2025 Annual Conference Recordings - Optimizing Treatment of Vascular Lesions

Eric F. Bernstein, M.D., M.S.E. received his B.S. from Duke University, summa cum laude with distinction in his major and his M.D. from the Yale University School of Medicine, where he served as Banner Bearer and Class President, and an M.S.E. in Management of Technology from the Engineering School/Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania. Following fellowships with the NCI at the NIH and Hahnemann University, he joined Jefferson Medical College, where he directed a photobiology laboratory and served as director of the Laser Surgery Center. Dr. Bernstein holds 14 U.S. patents, has authored over 100 scientific publications, and has given numerous presentations.

Dr. Bernstein currently directs Main Line Center for laser Surgery, an aesthetic laser practice in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, and proudly served as president of the ASLMS. Dr. Bernstein’s practice focuses heavily on clinical studies of new lasers and energy-based devices, and he actively participates in several science-based start-ups.

Dr. Kristen M. Kelly is a board certified dermatologist and Professor and Chair of the Department of Dermatology at the University of California (UC), Irvine. She attended UC Los Angeles as an undergraduate and medical student. She completed an internal medicine internship and then a dermatology residency at UC Irvine. After residency, Dr. Kelly was a fellow in photomedicine and biomedical optics at the Beckman Laser Institute and then obtained an academic appointment in the departments of dermatology and surgery at UC Irvine. In 2021, she started in her position as the first female Chair for the Department of Dermatology at UC Irvine. Her research has helped to optimize cutaneous vascular lesion treatment, evaluate cutaneous angiogenesis, and develop and evaluate novel dermatologic light based imaging and therapeutic options. She works with a number of patient advocacy groups including The Sturge Weber Foundation and The Vascular Birthmark Foundation. She has given over 300 lectures at local, national and international conferences and events and has authored over 140 scientific papers and 19 book chapters. Dr. Kelly is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and her research has been funded by the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, Sturge Weber Foundation, Dermatology Foundation and National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Robert A. Weiss, MD, FAAD has served as President of three major dermatology and laser organizations and has served or is currently serving on Medical Advisory Boards of numerous companies in the aesthetic dermatology field. He is former Associate Professor of Dermatology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and currently is an Associate Professor of Dermatology at the University of Maryland. His education included Columbia University, BA, Johns Hopkins U School of Medicine, MD and fellowship training in dermatology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He also sought additional fellowship training at the National Institutes of Health, Immunology Division. Besides serving as President of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and the American College of Phlebology, he remains very active in teaching for ASDS, ASLMS, and the American Academy of Dermatology. Dr. Weiss has also served multiple years on the Board of the American Academy of Dermatology. Dr. Weiss has been a featured speaker for the AAD, ASDS, and ASLMS for over 25 years, as well as speaking at many other national and international dermatology and cosmetic societies. He has received numerous international awards of recognition. A prolific author of over 150 peer reviewed articles and a dozen textbooks including “Vein Diagnosis & Treatment: A Comprehensive Approach,” published by McGraw-Hill, and “Cosmetic Dermatology.”
Dr. Weiss has also served on the American Board of Dermatology, preparing questions for board certification of dermatologists. He is currently Fellowship Director of the ASDS cosmetic fellowship and mentors dermatology fellows in lasers, filler, botulinums and advanced vein treatments at the Maryland Dermatology, Laser, Skin and Vein Institute in Baltimore. Dr. Weiss also holds multiple patents for medical devices and biotechnologies. His expertise on cosmetic dermatology innovations has led to his appearances on TV shows such as “20/20” and “The Today Show.” Dr. Weiss has served as Assistant and Contributing Editor for the journal Dermatologic Surgery and Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. Dr. Weiss’ actively researches novel lasers and light sources for the treatment of photoaging, vascular lesions, and pigmented lesions as well as fillers and botulinum toxins. He has helped to develop new methods of non-invasive varicose vein treatments, such as endovenous ablation to replace stripping, and assisted with research leading to FDA clearance of newest methods of reversing photoaging by lasers and light sources. Dr. Weiss is actively participating as Principle Investigator in phase II and phase III FDA clinical trials for botulinums, fillers, lasers, energy based devices and dermatologic conditions such as eczema and vitiligo. Dr. Weiss receives frequent media requests for his opinions on the newest cosmetic treatments and devices. He is currently Director of Maryland Dermatology, Laser, Skin & Vein Institute funded in 1991.

Brian D. Zelickson, MD is a board-certified Dermatologist currently practicing in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After finishing high school in Minneapolis, he attended the University of Colorado and obtained a BA degree in Molecular and Developmental Biology. During his collegiate career, Brian sacrificed his attendance at the Buffs football games in order to learn the high-altitude arts of brewing beer and alpine skiing. Brian then rejoined his native flatlanders to attend Mayo Medical School in beautiful Rochester, Minnesota. During his medical education, genetic influences started to take hold, and his interest in Dermatology began to surface. He performed a red-eyed internship at Hennepin County Medical School before returning to the Mayo Clinic for his Dermatology residency. After his residency, he spent a short fellowship learning immunoelectron microscopy techniques with Dr. RA Briggaman at the University of North Carolina. Dr. Zelickson then returned to Minneapolis to join his father in private practice. He is currently practicing dermatology at Zel Skin and Laser Specialists and is the CEO of United Skin Specialists. He is also more than happily married with two lively children. Dr. Zelickson has authored over 50 articles and several book chapters and became interested in lasers somewhere along the line.

Dr. Lisa Arkin is an Associate Professor of Dermatology, Director of Pediatric Dermatology, and a Co-Director of the Birthmarks and Vascular Anomalies Center (BVAC) at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She studied American History at Brown University and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. She completed her residency in dermatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and a fellowship in pediatric dermatology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia/University of Pennsylvania.

She is passionate about laser treamtent for vascular anomalies. In this realm, she has fostered research and clinical collaborations between laser surgeons and pediatric dermatologists, driven by the belief that synergy between fields is critical to understanding natural history, defining best practices, and improving outcomes. Her research primarily focuses on precision-based approaches to facial port wine birthmarks leveraging novel imaging, and investigation of potential downtream medical targets for therapy.