Our History
History of UNMC Dermatology
The Department of Dermatology may be one of the younger departments on campus, but its history is tied to events that date back over 100 years.
Timeline
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1869
University of Nebraska approved a Medical Department
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1883
Omaha Medical College Opens
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1892
Dr. Oscar S. Hoffman was the first dermatologist at Omaha Medical College.
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1902
Omaha Medical College formally becomes University of Nebraska College of Medicine.
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1907
Dr. Shalek was appointed Professor of Dermatology and Genito-Urinary Diseases in 1907 and served as the Head of Dermatology from 1919-1935. Dr. Shalek was an attending dermatologist in multiple hospitals and the Child Saving Institute. He was active in multiple dermatology societies and wrote "the book" on dermatology at the time entitled "Diseases of the Skin."
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1970
Ramon Fusaro, MD, Ph.D., was named Professor and Head of Dermatology at UNMC. He received his medical degree from the University of Minnesota, where he worked from 1957-1970. In 1975, he was appointed to Creighton University School of Medicine and remained on faculty at both universities until 2008. Dr. Fusaro contributed more than 264 articles to professional publications, 37 book chapters, and abstracts to professional societies. Dr. Fusaro was instrumental in discovering Familial Atypical Multiple Mole Melanoma (FAMMM) Syndrome.
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1975
Joint UNMC-Creighton Dermatology residency was developed from 1975-1983.
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1988
Dr. Guinter Khan was born in Trier, Germany, in 1934 and immigrated to Omaha in 1938. Dr. Kahn graduated cum laude from the University of Nebraska Omaha in 1954, earning a bachelor's degree in biology. Dr. Kahn discovered minoxidil (Rogaine), the first FDA-approved treatment for hair growth. He and Dr. Paul Grant applied for a patent for the topical version of minoxidil after discovering that patients receiving it orally to treat hypertension grew hair. Dr. Kahn was a major philanthropic supporter of UNMC, having funded an endowment to the McGoogan Library of Medicine.
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1996
Dr. Kristie Hayes, Section Chief of Dermatology in the Department of Internal Medicine, 1996-2006.
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2016
The University of Nebraska Board of Regents approved the formation of a new UNMC Department of Dermatology on May 26th, 2016.
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2018
Dr. Ashley Wysong was named Founding Chair of the UNMC Department of Dermatology. She started on May 1st, 2018.
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October 16, 2018
First day of Mohs surgery.
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January 1, 2020
Launched dermatology program at the NWI-VAHCS. Dr. Ashley Wysong named Chief of Dermatology at the VA.
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2020
University of Nebraska (UNMC) Dermatology Residency was launched on July 1st, 2020.
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October 26, 2021
Launched pediatric dermatology program at Children's Nebraska.
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June 25, 2023
UNMC Dermatology graduates its first class of resident physicians in dermatology.
Alum and Faculty Member John Latenser, MD
Dr. John Latenser graduated from the UNMC College of Medicine in 1946. Dr. Latenser was a pioneer and innovator. He was a founding member of the American College of Chemosurgery, of which Dr. Frederick Mohs was the founder. The organization now is called the American College of Mohs Surgery.
Dr. Latenser served as a captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corp and as a UNMC clinical assistant professor of Surgery for over 50 years.
Although he comes from a family of architects (his grandfather John L. Latenser, Sr., designed Central High School), he chose to study medicine and started private practice as a general surgeon, while also serving as a UNMC faculty member. He saw private patients, made house calls and rollerbladed every day.
Read more about the history of the American Colelge of Mohs Surgery.