The Marvin A. Karasek Lectureship in Dermatology at Stanford was established in 2016 by a generous gift from Stanford Dermatology Faculty Member, Professor Marvin A. Karasek, with a goal to advancing progress in cutaneous biology and medicine.
Unraveling Autoimmunity
New Hope for Autoimmune Diseases
The future has never looked brighter for patients with autoimmune diseases. With a deeper understanding of the inner workings of the immune system, physician-scientists at Stanford are beginning to identify unique drivers of disease and develop new therapies to target them—with the hope of one day alleviating debilitating symptoms and restoring healthy immune function to the millions of people facing these chronic, incurable conditions.
Join David Fiorentino, MD, PhD, for the 5th annual Marvin A. Karasek Lecture in Dermatology to learn about the collaborative and promising work occurring across Stanford Medicine to test novel cell therapies in patients with autoimmune conditions and deliver new hope for halting these debilitating diseases.
Monday, April 28 from 5:00-7:00pm
Cardinal Hall Lecture Hall
505 Broadway | Redwood City
RSVP by April 14
For questions, email liuting@stanford.edu or call 650.498.6295. Registration is required.
*Established in 2016 by the estate of Marvin A. Karasek, PhD, this annual lecture in dermatology explores the latest breakthroughs in cutaneous biology and investigative dermatology to accelerate the pace of translational research and transform human health.
For a personal conversation about how philanthropy can make a difference, please contact Katharyn Israel (formerly Kat Walsch) at 541.961.7826 or katharynisrael@stanford.edu
2025 Lecturer - David Fiorentino, MD, PhD
Dr. David Fiorentino, MD, PhD, Professor of Dermatology has a specific interest in the pathophysiology, natural history, and treatment of autoimmune skin diseases. Dr. Fiorentino, in collaboration with rheumatologist Dr. Lorinda Chung, developed the Autoimmune Skin Disease Clinic. The clinic uses a multidisciplinary approach to caring for patients with and conducting research on rheumatic skin diseases, including lupus, scleroderma, dermatomyositis, vasculitis, psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis. At the clinic patients not only have access to the latest treatments and medications, but they also have access to innovative clinical trials.
2023 Lecturer - Jean Y. Tang, MD, PhD
Jean Tang, M.D., Ph.D., is a Professor of Dermatology and her research focuses on genetic skin diseases such as Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome and Epidermolysis Bullosa. She studies new ways to treat and prevent NSMC and melanoma. Dr. Tang has led or co-led the conduct and completion of 6 investigator initiated clinical trials in BCC and EB. She received her MD/PhD from Stanford (Biophysics), completed her dermatology residency at Stanford, and then went to UCSF for a 3 year post-doc in mouse genetics, while simultaneously pursuing formal coursework in biostatistics, epidemiology, and clinical trial design in the KL2 CTSI program. (Learn More)
2018 Lecturer - Howard Y. Chang, MD, PhD
Howard Chang, MD, PhD, the Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Professor of Cancer and Genomics, directs the NIH Center of Excellence in Genomic Science: Center for Personal Dynamic Regulome at Stanford University. He has dedicated his career to understanding the system of switches that controls when and where a gene will turn on. His groundbreaking work promises to open a new world of RNA-based strategies against disease. (Learn more)
2024 Lecturer - Susan Swetter, MD
Susan M. Swetter, M.D., is Professor of Dermatology, Assistant Chief of the Dermatology Service at the VA Palo Alto, Co-Director of the Pigmented Lesion and Melanoma Program, and Physician Leader of the Cancer Care Program in Cutaneous Oncology at Stanford University Medical Center and Cancer Institute. Her research interests encompass both primary and secondary melanoma prevention, including therapeutic prevention strategies in patients with atypical nevi and targeted screening/education of high-risk groups for improved melanoma awareness and early detection. Her clinical interests are in cutaneous oncology (focused on pigmented lesions/melanoma) and adult general medical dermatology (at VA Palo Alto). (Learn more)
2019 Lecturer - Anthony E. Oro, MD, PhD
Anthony Oro, MD, PhD, the Eugene and Gloria Bauer Professor of Dermatology, is a recognized leader in skin regeneration and cancer. For Dr. Anthony Oro, the skin offers a window to the inner workings of the human body. In his lab, Dr. Oro uses skin as a model for Precision Health, to understand the genetic basis of diseases and develop novel therapies for tissue regeneration, cancer and autoimmune conditions. (Learn more)