I am board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology with subspecialty board certification in dermatopathology. My current position is an associate Professor in the Department of Pathology, Translational Molecular Pathology, and Dermatology at MD Anderson Cancer Center. My main research interests center on adverse cutaneous reactions from targeted and immune checkpoint inhibitor cancer therapy. My research focus is to investigate the role of the skin microbiome and the immunopathogenesis that drives these cutaneous irAEs in genetically susceptible patients.

We demonstrated lichenoid skin toxicities from immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy displays differentially expressed genes related to recruitment of CD14 + and CD16 + monocytes and Toll-like receptors (TLRs) activation. We have proposed an innate immune response activation and mechanism of augmented TLRs response to patient’s unique skin microbiome in lichenoid skin toxicities. I have presented at national and international institutions and meetings on the cutaneous toxicities and I have provided my clinical expertise to the dermatopathology diagnoses worldwide.