Distinguished scientist: Ashley Wysong, MD

Ashley Wysong, MD

This profile is part of a series to highlight the researchers who will be honored at a ceremony on March 9 for UNMC’s Scientist Laureate, Research Leadership, Distinguished Scientist, New Investigator and Community Service to Research Award recipients.

Distinguished Scientist

The Distinguished Scientist Award — which is sponsored by the chancellor — recognizes researchers who have been among the most productive scientists at UNMC during the past five years.

  • Name: Ashley Wysong, MD
  • Title: UNMC Department of Dermatology founding chair, professor and William W. Bruce Distinguished Chair of Dermatology
  • Joined UNMC: 2018
  • Hometown: Vail, Colorado

Please describe your research focus in three words or less: 

Skin cancer genes

Why is research important in the world today? 

Human curiosity and the desire to fearlessly innovate through research have the power to make major advances that impact all of humanity. It is the opportunity for individuals and small groups of people to do good beyond their immediate environment and spheres of influence and to solve the world’s biggest problems.

My research will make a difference because: 

We are utilizing precision medicine techniques to identify groups of genes that predict poor outcomes in individuals with skin cancer. Our group helped develop a prognostic gene expression profiling test that is utilized in squamous cell carcinoma patients, identified unique genetic signatures in skin cancer patients with different racial and ethnic backgrounds and is profiling genes and the tumor microenvironment of immunosuppressed patients with skin cancer. There are more than four times more skin cancers treated in the United States each year than all other forms of cancer combined, so the potential impact of research in this area is enormous.

The best advice I’ve ever received is: 

Don’t be afraid of life’s detours, it’s the unplanned journeys that will enrich your life. (Moving to Omaha to join the UNMC community has been the BEST “unplanned journey” of a lifetime.)

My favorite saying is: 

Do that which only you can do.

Three things you may not know about me are:

  • I am married to a UNMC anesthesiology faculty member, Robert Lobato, MD.
  • I ran collegiately and professionally for Nike prior to medical school.
  • My husband and I are both sailboat captains and love to travel the world via land and sea.

13 comments

  1. Karsten Bartels says:

    Congratulations, Ashley!

  2. Lisa Runco says:

    Congratulations Dr. Wysong! Your research work is so important to the field of skin cancer. So proud of this achievement.

  3. Sasha Shillcutt MD says:

    So well deserved. An amazing leader!

  4. Lynn Borstelmann says:

    Congratulations Dr. Wysong! We are so fortunate that your “unplanned journey” brought you to UNMC.

  5. Michael Sitorius says:

    Congratulations Ashley!! Another example of your outstanding scientific, clinical and leadership skills.

  6. Jen Parker says:

    Congratulations, Dr. Wysong! A very well deserved recognition for your amazing work.

  7. Jennifer Adams says:

    Well deserved! Congrats and thanks for taking life’s detours!

  8. Patti Marsh says:

    Congratulations Dr. Wysong!!

  9. Tom O’Connor says:

    Dr. Wysong is an absolute rock star! She has done an incredible job of building the UNMC/NM dermatology program. We’re so glad you came to Nebraska.

  10. Joshua Mammen says:

    Congratulations!

  11. Lisa Stillahn says:

    Congrats Dr. Wysong…you are truly an innovative researcher and clinician as well as an extraordinary leader. Thanks for joining UNMC and good luck in the future whatever detours it may hold!

  12. Erin Barrett MD says:

    Congrats!!! Well-deserved!

  13. Dr. Sheritta Strong says:

    Congratulations! This is awesome!

Comments are closed.

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