Born in the Philippines, Maria B. Alora Palli, M.D. received her medical degree and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila. After completing her residency in dermatology at the University of Santo Tomas, she completed several fellowships. She completed a dermatology fellowship at the National Skin Centre in Singapore and Gunma University in Japan and three fellowships at Harvard Medical School: Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Dermatology, Laser Surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Clinical Research in Dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Dr. Palli has co-authored numerous published articles that appear in journals such as the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology,  Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, Archives in Dermatology, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, and Lasers in Surgery & Medicine and a book entitled Illustrated Cutaneous & Aesthetic Laser Surgery.  She is the Director of Mass General's Clinical Unit for Research Trials in Skin (CURTIS) where she manages clinical trials evaluating new therapies and devices for a broad spectrum of skin diseases including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, alopecia, skin aging, and acne. She has a particular interest in psoriasis, phototherapy and photodynamic therapy.