Mona Shahriari, MD, FAAD

What to Look Forward to at the RAD Conference, with Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD, and Mona Shahriari, MD

, Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD, clinical associate professor of medicine at Rosalind Franklin University Chicago Medical School and founder and director of the Center for Medical Dermatology and Immunology Research in Chicago, and Mona Shahriari, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine, provided commentary on the upcoming 2025 

Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis (RAD) Meeting

“For RAD, there are a few sessions that I'm really quite excited about,” Chovatiya explained. “Not because I necessarily will be involved, though I might be, but it’s really because they're topics that have caught my interest in the last few years. I've spent a lot of time thinking and working on them. There's going to be an amazing session all about chronic hand eczema, a disease state that is really going to become relevant as we start getting therapeutics into this arena and are having more of an understanding of in this country, which historically was not at the forefront of CHE.”

Chovatiya further highlighted a session covering practical tips regarding management of atopic dermatitis as a disease. He noted that a discussion of how drugs are handled in real-world settings is something to anticipate.

“I think we always have questions like ‘Can I get my patient on less drug? Can I up the dose? Can I intermittently dose?’” Chovatiya said. “Some of these things are variably on or off-label, but it's going to be a free scenario in which people can talk about what works for them and why, and I'm looking forward to that too. Finally, I think the late breakers are going to be poised to be one of the best ones yet. Every year, we get really great abstracts at RAD that are debuting for the first time for late-breaking research.”

Shahriari responded to the question about what she anticipates at the RAD Conference, highlighting several elements of the meeting.

“Given that the [atopic dermatitis] landscape has changed so dramatically over the last several years, I think this is a nice time for us to be able to talk about not only the various treatments that we have, but also how do we optimize treatment for patients by taking those treatments and appropriately giving them to the patients that are in need,” Shahriari said. “[We’ll be] defining what is adequate control and what is that bar for efficacy that we should be reaching for?”

Shahriari further highlighted that the Nashville-based conference is going to go through the spectrum of atopic dermatitis-related topics for attendees.

“We're going to discuss the psychosocial burden of [atopic dermatitis],” Shahriari said. “I have the privilege of speaking on that aspect of the disease, but also advancements in JAK inhibitors, complex cases involving atopic dermatitis and hair loss, [as well as] some of the new therapeutic approvals,” Shahriari explained. “...We're also going to talk about some special considerations when you're treating kids with [atopic dermatitis] because there's more that goes into that dynamic besides just me and the patient. There's a caregiver and a parent involved as well.”

For any additional information about the 2 speakers’ most anticipated elements of the RAD conference, view their full discussion posted above.

The quotes contained in this interview summary were edited for the purposes of clarity.

Videos

In this interview, Chovatiya and Shahriari highlight notable elements of the upcoming Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis (RAD) Conference.

The Medical Sisterhood: LEADderm & The Power of the Podium, with Jennifer Soung, MD

, host Mona Shahriari, MD, sits down with Jennifer Soung, MD—Director of Clinical Research at Southern California Dermatology, practicing dermatologist, educator, and founder of the LEADderm meeting—for a candid, inspiring conversation about career evolution, representation, and the transformative power of community in dermatology.

Soung reflects on her early trajectory from training at Mount Sinai and UC Irvine to establishing a thriving clinical research center in an underserved area of Santa Ana. She shares how early experiences with underrepresentation and balancing motherhood with professional ambitions shaped her approach to leadership.

The conversation flows from personal anecdotes—such as Soung’s thoughts on shifting from first names to full titles to allow for greater respect in male-dominated settings—to formative reflections on Soung's mentorship under pediatric endocrinologist Francine Kaufman, MD, who modeled a career blending clinical practice, research, and advocacy. Shahriari shares how Soung’s presence on the podium early in her own career served as a powerful model of representation, affirming that leadership can look different.

A focal point of their dialogue is LEADderm, a dermatology conference Soung created to address gaps in gender and ethnic diversity among academic and industry leaders. Beyond clinical science, LEADderm emphasizes emotional intelligence, sponsorship, and authentic work-life integration—topics traditionally underrepresented at major meetings.

Soung outlines the difference between mentorship and sponsorship, advocating for actionable steps to elevate others. The episode closes with a preview of the 2024 conference and a call to foster inclusive leadership through community, visibility, and purposeful connection.

