Joseph F. Merola, M.D., M.M.S., a leading clinician, researcher, and clinical investigator who treats immune-mediated diseases such as psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis and lupus, has been named Chair of Dermatology.

Dr. Merola, who joined UT Southwestern Oct. 16, came from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston. He held many leadership positions there, including Vice Chair of the Department of Dermatology in Clinical Trials and Innovation, Director of the Clinical Unit for Research Innovation and Trials, Director of the Center for Skin and Related Musculoskeletal Diseases, and Director of the Harvard Combined Internal Medicine-Dermatology Residency Training Program.

He received his medical degree from New York University School of Medicine and a Master of Medical Sciences degree from Harvard Medical School. He then completed an internship at the University of Pennsylvania, a residency in dermatology at New York University Medical Center, and both a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in rheumatology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

“The multidisciplinary skills, clinical expertise, and leadership record that Dr. Merola brings will expand the Department of Dermatology’s tradition for excellence and further enhance our institution as a national hub for discovery and innovation,” said W. P. Andrew Lee, M.D., Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Provost, and Dean of UT Southwestern Medical School.

Dr. Merola specializes in hard-to-treat cases of immune-related inflammatory disorders, which can lead to damage to skin, cartilage, bone, and internal organs. He is the Founding President of the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Clinics Multicenter Advancement Network, Vice President of the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis, a member of the National Psoriasis Foundation Medical Board and Scientific Advisory Committee, and President of the Medical Dermatology Society, among multiple other leadership positions. He also has led clinical trials funded by the National Institutes of Health and the pharmaceutical industry related to inflammatory skin and joint disease including psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis, and he has published more than 300 peer-reviewed articles.

We spoke with the new Chair about his research, background, and plans for the Dermatology Department.

What intrigued you about combining dermatology and rheumatology?

During college, I cared for a gentleman with severe multiple sclerosis, forging a deep personal connection and inspiring my research in immunology, initially through work on a multiple sclerosis mouse model in medical school. This experience, as well as my work in labs focused on autoimmune blistering conditions, inflammatory arthritis, and then clinical rotations, solidified my commitment to immunology/autoimmunity and ultimately to the field of rheumatology. In preparation for residency, I chose a dermatology elective where I found a mentor who, like me, was uniquely triple boarded and inspired me to pursue boarding in internal medicine, dermatology, and rheumatology. The intersection of these specialties and the evident educational, clinical, and research opportunities in that space fascinated me.

Will you continue your research in lupus and rheumatological diseases?

The Department has a rich and robust legacy in the realm of cutaneous autoimmunity and connective tissue disease research. Together, we aim to amplify our influence on autoimmune and inflammatory skin conditions, striving to solidify our position as the foremost clinical and research group in the country for dermatologic-rheumatic diseases. I have been incredibly impressed by the world-class immunology work being done at UTSW and look forward to continuing to build bridges among our departments and centers to innovate in the skin immunology space. I am excited to be working alongside renowned dermatology-rheumatology colleagues like Benjamin Chong, M.D., Professor of Dermatology, and Heidi Jacobe, M.D., Professor of Dermatology, in our Department, among many others.

What goals do you have for the Department?

The Department has had incredible leadership in former Chair Kim Yancey, M.D., for many years, and our goal is to continue to further build upon his work.

Some early priorities include expanding core resources and research platforms for our faculty, including investments in clinical research and trials; fostering a culture in which every faculty member feels actively involved in our research mission; supporting the invaluable basic science and translational work of our scientists; expanding our educational impact through novel residency and fellowship opportunities; promoting diversity and inclusion at all levels; enhancing interdepartmental and external collaborations; and prioritizing faculty and staff wellness. In pursuing these goals, we aim to further elevate our Department’s standing and impact in the field on a national and international stage, ultimately benefiting patients and advancing dermatological knowledge and care for our community.

What have been some major recent findings in the field of lupus or rheumatology?

We’ve made significant strides in treating psoriasis with a range of newer, highly effective targeted therapies. I take pride in having contributed to the development of some of the more recent FDA-approved treatments for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. There remains, however, a particular need to push past the current efficacy ceiling that we often see in psoriatic arthritis. I have been part of several groups that are pioneering novel approaches, including combination therapy approaches, to address this challenge.

Additionally, we are leading the way in psoriatic arthritis prevention research, focusing on intervening in patients with psoriasis who are in a “pre-disease” state before the onset of symptomatic disease. We have also developed unique outcome measures to assess musculoskeletal symptoms and have been at the forefront of innovation utilizing digital biometric techniques.

In lupus, we are deeply involved in clinical trial design and innovation, specifically centered around skin lupus drug development. Notably, we established the first discoid lupus classification criteria and are actively working on a core domain and outcome measure set to propel the field forward. Moreover, we have promising new mechanisms in systemic lupus that show potential for treating cutaneous lupus. There has been additional excitement in the lupus field around recent advances in cell therapy approaches (CAR T-cell therapy) as a novel therapeutic intervention in severe and refractory disease.