William Damsky, MD, PhD
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About
Titles
Assistant Professor in Dermatology and Dermatopathology
Biography
William Damsky, M.D., Ph.D. is a physician-scientist who uses basic and translational approaches to understand mechanisms of skin disease. In clinical practice, he specializes in medical dermatology and dermatopathology with a specific focus in cutaneous granulomatous disorders (sarcoidosis and granuloma annulare). Dr. Damsky is an attending physician at Yale-New Haven Hospital, Yale Health Center, the VA Veteran's Hospital, and Cornell Scott Hill Health Center. Dr. Damsky provides care for both adult and pediatric patients.
Dr. Damsky provides care for patients with all dermatologic conditions and he has special interest in:
- sarcoidosis
- granuloma annulare
- psoriasis
- atopic dermatitis (eczema)
- acne and hidradenitis suppurativa
- other cutaneous granulomatous disorders such as necrobiosis lipodica
- other inflammatory skin disorders such as lichen planus
- skin cancer
Dr. Damsky uses a wide variety of treatment modalities including retinoids including isotretinoin, phototherapy, systemic immunomodulatory agents, "biologic" agents to treat psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and other disorders, and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors.
In his research, Dr. Damsky is using various pre-clinical and translational approaches to study inflammatory skin diseases as well as melanoma. Dr. Damsky is leading a clinical trial in sarcoidosis and granuloma annulare. Dr. Damsky has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles. His research is supported by the Dermatology Foundation, the Skin Cancer Foundation, and Pfizer. He was received the Young Investigator Award from the American Academy of Dermatology in 2020 for his research in sarcoidosis.
Dr. Damsky completed his undergraduate, M.D., and Ph.D. degrees the University of Vermont. He completed an internship in Internal Medicine and residency in Dermatology at Yale. Dr. Damsky also completed an N.I.H. funded Research Fellowship in Investigative Dermatology and served as Chief Resident during this time.
Appointments
Dermatology
Assistant ProfessorPrimaryPathology
Assistant ProfessorSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Cancer Immunology
- Cutaneous Granulomatous Disorders Program
- Damsky Lab
- Dermatology
- Dermatopathology
- Janeway Society
- Molecular Medicine, Pharmacology, and Physiology
- Pathology
- Program in Translational Biomedicine (PTB)
- Psoriasis Treatment Program
- Yale Combined Program in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS)
- Yale Medicine
Education & Training
- Fellow
- Yale School of Medicine (2020)
- Resident
- Yale New Haven Hospital / Yale School of Medicine (2017)
- Internship
- Yale New Haven Hospital (2014)
- MD
- University of Vermont, College of Medicine (2013)
- PhD
- University of Vermont College of Medicine (2011)
- BS
- University of Vermont (2005)
Research
Academic Achievements and Community Involvement
Clinical Care
Overview
William Damsky, MD, PhD, is a dermatologist at Yale Medicine specializing in skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, acne, skin cancer, and such rare skin conditions as sarcoidosis, granuloma annulare, necrobiosis lipoidica, and others . He also conducts research on new treatments for these conditions, especially a new class of medications called JAK inhibitors, which inhibit a specific protein responsible for the immune reactions that cause certain rashes.
As a clinician, Dr. Damsky’s goal is to guide patients through the decision-making process to choose an effective therapy that is right for them. While conservative by nature, he also utilizes more aggressive approaches when needed, as long as the patient is comfortable with the decision and is a candidate for the treatment.
Dr. Damsky first became interested in skin conditions when he conducted research on skin cancer and learned about rare skin diseases. “I really like trying to understand rashes and skin conditions that most people haven’t even heard of. Finding treatments for patients who have been told that nothing can be done is really gratifying,” he says.
Clinical Specialties
Fact Sheets
Sarcoidosis
Learn More on Yale MedicineGrover's Disease
Learn More on Yale MedicineViral Warts
Learn More on Yale MedicineSeborrheic Keratosis
Learn More on Yale Medicine
Board Certifications
Dermatology
- Certification Organization
- AB of Dermatology
- Original Certification Date
- 2017