Global Health Dermatology
About This Program
Our Dual Mission
- To improve diagnosis and treatment of skin conditions in resource-poor settings
- To train providers at home and abroad in delivering high-quality dermatologic care to those most in need
Who We Are
Dr. Esther Freeman, MD, PhD is Director of Global Health Dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. She is Chair of the Clinical Guidelines Committee at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), and a member of the AAD's Task Force on Covid-19.
She has worked to improve healthcare, especially those affected by HIV, in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and southeast Asia since 2003. She has collaborated with the World Health Organization since 2011, to establish guidelines for the treatment of HIV-associated skin conditions in the developing world. Her work centers around HIV-associated skin disease and HIV- associated cancer.
In 2020, Dr Freeman is overseeing the international Dermatology Covid-19 Registry in collaboration with the American Academy of Dermatology. Her work on Covid-19 has been featured in the New York Times and the Washington Post.
Where We Collaborate
Kenya: Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya
Uganda: Infectious Disease Institute, Kampala, Uganda
Uganda: Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Mbarara, Uganda
Nigeria: Institute of Human Virology, Abuja, Nigeria
Switzerland: World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
South Africa: Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
Learn More About What We Do
Dermatology is expanding its role globally by creating awareness of the disparities in care globally and by training healthcare workers in underserved areas to help improve healthcare, especially those patients affected by HIV.
Links to Our Work
COVID Related Issues
Business Insider
USA Today
https://www.today.com/health/skin-symptoms-related-coronavirus-doctors-discuss-covid-toes-t178991
Today.com 2020: What are COVID Toes?
'COVID arm' rash seen after Moderna vaccine annoying but harmless, doctors say
CBS News
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-toes-frostbite-coronavirus-symptom/
The Dermatologist
https://www.the-dermatologist.com/article/aad-registry-skin-manifestations-covid-19-qa-dr-freeman
NBC
Gizmodo
https://gizmodo.com/dermatologists-report-odd-toe-symptoms-potentially-link-1843027031
Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMZvb8mEkNw&feature=youtu.be
Healio
Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/04/29/coronavirus-rashes-toes/
Seznam Pravy
Harvard
https://hms.harvard.edu/magazine/skin/attuned-signs-trouble
Rheumatology Republic
http://rheuma.com.au/covid-toes-under-the-microscope/18026
Medscape.com
COVID Skin Signs Vary by Type of Variant, UK Study Finds (medscape.com)
Forbes
Forbes: COVID Toes are caused by Coronavirus infecting the lining of blood vessels
Insider
https://www.insider.com/covid-arm-rash-moderna-vaccine-itchy-but-no-big-deal-2021-2
KCBS Radio
Ask An Expert: Skin reactions to COVID-19 vaccines
New York Times
"COVID toes may be caused by a powerful immune response, a new study finds
International Dermatology & COVID-19 Registry
American Academy of Dermatology
https://www.aad.org/skinserious/stories-esther-freeman
MassGeneral.org
World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines
Skin Health Matters: A Patient's Story
Eczema
Very Well Health
https://www.verywellhealth.com/eczema-worse-during-covid-5097544
M-Pox
Healio
Q&A: Monkeypox added to dermatology registry to track cutaneous manifestations of disease
Cancer
New York Times
New York Times 2017: As Cancer Tears Through Africa
Publications
Dr. Freeman Publications at PubMed
Resources for Trainees
MGH Center for Global Health Travel Awards
American Academy of Dermatology Resident International Award
Mass General Global Health Home
You Can Help
You can help make high quality diagnosis and treatment a reality for those suffering from skin disease in one of the most impoverished communities worldwide. To learn more about our program, email us at GlobalHealthDerm@partners.org.Contact Global Health Dermatology
You can help make high quality diagnosis and treatment a reality for those suffering from skin disease in one of the most impoverished communities worldwide.