2026 Fundamentals and Laser Safety: Core Principles for Clinical Applications

Dr. Arielle Kauvar is the founding director of New York Laser & Skin Care, a private practice specializing in laser surgery, Mohs surgery, cosmetic dermatology and clinical research, and a clinical professor of dermatology at New York University Grossman School of Medicine, where she teaches advanced dermatologic surgery.  She is a board-certified dermatologist and a leading authority on laser technology, minimally invasive skin rejuvenation and skin cancer treatment.

A high honors graduate of Princeton University, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi, Dr. Kauvar received her medical degree from Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Health Science and Technology program.  She completed her dermatology residency at New York University Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in Mohs micrographic surgery and laser surgery.  

Dr. Kauvar has pioneered many laser and device-based treatments and remains actively engaged in the development of new technology and clinical research.  She has served as principal investigator in over 50 clinical trials in all phases of development and the FDA approval process.  She is the author of over one hundred publications, including manuscripts, book chapters and a comprehensive textbook on laser surgery.  She lectures at national and international scientific meetings, is frequently interviewed by the media and is a consultant to the medical device and pharmaceutical industries.  She has served on the Board of Directors of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and the American Society for Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery and is a past president of the Dermatologic Society of Greater New York.   

Dr. Kauvar received the Castle and Connolly Top Doctors award and the Super Doctor in dermatology award for many years, as well as the Elle magazine Beauty Genius Award for her innovation in laser surgery.  She is a recipient of the President’s Award from the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, and multiple Presidential Citations from the American Academy of Dermatology.  A native New Yorker, Dr. Kauvar developed an early interest in art and science and brings the perspective of a scientist and skill of an artist to her patient care.

Whether treating birthmarks, skin cancer, scars, wrinkles or acne, Dr. Kauvar is passionate about helping people improve their lives by achieving healthy, natural-appearing, beautiful skin.  She lives in Westchester County, where she and her husband raised their three sons and enjoys art, photography, cooking, hiking and traveling.

Dr. Levin completed his MD and PhD degrees at Stanford University in the Schools of Medicine and Engineering, respectively, and was funded by an NIH Medical Scientist Training Program grant. He completed his dermatology residency at Boston Medical Center, where he served as chief resident, and then completed a two-year clinical and research fellowship at the Massachusetts General Hospital's laser and cosmetic center.

He is currently an Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School and is a faculty physician at the MGH's Wellman Center for Photomedicine and its Department of Dermatology. In his clinical practice, Dr. Levin includes laser treatments of children with challenging congenital malformations both in the operating room and in the clinic, as well as cosmetic and medical dermatology. He also volunteers to treat children internationally in both Vietnam and Israel. His research focuses on the development of novel energy-based devices to improve the treatment of disfiguring birthmarks in children, to prevent cutaneous burns, and to treat and prevent infectious diseases. His work has resulted in multiple awarded patents and numerous peer-reviewed publications.

Molly Wanner, M.D., M.B.A., is a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in laser and cosmetic dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital and is an assistant professor in dermatology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Wanner conducts clinical and basic science research in the areas of cosmetic and laser dermatology. Her research interested include topical cosmetic products and laser and cosmetic devices.

Dr. Wanner has authored numerous scientific publications and is frequently used as a clinical expert source. Dr. Wanner is a board member of the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery. Dr. Wanner also contributes to popular consumer media.

Biography: Dr. Christine C. Dierickx, MD, received her M.D. degree from the medical school program of the University of Leuven, Belgium and completed a dermatology residency at the same university. She then developed clinical expertise in phlebology during a two-year fellowship with Professor Neuman in the Netherlands. Subsequently, she finished a clinical laser fellowship with Dr. R. Fitzpatrick in San Diego, California, and a Mohs fellowship with Dr. F. Mohs in Madison, Wisconsin. During a two-year laser fellowship with Dr. R. Rox Anderson at Massachusetts General Hospital of Harvard University, she developed research laser expertise in various fields. The projects on vascular lesions draw directly upon her research on the thermal relaxation time of ectatic blood vessels. She established the need of millisecond laser pulses for the treatment of vascular lesions and showed that the formation of gentle cavitations driven by a slow photothermal process underlies the destruction of blood vessels with the longer millisecond laser pulses. For this work, she received the Best Basic Science Award of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery. Subsequently, she became a full-time staff member of the Wellman Laboratories at Harvard. During this time, she conducted research projects with long pulsed ruby and diode lasers for hair removal. She returned to Europe in early 1999, where she is currently in private practice in Luxembourg. She served as Vice president for the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery in 2006-2007. In 2013 she was the recipient of the Vasant Orwal Oration van de British Medical Laser Society. In April 2016 she received the Leon Goldman memoriam award from the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery. She continues to be involved in the development of new applications for energy-based devices as well as new applications for photodynamic therapy. Dr. Dierickx has published and lectured nationally and internationally in the field of laser surgery and photodynamic therapy.

