NYU Langone Health has named David E. Cohen, MD, MPH, a nationally recognized dermatologist and researcher specializing in inflammatory skin diseases, chair of the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, effective October 1.
Dr. Cohen, the Charles C. and Dorthea E. Harris Professor of Dermatology, joined NYU Langone in 1994 and has held numerous clinical, academic, and administrative leadership positions. Most recently, he served as executive vice chair for operations and strategy and section chief of allergy and contact dermatitis in the Department of Dermatology. He will continue to serve as associate dean for faculty affairs at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
Dr. Cohen succeeds Seth J. Orlow, MD, PhD, who will step down as chair after 20 years. During his tenure, the number of full-time faculty members in the department quadrupled, clinical and research programs expanded, and patient visits increased by 94 percent over the past five years.
“Dr. Cohen brings deep knowledge of our Department of Dermatology, a strong record of clinical and research leadership, and a commitment to advancing patient care,” said Alec C. Kimmelman, MD, PhD, dean and CEO of NYU Langone Health. “We are grateful to Dr. Orlow for his 20 years of leadership and the growth he has helped achieve and look forward to building on that strong foundation under Dr. Cohen’s leadership.”
Dr. Cohen specializes in chronic skin conditions, including eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea. He is board-certified in both dermatology and occupational and environmental medicine. His research focuses on how environmental and occupational exposures, including chemicals and light, contribute to skin disease, with the goal of advancing more-targeted approaches to prevention and treatment.
As chair, Dr. Cohen will build on the department’s clinical, research, and educational programs, with a focus on advancing specialized programs in skin cancer, dermatopathology, and skin allergy testing; increasing patient access; and bringing the latest advances in treatment and care into clinical practice.
Across the health system, the Department of Dermatology provides a wide range of clinical services and specialized programs, including cosmetic dermatology, skin allergy and patch testing, dermatopathology, skin of color services, and specialized care for skin cancer in collaboration with colleagues in radiation oncology. The department also conducts community outreach in areas with higher rates of melanoma, including Long Island, providing free skin checks and other services.
“With the growth of our services, faculty, and patient population under Dr. Orlow, this is an exciting time for the department and for the field of dermatology,” said Dr. Cohen. “I’m focused on expanding access to care, increasing education around skin conditions, and bringing innovation into practice.”
About David E. Cohen, MD, MPH
Dr. Cohen has served as president of the American Dermatological Association, the American Contact Dermatitis Society, the New York Dermatological Society, and the Dermatology Section of the New York Academy of Medicine. He is a founding board member of the American Acne and Rosacea Society and has served on committees of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. He was selected by the Institute of Medicine to study the health effects of the 2010 Gulf oil spill and served as a team leader of the Cosmetics Ingredient Review panel, which advises government and industry on the safety of cosmetic ingredients.
About Seth J. Orlow, MD, PhD
Dr. Orlow joined the department in 1990 as its first full-time pediatric dermatologist and was named chair in 2006. His career has focused on improving the lives of children and families affected by diseases of the skin and hair. His research has helped uncover the molecular underpinnings of skin, hair, and eye pigmentation and identify genetic alterations underlying congenital skin and hair disorders. He has served on the Life Sciences Advisory Board of NYU’s Venture Fund since its inception. He was elected to the American Dermatological Association and the New York Dermatological Society, and he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society in 2024. He will remain a faculty member of NYU Grossman School of Medicine and continue to be involved in advancing clinical care, research, education, and innovation.
“Serving as chair for the last 20 years has been an honor,” said Dr. Orlow. “My goal has always been to increase access to comprehensive dermatologic care for all patients by bridging the gap between advancements in research and clinical practice. I’m extremely proud of the research and clinical accomplishments of our faculty, and confident in Dr. Cohen’s vision as he steps into the role.”
About NYU Langone Health
NYU Langone Health is a fully integrated health system that consistently achieves the best patient outcomes through a rigorous focus on quality that has resulted in some of the lowest mortality rates in the nation. Vizient Inc. has ranked NYU Langone No. 1 out of 122 comprehensive academic medical centers across the nation five years in a row, and it continues to have the most No. 1– and top 10–ranked specialties among medical centers in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report. NYU Langone offers a comprehensive range of medical services with one high standard of care across seven inpatient locations, its Perlmutter Cancer Center, and more than 400 outpatient locations in the New York City area and Florida. The system also includes two tuition-free medical schools, in Manhattan and on Long Island, and a vast research enterprise.
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Source: nyulangone.org
