National Psoriasis Foundation 2016 Medical Professional Awards Winners

PORTLAND, Ore., March 3, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Recognized for their tireless work and commitment to better patient outcomes and promoting a cure for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) is honored to announce the winners of the 2^nd Annual NPF Medical Professional Awards. Nominated by patients and colleagues, award recipients are clinicians who have made a significant impact in the psoriatic disease community and have joined NPF in our mission to drive efforts toward finding a cure and improving the lives of those affected.

Selected by a committee of NPF medical board members, nominees were evaluated on specific criteria for each award, and their overall effort in improving the lives of those affected by psoriatic disease. NPF is pleased to recognize the following professionals.

Outstanding Educator in Psoriatic Disease, Joel M. Gelfand, M.D., MSCE.
Joel M. Gelfand is Professor of Dermatology and of Epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a board-certified dermatologist whose clinical work focuses on general dermatology and psoriasis. He has created a multi-disciplinary approach to the care of psoriasis patients at Penn through his recruitment and mentoring of a rheumatologist and cardiologist who now specialize in systemic complications of psoriasis.

Outstanding Physician-Clinician, Alexa Boer Kimball, M.D., M.P.H
Alexa Boer Kimball, M.D., M.P.H. is the president and chief executive officer of Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians, an academic multi-specialty group employing more than 1,200 full-time Harvard Medical School faculty members and 450 physicians in the community. She is also President of the Beth Israel Deaconess Care Organization Physician LLC, which maintains a membership of approximately 2500 physicians, and a Professor of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Kimball is an international expert on psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa who has published more than 250 peer-reviewed scientific papers and 100 Questions and Answers about Psoriasis, which has been translated into Spanish, Greek and Korean. In 2016 she was named Mentor of the Year by the Women's Dermatologic Society.

Health Professional Volunteer of the Year Craig F. Teller, MD
Craig F. Teller, MD, is a native Houstonian and has been practicing dermatology since 1995. Board certified by the American Board of Dermatology and a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, Dr. Teller holds an academic appointment as Clinical Instructor of Dermatology in family medicine at Baylor College of Medicine as well as Clinical Instructor of Dermatology at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston. Dr. Teller is being recognized for his efforts and promotion of the NPF mission and key initiatives at the local division with strong contributions and support of the overall NPF goals and objectives.

Outstanding Allied Health, Lakshi Aldredge, MSN, ANP-BC
Ms. Lakshi Aldredge is a nurse practitioner who has practiced at the Portland VA Medical Center for the past 22 years, the last eight years in the medical Dermatology Service. Aldredge is being recognized for her outstanding achievements in improving psoriatic disease clinical practice and the quality of life of her patients. She is actively involved in the day-to-day clinical care of her patients and is nationally known for her exceptional clinical knowledge and expertise.

Aldredge is the past President of the national Dermatology Nurses' Association (DNA) and is the current Chair of the Nurse Practitioner Society of the DNA. She is on the Advisory board of Dermatology World, is an Associate Editor of Psoriasis Forum, the peer-reviewed journal of the National Psoriasis Foundation, as well as a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of the Dermatology Nurses' Association.

Over the last 50 years, the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) has become the world's leading nonprofit patient advocacy organization fighting for individuals with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. NPF leads this fight by driving efforts for a cure and improving the lives of the more than 8 million Americans affected by this chronic disease. To date, NPF has funded more than $15 million in research grants and fellowships, and to commemorate 50 years, NPF plans to raise an additional $2 million for early scientific career research programs in 2017 alone. Each year, NPF strives to support, educate and advocate on behalf of more individuals living with or caring for someone with the disease than ever before. As part of that effort, NPF established the Patient Navigation Center to offer personalized assistance to everyone with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. Join our community today and help drive discovery and create community for all living with psoriatic disease.

SOURCE National Psoriasis Foundation

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http://www.psoriasis.org