Dr. Kimball is the Director of the Clinical Unit for Research Studies in Skin (CURTIS) at the Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women’s Hospitals, Harvard Medical School. After graduating from Princeton University with degrees in public policy and molecular biology, she received her medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine. Her postgraduate training includes serving as Chief Resident in Dermatology at Stanford University Medical Center and a fellowship in Clinical Trials at the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health, during which time she also earned a masters in public health from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.
Dr. Kimball conducts an active unit including Phase I through Phase IV studies in diverse areas using topical and systemic agents for skin disease. She has also done extensive research in the areas of physician workforce and quality of life.
In addition, Dr. Kimball has significant media experience, having been Medical Producer and Host of On Call, a weekly, 60-minute public access cable television program for 5 years, and serves as a frequent interview source for more than
50 media sources.
Q. What part of your work gives you the most pleasure?
A. The best part about what I do is that I am continuously using the skills I have learned in areas I find endlessly interesting. Dermatology clinical trials has truly been a fabulous combination for me; every day I get to manage interesting problems, treat patients, write, use statistics, deal with ethical issues and policy questions, and be creative. The most rewarding part, though, remains working with students and trainees and getting to watch them develop their skills and acumen and blossom in their own careers.
Q. Do you recall a memorable patient encounter and what you learned from it?
A. One of my most wonderful patient memories occurred during my fellowship at the National Institutes of Health. We were based on the 13th floor of the clinical building and shared our space with the pediatric HIV clinic. So, on any given day, there were lots of kids,
in various states of health, running through the halls.
I had written my college thesis on pediatric HIV, and it was so wonderful to see that we had made so much progress in less than a decade in treating and caring for these kids. But the best thing was that, every once in a while, one of them would pop into my office give me a big hug — and then just scoot back out the door. I always thought it was remarkable that we could create an environment that made these sick kids feel secure and comfortable — and happy enough to offer spontaneous hugs.
Q. How do you envision the future of dermatology?
A. The good news is that we have a great profession, filled with interesting challenges and opportunities for innovation — really endless possibilities. And given the tremendously talented people interested in joining our field, it is likely to remain a dynamic and vibrant specialty. We must, however, stay at least a little on guard and avoid getting so caught up with our short-term
economics that we lose sight of who we are as a speciality. We must remain unique — and continue to deliver the superior care that only we can give.
Dr. Kimball is the Director of the Clinical Unit for Research Studies in Skin (CURTIS) at the Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women’s Hospitals, Harvard Medical School. After graduating from Princeton University with degrees in public policy and molecular biology, she received her medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine. Her postgraduate training includes serving as Chief Resident in Dermatology at Stanford University Medical Center and a fellowship in Clinical Trials at the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health, during which time she also earned a masters in public health from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.
Dr. Kimball conducts an active unit including Phase I through Phase IV studies in diverse areas using topical and systemic agents for skin disease. She has also done extensive research in the areas of physician workforce and quality of life.
In addition, Dr. Kimball has significant media experience, having been Medical Producer and Host of On Call, a weekly, 60-minute public access cable television program for 5 years, and serves as a frequent interview source for more than
50 media sources.
Q. What part of your work gives you the most pleasure?
A. The best part about what I do is that I am continuously using the skills I have learned in areas I find endlessly interesting. Dermatology clinical trials has truly been a fabulous combination for me; every day I get to manage interesting problems, treat patients, write, use statistics, deal with ethical issues and policy questions, and be creative. The most rewarding part, though, remains working with students and trainees and getting to watch them develop their skills and acumen and blossom in their own careers.
Q. Do you recall a memorable patient encounter and what you learned from it?
A. One of my most wonderful patient memories occurred during my fellowship at the National Institutes of Health. We were based on the 13th floor of the clinical building and shared our space with the pediatric HIV clinic. So, on any given day, there were lots of kids,
in various states of health, running through the halls.
I had written my college thesis on pediatric HIV, and it was so wonderful to see that we had made so much progress in less than a decade in treating and caring for these kids. But the best thing was that, every once in a while, one of them would pop into my office give me a big hug — and then just scoot back out the door. I always thought it was remarkable that we could create an environment that made these sick kids feel secure and comfortable — and happy enough to offer spontaneous hugs.
Q. How do you envision the future of dermatology?
A. The good news is that we have a great profession, filled with interesting challenges and opportunities for innovation — really endless possibilities. And given the tremendously talented people interested in joining our field, it is likely to remain a dynamic and vibrant specialty. We must, however, stay at least a little on guard and avoid getting so caught up with our short-term
economics that we lose sight of who we are as a speciality. We must remain unique — and continue to deliver the superior care that only we can give.
Dr. Kimball is the Director of the Clinical Unit for Research Studies in Skin (CURTIS) at the Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women’s Hospitals, Harvard Medical School. After graduating from Princeton University with degrees in public policy and molecular biology, she received her medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine. Her postgraduate training includes serving as Chief Resident in Dermatology at Stanford University Medical Center and a fellowship in Clinical Trials at the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health, during which time she also earned a masters in public health from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.
Dr. Kimball conducts an active unit including Phase I through Phase IV studies in diverse areas using topical and systemic agents for skin disease. She has also done extensive research in the areas of physician workforce and quality of life.
In addition, Dr. Kimball has significant media experience, having been Medical Producer and Host of On Call, a weekly, 60-minute public access cable television program for 5 years, and serves as a frequent interview source for more than
50 media sources.
Q. What part of your work gives you the most pleasure?
A. The best part about what I do is that I am continuously using the skills I have learned in areas I find endlessly interesting. Dermatology clinical trials has truly been a fabulous combination for me; every day I get to manage interesting problems, treat patients, write, use statistics, deal with ethical issues and policy questions, and be creative. The most rewarding part, though, remains working with students and trainees and getting to watch them develop their skills and acumen and blossom in their own careers.
Q. Do you recall a memorable patient encounter and what you learned from it?
A. One of my most wonderful patient memories occurred during my fellowship at the National Institutes of Health. We were based on the 13th floor of the clinical building and shared our space with the pediatric HIV clinic. So, on any given day, there were lots of kids,
in various states of health, running through the halls.
I had written my college thesis on pediatric HIV, and it was so wonderful to see that we had made so much progress in less than a decade in treating and caring for these kids. But the best thing was that, every once in a while, one of them would pop into my office give me a big hug — and then just scoot back out the door. I always thought it was remarkable that we could create an environment that made these sick kids feel secure and comfortable — and happy enough to offer spontaneous hugs.
Q. How do you envision the future of dermatology?
A. The good news is that we have a great profession, filled with interesting challenges and opportunities for innovation — really endless possibilities. And given the tremendously talented people interested in joining our field, it is likely to remain a dynamic and vibrant specialty. We must, however, stay at least a little on guard and avoid getting so caught up with our short-term
economics that we lose sight of who we are as a speciality. We must remain unique — and continue to deliver the superior care that only we can give.
