New chairs appointed for the Departments of Neurology, Pediatrics and Dermatology

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Kristen M. Kelly, MD, has been appointed chair for the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine Department of Dermatology, effective September 6, 2020.

Kelly is a board-certified dermatologist with more than 25 years of experience using lasers to treat vascular birthmarks, scars and other dermatologic conditions. She is at the forefront of research in the treatment of vascular skin conditions, and contributes to the development and implementation of the latest energy based technologies, techniques and treatments in dermatology.

“I have always been impressed and drawn to the spirit of collaboration and innovation embodied by the UCI School of Medicine and the Beckman Laser Institute,” said Kelly. “At UCI, I can provide the best care for my patients and participate in cutting edge research that can positively impact both individual patients and the field of dermatology.”

Kelly has contributed to the work at the world-renowned UCI Health Beckman Laser Institute & Medical Clinic in Irvine, California for over 20 years. She is also past president and board member of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery and has lectured locally, nationally and internationally on the treatment of vascular lesions and light based treatments and diagnostics in dermatology.

Kelly replaces UCI physician Christopher B. Zachary, MD, MBBS, FRCP, who stepped down from the position after serving 15 years as chair of the Department of Dermatology.

“Dr. Zachary grew the department in wonderful ways and I want to continue this positive trajectory, broadening our clinical outreach with additional patient care sites and expanding our research faculty, collaborations and grant funding,” said Kelly. “We also intend to work with the Children’s Hospital of Orange County to augment pediatric dermatology services. “

Kelly has worked as a dermatologist and professor at UCI School of Medicine for more than 20 years. During her tenure as program director, she augmented and expanded the dermatology residency program achieving full accreditation and built the program to a highly desired residency where the department receives over 400 applications for five slots each year.

“We have an outstanding residency program and we want to continue to attract the top applicants in the country and expand our residency and fellowship programs,” said Kelly. “We want to embody the UCI School of Medicine vision statement and be ‘powered by discovery, innovation and inclusive excellence’.”

Kelly has also been involved in the American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery, serving as a past president and now secretary elect. She has also worked with the Sturge-Weber Foundation and The Vascular Birthmarks Foundation to augment education about birthmarks, support the most innovative research in this field and expand access to the best treatment options to all patients.

“I have been fortunate to collaborate with outstanding scientists at UCI and across the globe looking at methods to advance energy based treatments, augment removal of vascular birthmarks and develop non-invasive diagnostic imaging systems for cutaneous disease,” said Kelly.

Kelly received her medical degree from UCLA, and completed an internship in internal medicine from St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach. She completed her residency in dermatology at UCI.

The UCI Department of Dermatology has experts in medical and surgical dermatology with specialty clinics in skin cancer, blistering diseases, pigmentary disorders, gynecologic dermatology, vascular birthmarks, hair disorders, complex medical dermatology, laser surgery, Mohs surgery and cosmetic dermatology.

Click here to read the full UCI School of Medicine article.

Transforming Human Health at the COSI Labs

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By Sandra Flores, UCI Beall Applied Innovation
Photos: Julie Kennedy, UCI Beall Applied Innovation

THE COSI LABS ARE HOME TO THE CREATION, CLINICAL TRANSLATION AND COMMERCIALIZATION OF LASER TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN BE USED TO FIGHT DISEASE AND ILLNESS.

Diseases are constantly evolving in our modern world, and with their evolution comes the need for new technology to combat them and sustain quality human health.

The Convergence Optical Sciences Initiative (COSI) labs, located in the Cove @ UCI, specializes in the creation, clinical translation and commercialization of trailblazing optics and photonic technologies to transform human health. The labs are prioritizing the  creation of laser technology that could benefit the health of those fighting chronic illnesses.

“Here at the labs, the main focus is the intersection of multiple areas such as physical science, biology, engineering, industry and medicine, all
around photonics,” said Chris Barty, distinguished professor of physics and astronomy at the UCI School of Physical Sciences and senior faculty
member of the COSI labs.

One of the main activities Barty is currently spearheading is the Laser Compton X-ray, an X-ray machine that works similarly to a laser pointer and is highly tunable. The application of this extremely precise X-ray has the potential to revolutionize disease detection and treatment.

“If we do what we say we’re going to do correctly, you’ll never remove a breast, you’ll never remove a prostate again,” said Barty. “It’ll transform human health.”

Students pursuing UCI’s dual Ph.D./M.D. program study how to enable better medical applications, while Physics graduate students come up with new ways that could make the X-ray source even better. Since the pandemic, Barty and the COSI labs’ small team of graduate students are also working on a compact UVC laser that would be able to denature the virus on surfaces.

As the COSI labs move forward, Barty hopes to change the way medical professionals use X-rays and lasers, making UCI Beall Applied Innovation a hub for X-ray and laser technology for the Orange County ecosystem.

“I would be thrilled if we had an X-ray source sitting at Beall Applied Innovation that acts as a national center for advanced radiography and radiology,” said Barty. “Being a part of Applied Innovation makes it really easy to pursue this vision at UCI.”

Learn more about the COSI labs at bli.uci.edu/convergence-optical-science-initiative.

Read full article in UCI Beall Applied Innovation’s “Rising Tide” Magazine.

Samueli School Welcomes 12 New Faculty Members

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By Anna Lynn Spitzer, UCI Samueli School of Engineering

Twelve new faculty – ranging from assistant professors to experienced professionals, including three who have been appointed research center directors – are joining the Samueli School of Engineering for the 2020-21 academic year. This brings the total number of full-time faculty to 162.

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

Thomas Milner
Professor, Biomedical Engineering and Surgery
Director, Beckman Laser Institute & Medical Clinic

Milner, an early investigator in photomedicine, has made important contributions in both surgery and diagnostics, including development of novel optical tomographic imaging modalities and laser surgical procedures for diagnosis and treatment of disease. An inventor on 55 U.S. patents, as well as five international patents licensed to six companies, he has authored 190 peer-reviewed articles and eight book chapters. Milner, who came to UCI from University of Texas, Austin, where he was the Joe King Professor at the Cockrell School of Engineering, is the recipient of the Coherent Young Investigator Award in Biomedical Optics, the Inventor of the Year award at the UT Austin and numerous grants from the National Institutes of Health. He is a fellow of the American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery, the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering and the National Academy of Inventors.

Link: Beckman Laser Institute & Medical Clinic

Liangzhong (Shawn) Xiang
Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering, and Radiological Sciences, School of Medicine

Research Interests: X-ray-induced acoustic computed tomography for in vivo radiation dosimetry and radiology, fast proton-induced acoustic imaging for precision proton therapy, and electroacoustic tomography-guided electroporation

Education: Ph.D., electrical engineering, South China Normal University

Xiang, who is affiliated with both the Beckman Laser Institute & Medical Clinic and the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, was the Lloyd G. and Joyce Austin Presidential (Assistant) Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Stephenson Cancer Center at the University of Oklahoma. He is a recipient of the student-nominated Nancy L. Mergler Faculty Mentor Award for Undergraduate Research, a research scholar award from the American Cancer Society, a postdoctoral fellowship award in prostate cancer research from the U.S. Department of Defense and the Sylvia Sorkin Greenfield Award for best paper published in medical physics from the American Association of Physicists in Medicine. A former postdoctoral fellow at Stanford, he is a member of the Acoustical Society of America, the Radiological Society of North America, the American Association of Physicists in Medicine and the International Society for Optical Engineering.

Link: TRUE Lab

Read full article on the UCI Samueli School of Engineering website.