What is Dermatopathology?
Dermatopathology is the study of diseases of the skin, hair and nails at a microscopic level. It is a subspecialty of dermatology and surgical pathology. Because the skin is on the surface of the body, many dermatopathologists are able to recognize and diagnose skin disorders based on appearance, anatomic distribution, and/or behavior. However, these diagnoses are occasionally inconclusive, which then raises the necessity of a skin biopsy. A biopsy may reveal the diagnostic histology of the disease at a cellular or molecular level. Further testing may be performed on biopsies, including immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, flow cytometry, and molecular-pathologic analysis. These tests fall under the category of dermatopathology.
Online Request for Supplies, Slide Review, or Questions
FAQs
How do I request materials from Brown Dermatopathology?
All supplies, including specimen bottles and requisition forms can be requested by calling our phone number at (401) 444-8511 and talking with our staff. We will be happy to have them delivered directly to your office.
Where do I send slides for consultation?
All slides can be sent by courier or mailed to our address at 110 Elm Street. Slides will be returned in the same manner as they were delivered.
Are the services covered for my patients?
We accept all local insurance plans. However, all services related to pathology fall under a patient’s deductible so they may still get a bill if they have not met their insurance’s deductible.
How long does it take to get results back?
Most cases will have results back within a few days after being processed and read by the dermatopathologist. Highly unusual cases may take 1-2 weeks for additional testing to be conducted.
How do I get in contact with the dermatopathologist?
All the dermatopathologists can be reached by phone or email to discuss cases. We always appreciate and will review any photos or additional clinical information to provide clinicopathologic correlation.
Our Board-Certified Dermatopathologists
Dr. Leslie Robinson-Bostom
Professor of Dermatology
Dr. Robinson-Bostom graduated from SUNY Health Science Center, Brooklyn, NY where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. She completed her internship at Rhode Island Hospital, her first year of dermatology residency at SUNY Downstate and completed her dermatology residency in the Department of Dermatology at Brown Medical School. She went on to complete the Brown Medical School dermatopathology fellowship at Roger Williams Medical Center. She subsequently joined the department of dermatology staff at Brown Medical School. At Brown, Dr. Robinson-Bostom started the Division of Dermatopathology, organizing the dermatopathology slide library and teaching curriculum for dermatology and pathology residents where she has served as the director for over 20 years. She has served on the multidisciplinary tumor board, bridging dermatopathology and complex cutaneous oncology to optimize care for patients with advanced skin cancers. She has a special interest in elastic tissue disorders, panniculitis, ichthyosis and cutaneous manifestations of end stage renal disease. She remains dedicated to both resident and medical student education, serving on both the Post Graduate Referral Committee, advising medical students interested in pursuing dermatology careers, and the Medical School Admissions Committee. She has held numerous leadership positions in dermatology, including Rhode Island State Chair and Trustee of the Dermatology Foundation, President of the New England Dermatological Society, member of the Test Development and Advisory Committee of The American Board of Pathology and member of the Dermatopathology Content Development Committee of The American Board of Dermatology.
Dr. Gladys Telang
Associate Professor of Dermatology
Dr. Telang is a graduate of SUNY Health Sciences Center at Syracuse and completed an internal medical residency at University of Pittsburgh, followed by a dermatology residency and dermatopathology fellowship at Hahnemann University/Medical College of Pennsylvania. She is board-certified in dermatology and dermatopathology. Dr. Telang actively practices Dermatopathology and Dermatology as a member of Brown Dermatology and is on staff at Rhode Island Hospital since 2002. She is the Director of the Division of Dermatology at Care New England Medical Group Specialty Services, Pawtucket RI. She is a member of the Rhode Island Dermatologic Society, American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and Phi Beta Kappa. She has a very active role in all aspects of resident training in dermatology and dermatopathology. Her interests include pathology of skin, hair and nail disorders, cutaneous malignancy, immunohistochemistry and patient care of all ages, youth through the elderly.
Dr. Cathy M. Massoud
Assistant Professor of Dermatology
Dr. Massoud graduated summa cum laude from Bucknell University and received her medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She completed her internship at George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences and her dermatology residency at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, serving as chief resident in her final year. She completed her fellowship in dermatopathology at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Massoud joined Brown Dermatology as the Director of the Rhode Island Hospital Inpatient Dermatology Consult Services. She is currently serving on the Editorial Board of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and she is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Dr. Massoud has a strong interest in hospitalist dermatology clinicopathologic correlation, quality improvement and medical education.
Dr. Christopher DiMarco
Assistant Professor of Dermatology
Dr. DiMarco is a graduate of the combined BS/MD program at Drexel University and Drexel University College of Medicine. He completed his internship at Rhode Island Hospital and dermatology residency at Roger Williams Medical Center. He then went on to complete a dermatopathology fellowship at the University of Florida. Dr. DiMarco is the IT director for Brown Dermatology and has helped Brown Dermatology deal with issues around teledermatology, electronic slides for pathology, government programs, informatics, and electronic health records. He serves on the board of the Rhode Island Dermatologic Society and serves on several committees for the American Academy of Dermatology and American Society of Dermatopathology, mostly related to IT, Business and Society Management and Educational resources. His current interests include dermatopathology, especially in regard to using informatics to improve the quality of practice, state and national level advocacy and incorporating technology into practice and education.
The Division of Dermatopathology at Brown Dermatology, Inc. specializes in dermatopathology or “pathology of the skin”. We have four dermatologists on staff that are also board-certified in dermatology and dermatopathology. We encourage close communication between physicians and our dermatopathologists for promoting outstanding clinical-pathologic correlation. The Brown Dermatology Lab is certified by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). We have been serving physicians throughout Rhode Island and Eastern Connecticut since 1997.
Please don’t hesitate to call (401) 444-8511 or fax (401) 632-0340 for additional information, to order supplies and arrange for specimen pickup. We also accept outside slides for consultation.
Slides can be sent with completed form to: Attn: Leslie Robinson-Bostom, MD/Gladys Telang, MD/Christopher DiMarco, MD/Cathy Massoud, MD, Division of Dermatopathology, 110 Elm Street, Providence, RI 02903
Brown Dermatology, Inc.
Dermatopathology
110 Elm Street
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: (401) 444-8511
Fax: (401) 632-0340
For more information, please visit us at
www.brownderm.org