SPOTLIGHT on Joanna Wallengren, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Wallengren is Associate Professor at the Department of Dermatology at the University Hospital in Lund, Sweden. She was born in Lodz, Poland. Her family left Poland in 1969 and moved to Malmo in Sweden. She graduated from Lund University in 1980 and has been working in the field of dermato-venereolgy since 1983. After her Ph.D. thesis on sensory neuromediators in human skin in 1990 at the Department of Dermatology in Malmo, she was able to continue her studies on neuropeptides in the skin at the Department of Dermatology in Lund and became increasingly interested in itch. She has been Associate Professor of Dermatology at Lund University since 1995. She lives in Malmo with her husband and two daughters.
Q. Are an understanding and appreciation of the humanities important in dermatology?
A. Yes. Literature and art give insights to other people’s feelings. Also the confidence of our patients is a privilege and a constant exercise in further understanding.
Q. What medical figure from history would you most like to have a drink with? Why?
A. Josef Jadassohn, because he invented patch tests, which I use in my daily work (Am J Dermatopathol. 1985; 7:31-36). In addition, it would be interesting to hear his opinion on life in central Europe 100 years ago. In a way, I believe that our relations with different nations in the European Union are turning back to the attitudes before the two World Wars — I think we’re getting closer today.
Q. What do you say to someone who says “Dermatologists have it made”?
A. In Sweden, we have approximately 400 dermatologists, 300 who work at hospitals and the rest are in private practice. Dermatology is not lucrative the way it is practiced at hospitals. Both hospital and private patients benefit from a common national insurance system as long as skin diseases are treated, but not skin aging. Even in private practice, cosmetic dermatology is only marginal. However, dermatology is a great specialty with constant possibilities of learning and appreciation, especially from patients. So, yes, it is rewarding.
Q. If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
A. Hunger is something that could be helped if there was solidarity among nations. Angry voices from hungry people are now challenging our conscience to make a move in the right direction.
Q. What is your favorite book? Film? And why?
A. It is hard to pick just one book. I enjoy reading Marian Keyes and other witty Irish authors. My favorite film is perhaps The English Patient for the passion, or The Pianist by Roman Polanski for telling a true story. The TV serial Friends is still funny after all these years, entertaining the new generation as well, with a humorous focus on daily situations.
Dr. Barankin is a dermatologist based in Toronto, Canada.
He is author-editor of five books in dermatology, and is widely published in the dermatology and humanities literature. He is also co-editor of Dermanities (dermanities.com), an online journal devoted to the humanities as they relate to dermatology.
SPOTLIGHT on Joanna Wallengren, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Wallengren is Associate Professor at the Department of Dermatology at the University Hospital in Lund, Sweden. She was born in Lodz, Poland. Her family left Poland in 1969 and moved to Malmo in Sweden. She graduated from Lund University in 1980 and has been working in the field of dermato-venereolgy since 1983. After her Ph.D. thesis on sensory neuromediators in human skin in 1990 at the Department of Dermatology in Malmo, she was able to continue her studies on neuropeptides in the skin at the Department of Dermatology in Lund and became increasingly interested in itch. She has been Associate Professor of Dermatology at Lund University since 1995. She lives in Malmo with her husband and two daughters.
Q. Are an understanding and appreciation of the humanities important in dermatology?
A. Yes. Literature and art give insights to other people’s feelings. Also the confidence of our patients is a privilege and a constant exercise in further understanding.
Q. What medical figure from history would you most like to have a drink with? Why?
A. Josef Jadassohn, because he invented patch tests, which I use in my daily work (Am J Dermatopathol. 1985; 7:31-36). In addition, it would be interesting to hear his opinion on life in central Europe 100 years ago. In a way, I believe that our relations with different nations in the European Union are turning back to the attitudes before the two World Wars — I think we’re getting closer today.
Q. What do you say to someone who says “Dermatologists have it made”?
A. In Sweden, we have approximately 400 dermatologists, 300 who work at hospitals and the rest are in private practice. Dermatology is not lucrative the way it is practiced at hospitals. Both hospital and private patients benefit from a common national insurance system as long as skin diseases are treated, but not skin aging. Even in private practice, cosmetic dermatology is only marginal. However, dermatology is a great specialty with constant possibilities of learning and appreciation, especially from patients. So, yes, it is rewarding.
Q. If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
A. Hunger is something that could be helped if there was solidarity among nations. Angry voices from hungry people are now challenging our conscience to make a move in the right direction.
Q. What is your favorite book? Film? And why?
A. It is hard to pick just one book. I enjoy reading Marian Keyes and other witty Irish authors. My favorite film is perhaps The English Patient for the passion, or The Pianist by Roman Polanski for telling a true story. The TV serial Friends is still funny after all these years, entertaining the new generation as well, with a humorous focus on daily situations.
Dr. Barankin is a dermatologist based in Toronto, Canada.
He is author-editor of five books in dermatology, and is widely published in the dermatology and humanities literature. He is also co-editor of Dermanities (dermanities.com), an online journal devoted to the humanities as they relate to dermatology.
SPOTLIGHT on Joanna Wallengren, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Wallengren is Associate Professor at the Department of Dermatology at the University Hospital in Lund, Sweden. She was born in Lodz, Poland. Her family left Poland in 1969 and moved to Malmo in Sweden. She graduated from Lund University in 1980 and has been working in the field of dermato-venereolgy since 1983. After her Ph.D. thesis on sensory neuromediators in human skin in 1990 at the Department of Dermatology in Malmo, she was able to continue her studies on neuropeptides in the skin at the Department of Dermatology in Lund and became increasingly interested in itch. She has been Associate Professor of Dermatology at Lund University since 1995. She lives in Malmo with her husband and two daughters.
Q. Are an understanding and appreciation of the humanities important in dermatology?
A. Yes. Literature and art give insights to other people’s feelings. Also the confidence of our patients is a privilege and a constant exercise in further understanding.
Q. What medical figure from history would you most like to have a drink with? Why?
A. Josef Jadassohn, because he invented patch tests, which I use in my daily work (Am J Dermatopathol. 1985; 7:31-36). In addition, it would be interesting to hear his opinion on life in central Europe 100 years ago. In a way, I believe that our relations with different nations in the European Union are turning back to the attitudes before the two World Wars — I think we’re getting closer today.
Q. What do you say to someone who says “Dermatologists have it made”?
A. In Sweden, we have approximately 400 dermatologists, 300 who work at hospitals and the rest are in private practice. Dermatology is not lucrative the way it is practiced at hospitals. Both hospital and private patients benefit from a common national insurance system as long as skin diseases are treated, but not skin aging. Even in private practice, cosmetic dermatology is only marginal. However, dermatology is a great specialty with constant possibilities of learning and appreciation, especially from patients. So, yes, it is rewarding.
Q. If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
A. Hunger is something that could be helped if there was solidarity among nations. Angry voices from hungry people are now challenging our conscience to make a move in the right direction.
Q. What is your favorite book? Film? And why?
A. It is hard to pick just one book. I enjoy reading Marian Keyes and other witty Irish authors. My favorite film is perhaps The English Patient for the passion, or The Pianist by Roman Polanski for telling a true story. The TV serial Friends is still funny after all these years, entertaining the new generation as well, with a humorous focus on daily situations.
Dr. Barankin is a dermatologist based in Toronto, Canada.
He is author-editor of five books in dermatology, and is widely published in the dermatology and humanities literature. He is also co-editor of Dermanities (dermanities.com), an online journal devoted to the humanities as they relate to dermatology.
