Michael Kwa, MD

Academic Titles

Assistant Professor of Dermatology

Summary

Dr. Michael Kwa, MD is an Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the Boston University School of Medicine. Dr. Kwa received his medical degree from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. He completed his dermatology residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan where he served as academic chief.

He has a clinical focus on photoprotection, pigmented lesions, and melanoma, which he has integrated with his research interest in the economics of healthcare. His work includes analyses of drug pricing, systemic cost/utilization, as well as the policies that influence health markets, especially when it comes to ultraviolet filters and sunscreens. He has authored multiple studies in leading academic journals, including publications in the JAAD and JAMA Dermatology, and has been invited to speak at national and international conferences including the AAD, SID, EADV Congress, and the most recent World Congress of Dermatology.

Education

2011-2015 -BA- Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
2015-2019-MD-Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
2019-2020-Internship in Internal Medicine (Preliminary Year), Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
2020-2023-Dermatology Resident in Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI

Clinical Specialties and Research Interests

Clinical: Melanoma, Pigmented Lesions

Research: Melanoma risk factors, ultraviolet filters, non-invasive diagnostic imaging for pigmented lesions

Original, Peer-Reviewed Articles

Xu S, Kwa M, Agarwal A, Rademaker A, Kundu RV. Sunscreen product performance and other determinants of consumer preferences. JAMA dermatology. 2016;152(8):920-927.

Covered by various news outlets including CNN, NBC News, The Today Show, Washington Post, etc.

Kwa L, Kwa MC, Silverberg JI. Cardiovascular comorbidities of pediatric psoriasis among hospitalized children in the United States. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2017;77(6):1023-1029.

Kwa MC, Ardalan K, Laumann AE, Nardone B, West DP, Silverberg JI. Validation of international classification of diseases codes for the epidemiologic study of dermatomyositis. Arthritis care & research. 2017;69(5):753-757.

Kwa MC, Ardalan K, Laumann AE, Silverberg JI. Predictors of Hospitalization, Length of Stay, and Cost of Care Among Adults With Dermatomyositis in the United States. Arthritis care & research. 2017;69(9):1391-1399.

Kwa MC, Silverberg JI. Association between inflammatory skin disease and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular co-morbidities in US adults: analysis of Nationwide Inpatient Sample data. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. 2017;18(6):813-823.

Kwa M, Welty LJ, Xu S. Adverse events reported to the US Food and Drug Administration for cosmetics and personal care products. JAMA internal medicine. 2017;177(8):1202-1204.

Covered by various news outlets including CNN, New York Times, Reuters, US News, etc.

Xu S*, Kwa M*, Lohman ME, Evers-Meltzer R, Silverberg JI. Consumer preferences, product characteristics, and potentially allergenic ingredients in best-selling moisturizers. JAMA dermatology. 2017;153(11):1099-1105.

Covered by various news outlets including New York Times, Reuters, The Guardian, TIME, etc.

 Cornell E, Kwa M, Paller A, Xu S. Adverse events reported to the Food and Drug Administration from 2004-2016 for Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Marketed to Newborn Infants. Pediatric Dermatology. 2018; 35(2): 225-229.

Jacob SL, Cornell E, Kwa M, Funk WE, Xu, S. Cosmetics and cancer: Adverse event reports submitted to the Food and Drug Administration. JNCI Cancer Spectrum. 2018; 2(2): pky012.

Kwa MC, Silverberg JI, & Ardalan K. Inpatient burden of juvenile dermatomyositis among children in the United States. Pediatric Rheumatology.2018;16(1), 70.

Mannam H, Choi A, Jacob S, Kwa M, Xu S, Robinson JK. Assessment of the Diameter of Pigmented Skin Lesions With and Without a Ruler. JAMA dermatology. 2018;154(2):221-223.

Silverberg JI, Kwa L, Kwa MC, Laumann AE, Ardalan K. Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular comorbidities of juvenile dermatomyositis in US children: an analysis of the National Inpatient Sample. Rheumatology. 2018; 57(4): 694-702.

 Kwa MC, Tegtmeyer, K, Welty LJ, Raney SG, Luke MC, Xu S, & Kong B. (2020). The relationship between the number of available therapeutic options and government payer (medicare part D) spending on topical drug products. Archives of dermatological research, 2020; 1-7.

Elhage K, Yousif J, Kwa M, Gold LS. (2023). The Online Acne Market: Analyzing Ingredients and Price of Over-the-Counter Acne Products. Archives of dermatological research, 2023; accepted.