Want to join The Medical Sisterhood community? Click here to join our LinkedIn Group!

Podcasts

Jennifer Soung, MD, joins The Medical Sisterhood to discuss her journey to launching LEADderm and how owning the podium has changed her career.

Previewing Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis 2025, with Mona Shahriari, MD

Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis (RAD) Annual Meeting

 continues to serve as a key platform for learning, collaboration, and progress in patient treatment.

Interest in atopic dermatitis has surged, alongside major therapeutic breakthroughs. With more treatment options than ever before, translating that knowledge into everyday clinical practice has made education for providers increasingly essential.

"Given how the [atopic dermatitis] landscape has changed so dramatically over the last several years," explained Mona Shahriari, MD, "I think this is a nice time for us to be able to talk about not only the various treatments that we have, but also how do we optimize treatment for patients, by taking those treatments and appropriately giving them to the patients that are in need, and defining what is adequate control, what is that bar for efficacy that we should be reaching for?"

At RAD 2024, attendees were introduced to important data from the LEVEL UP initiative, the Measure Up program, and the DELTA studies. In addition to covering clinical trials and evolving guidelines, the RAD meeting emphasizes other critical aspects of care, including treatment approaches for skin of color, managing comorbidities, and more.

In this interview, Shahriari—who is set to lead a session at the upcoming meeting in Nashville, TN, from June 06–07, 2025—explains why RAD has become a standout event for clinicians treating atopic dermatitis. He highlights what sets the meeting apart: sessions, speakers, and conversations that zero in on real-world issues, practical care, and patient-centered strategies.

Campbell P. MJH Life Sciences Celebrates Acquisition of Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis (RAD) Annual Meeting. HCP Live. Published November 11, 2024. Accessed April 9, 2025. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/mjh-life-sciences-celebrates-acquisition-of-revolutionizing-atopic-dermatitis-rad-annual-meeting

Mona Shahriari, MD, previews the upcoming Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis Annual Meeting being held in Nashville, TN from June 06-07.

Atopic Dermatitis Education Gaps with Dermatologists, with Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD, and Mona Shahriari, MD

In the field of dermatology, there are a variety of therapeutic options that are being reviewed or have already been approved for atopic dermatitis. Despite the widespread availability of management strategies for this inflammatory skin condition, there may still be gaps among dermatologists and health providers with regard to atopic dermatitis.

The HCPLive editorial team reached out to Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD, clinical associate professor of medicine at Rosalind Franklin University Chicago Medical School, and Mona Shahriai, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine, to discuss potential gaps in atopic dermatitis-related education. First, the team spoke with Chovatiya about his opinion on the topic.

“Atopic dermatitis, or dermatology in general, is really becoming an immunologic disease state and an immunologic specialty,” Chovatiya explained. “So it shouldn't surprise anybody that, as someone who's been a big proponent of immunology-based education for years, it's really going to have to go into overdrive for the next generation and even for the current dermatology healthcare practitioners out there. This is because it is impossible to understand why you would choose any specific therapy anymore, unless you understand a bit about the immunology behind the disease and the target itself.”

Shahriari also responded to this question, highlighting her views on gaps in education and addressing improvements in the identification of patients requiring systemic treatments.

“We are not doing a great job at identifying patients who are moderate to severe and need to go on systemic therapy,” Shahriari said. “That's why I tend to look at patients not as mild, moderate, or severe, which are cookie-cutter definitions based on objective criteria of how patients’ skin looks. But I look at people [thinking], ‘Are you a candidate for systemics or are you a candidate for topicals?’”

Shahirari highlighted a variety of patient types that might require an evaluation for systemic treatment, pointing to such examples as those with disease-impacted body surface area (BSA) over 10% and those for whom topicals have not worked.

“The other thing is that for some body parts [such as] the hands and the face, they can be much more troubling for patients from a quality of life standpoint,” she explained. “So again, this is a place where we need to escalate treatment.”

Shahriari also noted that improved education for both dermatologists and primary care providers is going to be required in this area.

For additional information on these topics, view the full video interviews with Shahriari and Chovatiya posted above.

A pair of experts discuss unmet needs and educational gaps related to atopic dermatitis. 

Mona Shahriari, MD, FAAD

Articles