Dr. Fernanda H. Sakamoto, MD, Ph.D is an Assistant Professor in Dermatology at the Harvard Medical School, Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA since 2006. She is a fellow of the AAD, fellow of the American Society of Lasers in Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS), a member of the Société Française de Dermatologie; of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology, of the Brazilian Society of Dermatological Surgery, of the Brazilian Group of Melanoma and of the International Society of Dermoscopy. She is a physician-scientist and board-certified Dermatologist from Brazil. Dr. Sakamoto’s research interests include laser and device therapies, PDT, acne, skin cancer, wound healing, and new material science. Working with translational and clinical sciences in academia and industry is Dr. Sakamoto’s field of interest. Currently her work is focused on the development of new light-based treatments for acne and atopic dermatitis. Dr. Sakamoto is a Co-Director of the Education Committee of the Wellman Center/MGH since 2017 and has served on the ASLMS Education, International Committees, Research and Development Committee and Women in Energy Based Devices Committee of which she was the Chair in 2021. She was the Program Chair of the 2022 ASLMS Annual Meeting and has received Best Overall Scientific Award, Best Clinical Science Award (twice) and Bast Basic Science Award, the Horace Furimoto Award for Innovation and the Ellet Drake Memorial Award for innovative laser procedures by the same society.   

Dr. Sakamoto has contributed with over 30 scientific and clinical publications in peer-reviewed journals, and over a dozen book chapters in the major Dermatology textbooks.  She is an inventor on seven US and international patents on innovations in Dermatology. She has contributed to the creation of FDA approved technologies, including the micro-coring device for skin tightening; and Dr. Sakamoto is the primary inventor of laser for acne treatment. 

She has served as Associate Editor for the Journal of Investigative Dermatology for 4 years and was Guest Editor of Lasers in Surgery and Medicine in 2012. Dr. Sakamoto maintains a cosmetic laser/device clinic in Brazil, and as a founding member of the Dream Beam Foundation, she is actively creating a free clinic and training center in Sao Paulo. In the past, has treated native Indians in the Amazon jungle. Dr. Sakamoto also works as a consultant to multiple laser and cosmetic companies in the US. Dr. Sakamoto lives in Boston with her husband, Rox Anderson, her 3 boys under the age of 8 years old and her little dog, BB.

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.

Jill S. Waibel, MD, practices as a board-certified dermatologist specializing in general dermatology, cutaneous laser surgery, and cosmetic dermatology for adults and children. She is in private practice in Miami, Florida, and Coral Gables, Florida. She is currently the medical director and owner of the Miami Dermatology and Laser Institute in Miami. Dr. Waibel is the subsection chief of Dermatology at Baptist Hospital. In addition, Dr. Waibel serves as a Clinical Voluntary Assistant Professor at the University of Miami. She is a world-recognized leader in dermatologic laser surgery and lectures worldwide to train other physicians. In her practice, she has over 40 laser devices and treats a wide variety of cutaneous diseases. Dr. Waibel is active in basic science clinical trials at the University of Miami and has a clinical trials division at Miami Dermatology and Research. One of Dr. Waibel’s primary passions is the treatment of scars by applying today’s latest cutaneous laser technologies. She has successfully developed industry-leading procedures and techniques with lasers, received numerous awards for her contributions to medicine, and published numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and several textbook chapters. She was named “Person of the Week” on ABC World News Tonight in 2015 and was recently granted a Cutting Edge Research Grant by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. She has received numerous awards for her contributions to medicine, including an award given by Surgeon General Koop. The 2016 JDD Humanitarian Award has been given to Dr. Waibel for her innovative work in using lasers to treat patients with traumatic burn injuries. Dr. Waibel lectures, collaborates, and trains military physicians to help the wounded warriors. Dr. Waibel makes her home in Coral Gables with her husband and four children.

