Medical Advisory Committee

Dr. Benjamin Barankin headshot

Benjamin Barankin MD, FRCPC, FAAD

Dr. Benjamin Barankin is a Toronto dermatologist specializing in medical, surgical, laser and cosmetic dermatology. He founded the Toronto Dermatology Centre in 2010 and is its Medical Director.

Dr. Barankin is a widely published author with more than 700 articles related to dermatology and 7 books on dermatology. He serves on the editorial boards of numerous medical journals and newspapers, and has served as an executive member of the Canadian Dermatology Association (CDA). He was honoured with the 2014 CDA Young Volunteer Award.

Conflict of Interest statement: Consultant, speaker, investigator or advisor for the following: Abbvie, Amgen, Bausch Health, Cipher, Galderma,  Janssen, LEO Pharma, L’Oreal, Pfizer, Sun Pharma, UCB.

Dr. Ari Demirjian headshot

Ari Demirjian MD, FRCPC, FAAD

Dr. Ari Demirjian is in the practice of dermatology since 1992. He is an assistant professor of medicine at the McGill University Health Center.

He received his medical degree from the University of Sherbrooke in 1988. He completed four years of specialty training in dermatology at McGill University in 1992. He obtained a certificate for the use of lasers from Harvard University, Boston, in 1994. Dr Demirjian was a member of the executive committee of the Quebec Association of Dermatologists from 2000-2012.

Dr. Shannon Humphrey

Shannon Humphrey MD, FRCPC, FAAD

Dr. Shannon Humphrey is a Vancouver cosmetic and medical dermatologist practicing at Carruthers & Humphrey.

Dr. Humphrey is the Director of Continuing Medical Education and a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Dermatology and Skin Science at the University of British Columbia. She teaches in the undergraduate, post-graduate and CME dermatology programs.

Dr. Humphrey established the first acne and rosacea subspecialty clinic at the University of British Columbia. An active member of the Canadian Acne Guidelines workgroup, she is working to produce evidence based guidelines for successful treatment of acne in Canadian patients.

Conflict of Interest statement: Consultant, speaker or investigator for Abbvie, Actelion, Allergan, Amgen, Astellas, Galderma, GSK, Janssen, Johnson & Johnson, Kythera, Leo, L’Oreal, Medicis, Merz, Proctor & Gamble, Valeant.

Dr. Jennifer Lipson headshot

Jennifer Lipson MD, FRCPC, FAAD

Dr. Jennifer Lipson is a board-certified dermatologist who practices at West Ottawa Specialty Care in Ottawa.  She is a member of the Canadian Dermatology Association and American Academy of Dermatology.

Dr. Lipson is an associate physician at The Ottawa Hospital and consulting physician at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO).  She is a lecturer at The University of Ottawa and enjoys teaching medical students, residents and family physicians.  She has special clinical interests in inflammatory skin conditions and women’s health in dermatology.

Conflict of Interest Statement:  Consultant, speaker or advisor for AbbVie, Amgen, Bausch Health Canada, Galderma, Janssen, Johnson and Johnson, Lilly, Leo,  L’Oreal, Medexus, Novartis , Pfizer,  UCB

Mahek Shergill smiling outside in front of concrete buildings

Mahek Shergill MD Candidate

Mahek is currently a first-year medical student at McMaster University. Prior to entering medical school, she completed a Bachelor of Health Sciences at McMaster University. She joined ARSC because she is passionate about bringing awareness to how rosacea and other skin conditions manifest in skin of colour, stemming from a family member’s personal experience with rosacea.

Mahek is involved in clinical research in dermatology encompassing acne and rosacea, as well as public health research focused on health equity. She is also involved in community outreach projects, and has facilitated roundtables focused on health promotion and infrastructure related projects.

Yuliya Lytvyn headshot

Yuliya Lytvyn MD Candidate

Yuliya is currently a third-year medical student at the University of Toronto. Prior to entering medical school, she completed a PhD in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Toronto where she was awarded the top academic achievement in her graduating class.

Yuliya is passionate about clinical research in dermatology and internal medicine. As a result, she published widely in these areas with over 60 peer-reviewed publications to date. She held the role of an Editor-in-Chief of the University of Toronto Medical Journal and Toronto Notes. She is also regularly involved in patient education.

Dr. Jason Rivers headshot

Jason Rivers MD, FRCPC, FAAD

Dr. Jason Rivers is a Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the University of British Columbia and the Medical Director at Pacific Derm in Vancouver. Dr. Rivers is the Immediate past President of the Canadian Dermatology Association and the Immediate President of the Acne and Rosacea Society of Canada.

He is the previous Editor in Chief of the Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery and has published more than 170 papers including book chapters. With 35 years of clinical and academic experience, he has developed an expertise in medical dermatology, aesthetic medicine, and clinical research.

Conflict of Interest statement: Founder, Riversol Skincare. Consultant, speaker or investigator for Allergan, Almirall, Cutera, Galderma, Leo, Merz, Bausch.

Dr. Marcie Ulmer headshot

Marcie Ulmer MD, FRCPC, FAAD

Dr. Marcie Ulmer is a Vancouver dermatologist with special interests in medical, surgical and aesthetic dermatology.  She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and a Diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology.

Dr. Ulmer is a Clinical Instructor at the Department of Dermatology and Skin Science, University of British Columbia.  She enjoys teaching medical students, residents and family physicians.

Dr. Ulmer has participated in educational lecturing for the public and regularly participates in local skin cancer screening events.  She is actively involved in clinical research and serves as a reviewer for The Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery.

Conflict of interest statement: Consultant, speaker or investigator for Abbott/Abbvie, Actelion, Allergan, Amgen, Astellas, Cipher, Galderma, Janssen, Leo, L’Oreal, Merz, Valeant.

Dr. Catherine Zip headshot in front of book shelf

Catherine Zip MD, FRCPC, FAAD

Dr. Catherine Zip is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Calgary. She attended medical school at the University of Alberta and pursued residencies in internal medicine and dermatology at Dalhousie University.

She then moved back to Calgary and has been in private practice at the Dermatology Centre since. Dr. Zip is a fellow of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and is also board certified by the American Board of Dermatology. In addition to her busy practice, she is active in teaching residents.

Conflict of interest statement: Consultant, speaker or investigator for Galderma, Valeant.

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