WELCOME TO THE IMMUNODERMATOLOGY LABORATORY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
Our Mission
Our mission as a Laboratory Services group is to continue to grow our understanding of our three disciplines; Immunodermatology, Dermatopathology and Oralpathology. With that knowledge, greater understanding of the diseases affecting the skin to create individualized treatments for our clients and patients.
Our History
In 1964, Robert E. Jordan, as a medical student, published a paper with Ernst H. Beutner describing their discovery that pemphigus is an autoimmune disease by demonstrating antibodies in sera of patients with pemphigus vulgaris by indirect immunofluorescence which localized to intercellular spaces of stratified squamous epithelia.(2) Autoantibodies in two blistering diseases, pemphigus and pemphigoid, were rapidly distinguished and characterized with disease specificity based on autoantibody detection and localization, and, by the late 1960s, the diagnostic utility of immunodermatology testing had been established.(3) Dermatological Immunology/Diagnostic and Laboratory Immunology became a recognized subspecialty of Dermatology with the administration of the first board examination by the American Board of Dermatology in November 1985. Immunodermatology fellowships followed.
Dr. John J. Zone was a diplomat of the charter examination, and Dr. Kristin M. Leiferman became a diplomat in 1989. Dr. Leiferman directed the Immunodermatology Fellowship at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, until she left and came to the University of Utah in 2001. Dr. Melanie Kuechle was one of her “immunodermatology fellows.
Recognition
Margaret M. Cocks
Dr. Margaret Cocks is a dermatologist and dermatopathologist who specializes in the diagnosis and management of vulvar dermatoses, including lichen sclerosus, lichen planus and lichen simplex chronicus. She also sees patients for general dermatology including common skin disorders such as acne, rosacea, skin cancer, and eczema. Her laboratory interests include the diagnosis of autoimmune blistering diseases and immunodermatology.
Mazdak A. Khalighi
Dr. Mazdak Khalighi is a board certified anatomic pathologist. He completed a residency in anatomic pathology at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he also served as chief resident. He subsequently completed a fellowship in medical renal pathology at the University of Chicago, where he gained an interest in immunology and auto-reactive diseases as well as immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. He joins the immunodermatology laboratory at the University of Utah with particular interest in autoimmune disease affecting the skin and mucous membranes.
Melanie K. Kuechle
Dr. Kuechle was an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Departments of Medicine (Division of Dermatology) and Pathology from 1999-2007, where she researched the role of enzymatic events in epidermal differentiation. She is currently a partner at Puget Sound Dermatology in Edmonds, Washington.
Kristin M. Leiferman
Kristin M. Leiferman, M.D. is a Dermatologist and Immunodermatologist with expertise in immune-mediated skin diseases, especially diagnosis and management of allergic skin diseases and diagnosis of autoimmune blistering diseases that affect skin and mucous membranes. She has board certification in Dermatology and Dermatological Immunology/Diagnostic and Laboratory Immunology.
John J. Zone
John J. Zone, MD has specialized expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of blistering diseases of the skin. This includes dermatitis herpetiformis, linear IgA disease, pemphigus and pemphigoid. He is board certified in dermatology, immunodermatology and internal medicine. He runs both a research and clinical laboratory dedicated to diagnosis, treatment and research of blistering diseases. Dr. Zone deals primarily with the practice of medical dermatology and expert management of dermatitis herpetiformis, gluten intolerence, linear IgA disease, pemphigus, pemphigoid, lichen planus and oral ulcers that are frequently related to immune conditions.
Upcoming Events
PDPC
One of our Department’s educational missions is to provide outreach to all health care providers who deal with patient skin problems in the primary care setting. A key component of this effort has been the establishment of a one day CME course entitled Practical Dermatology For Primary Care that has been held annually during the spring in the University of Utah School of Medicine over the past 11 years. This course has been received very warmly by its attendees.
IDS
To promote and maintain high standards of dermatology practice, to promote the science and art of dermatology, and to assist in providing continuing medical education for dermatologists and other providers of dermatology.
Recent News
Board Certified
John J. Zone, M.D., Kristin M. Leiferman, M.D., and Melanie K. Kuechle, M.D. are American Board of Dermatology Diplomats in Dermatology and Dermatological Immunology / Diagnostic and Laboratory Immunology. Mazdak A. Khalighi, M.D. and Margaret M. Cocks, Ph.D., M.D. are American Board of Pathology Diplomats in Anatomic Pathology. Dr. Khalighi additionally has fellowship training and faculty experience in Renal Pathology/Immunopathology. Dr. Cocks additionally is an American Board of Pathology Diplomat in Clinical Pathology and is an American Board of Dermatology Diplomat in Dermatology and Dermatopathology. Drs. Khalighi and Cocks have had specialized, fellowship-equivalent training in laboratory immunodermatology by Drs. Zone and Leiferman.
Contact Us
Immunodermatology Laboratory,
Department of Dermatology
University of Utah Health
417 South Wakara Way, Suite 2151
Salt Lake City, UT 84108