International Psoriasis Council

International Psoriasis Council
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Advancing Knowledge. Improving Care.

Joel

Gelfand

,

MD, MSCE

James J. Leyden Professor of Dermatology and of Epidemiology; Vice Chair of Clinical Research (Dermatology); Director, Psoriasis and Phototherapy Treatment Center
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
,
Pennsylvania
,
United States
Councilor Since: January 1, 2011
IPC Treasurer
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Joel M. Gelfand, MD, MSCE, is the James J. Leyden Professor (with tenure) of Dermatology and Epidemiology, Director (founding) of the Center for Clinical Sciences in Dermatology, and Director of the Psoriasis and Phototherapy Treatment Center at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. He is a nationally and internationally recognized expert in psoriasis, clinical epidemiology, drug safety, and clinical trials. Dr. Gelfand is the author of over 330 scientific publications cited over 35,000 times. He is Deputy Editor for Clinical Research of the Journal Investigative Dermatology (JID). He is the recipient of the American College of Epidemiology (ACE) 2023 Outstanding Contributions Award, the American Skin Association’s (ASA) Psoriasis Achievement Award, the Lady Barbara Colyton’s Award for Autoimmune Research, the National Psoriasis Foundation’s (NPF) Scientific Achievement Award, the American DermatoEpidemiology Network’s (ADEN) Founders award. He is an elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation. Dr. Gelfand is a member of the Board of Directors for the International Psoriasis Council (IPC) and the Medical Dermatology Society. He has given over ten named lectureships and keynote addresses, including the Society for Investigative Dermatology’s (SID) Eugene M. Farber lecture and the American Academy of Dermatology’s (AAD) Marion B. Sulzberger lecture. He has received grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), and the NPF to support his independent research program. Dr. Gelfand is a dedicated mentor with over 20 MDs and PhDs, 12 of whom have received a master’s degree in clinical epidemiology, having spent at least one full year under his mentorship. Over 30% of dermatologists receiving K23 awards from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) over the last decade have been trainees in the Gelfand lab. His research redefined psoriasis as a systemic inflammatory disease that enhances the risk of cardiovascular events and premature mortality, resulting in changes in standard of care guidelines. His research and clinical practice aim to improve psoriasis patient outcomes in the skin and joints while lowering the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mortality.
Last Updated:
01/09/2024

Areas of Interest

I do investigator initiated research. I created a cohort in UK called iHOPE (the incident health outcomes and psoriasis events) study – this is a prospective study of 9000 patients in which we are evaluating the GPs estimate of body surface area and how this predict future health outcomes. I have also led a series of multi-center placebo controlled trials evaluating the impact of biologics, phototherapy, and apremilast on cardiovascular biomarkers and I am running a pragmatic trial (N=1050) to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of home vs office phototherapy for plaque or guttate psoriasis.

IPC Committees / Groups

Board Treasurer, Emerging Infectious Diseases Task Force, Executive Committee, Fellowship Program Advisory Committee, Finance Committee

Languages Spoken

English

Involvement with Other Organization(s)

Very active with the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF); teaches at the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) annually.
Recent publications

Featured

PDF

A Report from the 2026 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting.

What were the key takeaways from the 2026 AAD Annual Meeting? IPC shares updates on diagnostic challenges, psoriasis…

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Video

Epidemiology of Metabolic Syndrome, Cardiovascular Disease, and Psoriasis.

IPC Board Member, Dr. Joel Gelfand, highlights the link between psoriasis and cardiometabolic disease, showing how…

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PDF

A Report from the 2025 IPC Think Tank Symposium — Advancing Integrated Care: Psoriasis, Metabolic Health, and Future…

The 2025 IPC Think Tank Congress Report highlights psoriasis as a systemic immunometabolic disease, linking obesity,…

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PDF

Joint Position Statement from the National Psoriasis Foundation Medical Board and the International Psoriasis Council…

The International Psoriasis Council (IPC) and the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPC) have released a joint position…

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Blog

Inside IPC's International Fellowship Program: Francis Lai and Ricardo Romiti.

