Neelam Ajit Vashi, MD

Biography

Dr. Neelam A. Vashi, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist, is the Director of the Boston University Cosmetic and Laser Center, Founding Director of the Boston University Center for Ethnic Skin, and an Associate Professor of Dermatology at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. Dr. Vashi received her medical degree from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine through the Honors Program in Medical Education where she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Dr. Vashi completed her dermatology residency at New York University (NYU) in the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, one of the country’s top academic dermatology centers.

Dr. Vashi is a recognized leader in medical and cosmetic dermatology. She is widely published in the peer-reviewed literature, author of several book chapters, and is a frequent lecturer at both national and international dermatology meetings. She has published four textbooks, Beauty and Body Dysmorphic Disorder: A Clinician’s Guide, Dermatoanthropology of Ethnic Skin and Hair, The Dermatology Handbook, and Cultural Practices and Dermatoses, all available on www.amazon.com. She is a key opinion leader and has been featured extensively in the media, including Oprah Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, New Beauty, Boston Globe, Ebony Magazine, Prevention, Reader’s Digest, Dr. Oz The Good Life Magazine, Yahoo, CNN, Forbes, CNBC, NewsWeek, Good Housekeeping, Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, MSN, Washington Post, US News and World Report, Fortune, ABC, Chicago Tribune, The Washington Times, Women’s Health, Web Talk Radio, Doctor Radio, BBC World. She has been featured on nationally syndicated television, including Morning Dose, FOX25, Mornings with Maria (FOX), Inside Edition, WCVB-ABC affiliated Television, Boston25, Channel 5, WGBH Channel 2 PBS, and BlackHealthNow. In 2018, she was exclusively featured on the cover of The Dermatologist. In 2020, her research was featured on the cover of The Boston Globe. In 2021, she was recognized as a World Expert in Hyperpigmentation. She has received numerous additional awards and honors, including the prestigious Presidential Citation Award from the American Academy of Dermatology.

Dr. Vashi’s research interests include a wide variety of topics related to cosmetics, ethnic skin, quality of life, laser technology, social media, hyperpigmentation, sun protection, and health literacy. Her research interests, creativity, and innovation have led to publications in the most premier academic journals and have garnered much attention from the community at large. Dr. Vash has received national and international recognition for her scholarly work, and is senior and corresponding author on over 100 peer-reviewed articles, with over 20 being in the top 5% of all research outputs scored by Almetric. In 2017, she had the #2 article in JAMA Dermatology (PMID: 29049443). In 2018, she had the #1 article in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery (PMID: 30073294). In 2021, she had the #2 article in JCAD (PMID: 33584967). She treats a broad range of medical and cosmetic skin conditions, and has particular expertise in cosmetic surgery and skin of color. She is a co-investigator on a Multi-PI RO1 to accelerate research in understudied skin types. She has served on the board of directors of the nationally recognized Skin of Color Society, associated with the American Academy of Dermatology. She is the contributing expert on patients from underrepresented patient populations and on the cosmetics and laser writing committee for the American Board of Dermatology (ABD), the national and internationally recognized certifying organization, which ensures that dermatologists meet stringent criteria in education, training, and clinical competence. As the governing body for board certification in dermatology in the United States, the ABD plays a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity and quality of dermatological care, thus safeguarding the health and well-being of patients. She also serves on the board of directors of the Association of Academic Cosmetic Dermatologists. In addition, as part of the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Dr. Vashi teaches dermatology to BU residents, international trainees, and medical students. She has received the Teacher of the Year Award twice by both the international trainees and resident physicians.

Dr. Vashi is from the Midwest, growing up in the suburbs near Detroit, Michigan. She currently lives in Newton, MA with her three children and husband, an interventional cardiologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Vashi enjoys philanthropic activities with her children. Her charity ‘Crafts of Compassion’ can be found at http://bmc.convio.net/goto/Crafts-For-Compassion.