Meet Samia Mohamed Esmat MD, Professor of Dermatology, Head of Vitiligo and Laser Units, Dermatology Department, Faculty Of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt

Background:

Dr. Esmat graduated from Cairo University in 1987 and since then, she has been working in the field of dermatology, which she says she adores.

Why she chose vitiligo as her research interest:

“The challenging nature of vitiligo management especially in the acral parts made me so interested to direct most of my research activities towards it. I was encouraged by my mentor Professor Medhat El Mofty and my dear friend, Professor Tag Anbar. I joined the Vitiligo Working Group since the time it had started with Dr. Hamzavi and now continuing as the Global Vitiligo Foundation. Experts of vitiligo from all around the world share their passion and research about vitiligo. I really feel blessed having joined this group”

Her current work:

She is now the head of the vitiligo unit in Cairo University (Kasr Al Aini) hospital which serves around 200 cases per month. This is a referral centre that receives vitiligo cases from all parts of the country. In our vitiligo clinic. patients receive all medical services free of charge as well as reassurance and support. Dr. Esmat is now the General Secretary of the newborn Egyptian Vitiligo Society.

Dr. Esmat was slated to present an abstract at the GVF Annual Scientific Symposium about the vitiligo-like lesions of scleroderma. In her words, “Those lesions always puzzled me as they look as if they are vitiligo lesions undertreatment. They show preservation of the pigment around the hair follicle. In this study, we found an explanation for this unique behavior and was related to the role of fibroblasts.” Watch for more info about Dr. Esmat’s work.