Dr. Francis Lai reflects on his IPC International Fellowship journey with Professor Ricardo Romiti, highlighting their…

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Blog

Announcing IPC’s New Leadership for 2025.

Welcome the newest leadership to the IPC Board of Directors! Meet incoming IPC President Bruce Strober, Vice…

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Blog

Focus on Psoriasis: A Report from the 2024 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting.

The 2024 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting was held Thursday, March 7 – Tuesday, March 12, 2024,…

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Video

How to Identify Cardiovascular Risk in People with Psoriasis.

Dr. Joel Gelfand examines the process of identifying cardiovascular disease risk in patients with psoriasis, using…

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Video

International Panel: Cardiovascular Disease in the Clinic.

International panelists provide their expertise on cardiovascular disease and psoriasis.

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Blog

Getting to Know IPC’s Board Member Joel Gelfand: What Inspired Me to Specialize in Psoriasis.

Join Dr. Joel Gelfand, MD, MSCE, a dermatologist, epidemiologist, and tenured professor at the University of…

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Event

Symposium: The Comprehensive Care of Psoriasis.

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY ANNUAL MEETING (AAD) | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA Thursday, March 7 14:00 - 18:00…

March 7, 2024
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Blog

Focus on Psoriasis: A Report from the 25th World Congress of Dermatology (WCD).

Discover the latest updates on psoriasis from the World Congress of Dermatology (WCD) 2023, hosted in Singapore from…

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Blog

Opportunities and Limitations of Telemedicine in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Psoriasis.

The patient perspective has become even more important in the wake of the pandemic. Here’s how Clinica Dermacross is…

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Page

Telemedicine and Psoriasis: A Review Based on Statements of the Telemedicine Working Group of the International…

Thirty-six statements on various aspects of telemedicine according to the nominal group technique to reach a consensus…

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Video

Current Knowledge and Future Directions: Psoriasis and Heart Disease (Webinar 1, 2023 Series).

This is the first webinar of the IPC Global Webinar Series. It focuses on psoriasis and heart disease.

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Video

Exploring Whether Systemic Therapy for Psoriasis Improves Heart Disease in Clinical Trials (Webinar 1, 2023 Series).

Dr. Gelfand reviews the evidence linking psoriasis with cardiovascular events and discusses current and future clinical…

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Event

Global Webinar 1: Current Knowledge and Future Directions: Psoriasis and Heart Disease.

IPC GLOBAL WEBINAR SERIES January 19 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm CET 9:30 am - 10:30 am EST Program chair: Andy Blauvelt,…

January 19, 2023
Learn More or Register

Blog

Focus on Psoriasis: A Report from the 2022 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting.

The 2022 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting was held Thursday, March 24 – Tuesday, March 29 in…

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PDF

Focus on Psoriasis - A Report from the 2022 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting.

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Blog

2020 Virtual Think Tank Meeting Report.

Held virtually on December 11 due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, the 2020 IPC Think Tank convened more than 100…

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What's New

Use and Misuse of Systemic Corticosteroids in Psoriasis

In this Take Ten with IPC video, Professor Peter van de Kerkhof discusses the use and misuse of systemic corticosteroids in psoriasis. He questions whether they contraindicate the treatment of psoriasis, while also covering his personal experience in prescribing them.

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Thursday, May 14, 2026

Use and Misuse of Topical Corticosteroids in Psoriasis

In this Take Ten with IPC video, Professor Peter van de Kerkhof discusses the use and misuse of topical corticosteroids in psoriasis, covering current use, guidelines, and consequences.

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Thursday, May 14, 2026

Videos Now Available from the IEC & IPC Joint Symposium at AAD

Missed the joint symposium hosted by the International Eczema Council (IEC) and International Psoriasis Council (IPC) at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting? Select presentations from Psoriasis or Dermatitis? When Boundaries Blur and Treatments Flip the Script are now available, covering diagnostic overlap, emerging tools, treatment-related reactions, and practical strategies for managing complex cases across diverse patient populations.

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Wednesday, May 27, 2026