Peer-Reviewed Articles

Janetos TM, Kwa M, Xu S. Regulation of Cosmetics. JAMA internal medicine. 2018; 178(7): 1000-1001.

Chapman S, Kwa M, Gold LS, Lim HW. Janus kinase inhibitors in dermatology: part I. A comprehensive review. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2021; 86(2): 406-413.

Pantelic MN, Wong N, Kwa M, & Lim HW. (2022). Ultraviolet filters in the United States and European Union: A review of safety and implications for the future of US sunscreens. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.2023; 88(3): 632-646.

CASE REPORTS, CHAPTERS, COMMENTARIES, AND REPLIES

 Xu S, Kwa M, Silverberg JI. Allergen Concerns and Popular Skin Care Products—reply. JAMA dermatology. 2018;154(1):115-116.

 Kwa MC, Dulmage BO, Shastry JL, Yazdan P, Choi JN. Rare presentation of cutaneous lung cancer metastasis presenting as carcinoma erysipeloides. JAAD case reports. 2019; 5(4), 332-335.

Boothby-Shoemaker W, Kwa M, Kohen L, Shaw B, Friedman BJ. A Rare Case of Primary Cutaneous Signet-Ring Cell Melanoma With Discrepant Findings on Gene Expression Profiling and Chromosomal Microarray Analysis. The American Journal of dermatopathology. 2022; 44(7):p e79-e82.

Kwa MC, Lim HW. Commentary on:“Oxybenzone and pregnancy: Time for more research and patient education”. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2022;86(5):e215.

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

Silverberg JI, Kwa L, Kwa MC, Laumann A, Ardalan K. Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Comorbidities of Juvenile Dermatomyositis in United States Children [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatology. 2017; 69 (suppl 10). Oral presentation presented at: American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals Annual Meeting; 2017; San Diego, CA.

Kwa, L, Kwa, M, Silverberg, JI. 238 Association between pediatric psoriasis and cardiovascular risk in US children. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 2017;137(5): S40. Oral presentation presented at: Society of Investigative Dermatology 76^th Annual Meeting; 2017; Portland, OR.

Kwa, M, Ardalan, K, Laumann, AE, Silverberg, JI. 176 Inpatient burden of dermatomyositis in United States adults. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 2017; 137(5): S30. Oral presentation presented at: Society of Investigative Dermatology 76^th Annual Meeting; 2017; Portland, OR.

Kwa MC, Silverberg JI, Ardalan K. Predictors of Hospitalization, Length of Stay, and Costs of Care Among Children with Juvenile Dermatomyositis in the United States. Arthritis and Rheumatology. 2017; 69 (suppl 10). Oral presentation presented at: American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals Annual Meeting; 2017; San Diego, CA.

Kwa M, Kolli S, Wong N, Veenstra J. Case 10: A 57-year-old Woman with Progressive Erythematous Papules. Oral presentation presented at: Henry Ford Michigan Dermatology Society Meeting; 2021; virtual.

Kwa M, Elhage K, Yousif J, Gold LS. Googling acne: analyzing ingredients and price of over the counter acne products. Selected by committee of the American Acne and Rosacea Society and oral presentation presented at: 10^th Annual AARS Symposium at SID; 2022; Portland, OR.

Wong N, Pantelic MN, Kwa M, Lim HW. 34745 US and EU Sunscreens: A review of ultraviolet (UV) filters and safety data. Oral presentation presented at: Poster Presentation Center 1 at AAD Annual Meeting; 2022, Boston, MA.

Kwa M, Wong N, Pantelic M, Lim, HW. US and EU Sunscreens: A review of regulation of ultraviolet (UV) filters in the US and EU. Oral presentation presented at: European Society for Photodermatology at the EADV Congress; 2022; Milan, Italy

Elhage K, Kwa M, Lim HW. 42445 Eruptive Keratoacanthoma of Grzybowski in an African American Female. Accepted for oral presentation at: Poster Center 2 at AAD Annual Meeting; 2023; New Orleans, LA

Kwa M, .Guttentag A, Chase L, van Meijgaard, J, Lim HW. 42231 Trends in Price for Topical Corticosteroids from 2017-2021 and the Opportunity for Cost Savings Identifiable at the Point of Care: a Retrospective Study. Accepted for oral presentation at: Poster Center 1 at AAD Annual Meeting; 2023; New Orleans, LA

Kwa M, Wong N, Pantelic M, Lim, HW. US and EU Sunscreens: A review of regulation of ultraviolet (UV) filters in the US and EU. Oral presentation presented at: Global Chinese Dermatology Society at the 25^th World Congress of Dermatology, 2023, Singapore.