2026 George F. Odland Lecture
Dr. Tiffany Scharschmidt gives keynote speech and UW Dermatology clinical fellows share research updates
On Friday, May 29, 2026, keynote speaker Tiffany C. Scharschmidt, MD, Professor and the Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) presented her talk titled, “Early Life Immune-Microbe Crosstalk in Skin” to an auditorium of UW Dermatology faculty, trainees and alumni as part of the 2026 George F. Odland Lecture.
“Dr. Scharschmidt’s research really sits at the interface between humans and our microbial environment, studying how our skin's immune system navigates a symbiotic relationship with the many species of bacteria that constitute a healthy microbiome, and those that lead to overt infections, such as staph aureus,” said Dr. Cory Simpson, UW Dermatology Assistant Professor and Principal Investigator in the Simpson Lab.
Established in 2016, her independent laboratory focuses on uncovering cellular and molecular mechanisms that mediate early life interactions between skin bacteria and the cutaneous immune system. Dr. Scharschmidt’s work, which has identified neonatal life as a “window of opportunity” for establishing immune tolerance to skin commensal bacteria, has fundamental implications for the understanding of cutaneous biology as well as future therapeutic approaches for inflammatory skin disease.
“I really have been fascinated since early on in my scientific and even clinical training by this concept that on our skin, we have these millions of microbes that live with us every day. In each square centimeter, we have over a million bacterial cells, as well as a million lymphocytes, T cells, in our skin,” Dr. Scharschmidt said.
Clinical Research Updates
In addition to the keynote presentation, six members of the department, including clinical fellows, residents and a research scientist, shared compelling updates on their research projects.
Peter Ch’en, MD, recently graduated medical student and future UW Dermatology resident - “The Primary Site in Merkel Cell Carcinoma: To Radiate or Not?”
Victoria Wilk, MS, Clinical Research Fellow with the MC3 Institute – “Eyelid Merkel Cell Carcinoma: A New Approach”
Thomas Vincent, PhD, Simpson Lab Research Scientist – “Lipid Nanoparticles Enable Gene Therapy in Cellular Organotypic Models of Hailey-Hailey Disease”
Camila Marquez, Clinical Research Fellow with the UW Dermatology Clinical Trials Office – “The Effects of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors on Hidradenitis Supperativa: A Scoping Review”
Pragna Naidoo, MD, MHS, Co-Chief Resident in the UW Department of Dermatology – “Exploring the Use of Artificial Intelligence Among U.S. Dermatology Residents – A Mixed Methods Approach”
Aisha Jamison, MD, Co-Chief Resident in the UW Department of Dermatology – “Recognizing and Managing Pregnancy Dermatoses: An Algorithmic Curriculum for Obstetric Providers”
About the Odland Lecture
The Odland Lecture is held during the spring of each year in memory of George F. Odland, MD, the first long-term Division Head for the newly formed University of Washington Division of Dermatology in 1961.
Dr. Odland was a nationally recognized researcher of skin biology, known for describing the lamellar granule of the epidermis (Odland body). He led the Division for 26 years which saw the establishment of the dermatology training program, numerous research milestones, and clinical expansion.
The Odland Lectureship was established at Dr. Odland’s retirement in 1988 to bring the clinical science of dermatology to the clinical dermatology community of Seattle and nationwide.
