powerful role a physician can play is as an educator and guide, empowering people to get healthy and stay healthy.