Mary Dick, MD, is a fellowship-trained cosmetic dermatologic surgeon who completed her ASDS Cosmetic Dermatologic Surgery Fellowship at the Dermatology and Laser Surgery Center in Houston, TX. She earned her medical degree from Creighton University and her dermatology residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She is currently an Assistant Professor at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

Dr. Dick has a strong background in procedural and aesthetic dermatology, with expertise in laser and energy-based devices and injectables. She has presented at national conferences, including AAD, ASDS, and ASLMS, and has authored book chapters and peer-reviewed publications on laser technology and medical dermatology.

Dr. Douglas C. Wu is a double Board-Certified dermatologist in both Canada and the USA with specialty training in Cosmetic Surgery via the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery Fellowship programme. He is widely renowned for his contributions to the fields of aesthetic medicine, including his work in advancing laser rejuvenation, tattoo removal, injectable technique, and non-invasive body sculpting. As Director of Research at the practice, Dr. Wu supervises between 20-30 ongoing clinical trials at any given time, placing him at the forefront of discovery and innovation in cosmetic dermatology. He holds a PhD in Immunology and Stem Cell Biology from the University of Oxford in England, has authored numerous medical articles and textbook chapters, and lectures at major conferences across the globe.

Sungat K. Grewal MD FAAD is a double board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon who Co-directs the Aesthetic Medicine program at UC Irvine. She completed her dermatology residency at the UC San Francisco School of Medicine before completing a fellowship in laser surgery, aesthetics, and micrographic surgery and dermatologic oncology at the UCI School of Medicine.

Jessica Labadie, MD, FAAD is a board-certified, fellowship-trained cosmetic, surgical and general dermatologist. She is the Director of Lasers and Cosmetic Surgery and an assistant professor in the Department of Dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Born and raised in Rhode Island, Dr. Labadie graduated with honors from Brown University where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Neuroscience. Dr. Labadie received her medical degree from the University of California Irvine School of Medicine where she was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) honor society and graduated at the top of her class with distinctions in research, leadership and service.

Dr. Labadie went on to complete her Dermatology residency at Northwestern University in Chicago where she served as Chief Resident during her final year. Subsequently, she completed advanced clinical training in Lasers and Cosmetic Dermatologic Surgery at SkinCare Physicians in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts under the mentorship of world experts and thought leaders: Drs. Jeffrey Dover, Kenneth Arndt, Michael Kaminer and Thomas Rohrer.

Dr. Labadie has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, academic poster presentations, oral abstracts, and lectures on cosmetic dermatology and laser surgery. She has served on the Board of Directors for the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS) and currently serves on the Board of the Association of Academic Cosmetic Dermatologists (AACD).

Dr. Labadie’s practice focuses on cosmetic, surgical and general dermatology while placing a strong emphasis on compassionate, patient-centered care and individualized treatment plans. In addition to her patients, she is passionate about teaching and research.

Merete Haedersdal, MD, PhD, DMSc is a clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and director of the Danish Research Center for Skin Cancer. She is a visiting scientist at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, focusing on the project “Laser-Assisted Drug Delivery” in collaboration with Dr. R. Rox Anderson and his team. Dr. Haedersdal received her MD degree from the Medical School program of the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and was authorized as a specialist in dermato-venereology in 2004. Dr. Haedersdal received her PhD degree in 1997 and became Dr. of Medical Science in 1999. Her theses covered aspects of side effects from dermatological laser procedures in animal and human experimental studies. Professor Haedersdal has published more than 250 scientific papers and lectures internationally. Her research team focuses on translational medicine in the field of lasers and energy-based devices in dermatology, imaging-guided procedures, fractional laser-assisted drug delivery, photodynamic therapy, and treatment of skin cancer with light-based devices in combination with topically applied drugs.