Dermatology's Path From Idea to Innovation, With Ross Levy, MD

At LEADderm 2026, a panel titled ‘Skin Angels at LEADderm: Building the Next Generation of Dermatology Innovation’ addressed the topic of entrepreneurship in dermatology.1,2 The session walked attendees through how an idea becomes a company and outlined ways clinicians can support innovation alongside routine clinical work. Panelists framed innovation broadly, covering new treatments and devices as well as technologies reshaping the clinician and patient experience.

The panel also highlighted how many clinicians already contribute to innovation without recognizing it, whether through daily practice feedback or side projects, and outlined pathways for deeper involvement in supporting these companies. For early-career dermatologists, panelists emphasized starting from an everyday clinical pain point rather than waiting for a polished business plan. Ross Levy, MD, a dermatologist at Endeavor Health specializing in cosmetic and surgical dermatology with Mohs surgery expertise, joined fellow panelists Manju Dawkins, MD, Buu Duong, MD, Peter Lio, MD, and Ross Lane Pearlman, MD.

In the following interview, Levy spoke with HCPLive at LEADderm 2026 in Newport Beach, California, about why the panel mattered and what innovation looks like day to day in dermatology for clinicians:

HCPLive: Why did you feel this Skin Angels panel was an important talk to give at LEADderm?

Ross Levy, MD: It's a great question. No matter what you do in dermatology or in healthcare, innovation and new companies moving our field forward is important for everybody to be aware of, and to understand how it happens. Sometimes the process of how an idea starts and becomes a company can be a little opaque. Part of the session was introducing people to how that process works, how often clinicians are already involved in that innovation, and how people can get involved, both through their regular work and on the side if they want to support these companies. That was the genesis of the session.

HCPLive: What does dermatology innovation look like day to day, and how does that connect to the Skin Angels community?

Ross Levy, MD: Generally speaking, innovation is just thinking outside the box and doing something new. That's especially true for people in their mid to later careers, like myself, who have our own certain ways of doing things. When we talk about innovation as a broad term, it's everything: innovation on a personal level, and innovation with respect to new treatments and devices coming out. Specifically along the lines of Skin Angels, that innovation is generally on the industry side, meaning what new devices and treatments are coming and how we can improve the specialty for our patients, not just in terms of treatments and devices, but also technologies that improve the clinician and patient experience. From the standpoint of our group, it's really about innovating in how we interact with patients and with the rest of the world.

HCPLive: As part of Skin Angels, what gap were you trying to fill that existing dermatology mentorship or education pathways don't cover?

Ross Levy, MD: It's about getting involved and thinking more broadly beyond your own practice. We spend the whole day treating patients and doing clinical medicine, and the point of the session and the group as a whole is to stand back from that and ask what else is going on in dermatology we can be involved in.

Editor's Note: This transcript has been edited for grammar and clarity using artificial intelligence tools. Levy did not have any relevant disclosures of note.

References

1. LEADderm. About LEADderm: the missing curriculum. leadderm.org.

2. Dawkins M, Lio P, et al. Skin Angels at LEADderm: Building the Next Generation of Dermatology Innovation. Session presented at LEADderm. Aug 29-30, 2026.