Living legend in dermatology - Professor Arun Inamadar

PROFESSOR (DR.) ARUN INAMADAR, MD, FRCP (EDIN)

Editor in chief Dr. Devinder Mohan Thappa, had an opportunity to converse with Professor (Dr.) Arun Inamadar, excerpts are presented here:

WHO IS PROFESSOR DR. ARUN INAMADAR?

Professor Dr. Arun Inamadar [Figure 1] is a reputed personality in dermatology in India and abroad who has been postgraduate examiner (in Mauritius, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, UAE) and invited speaker not only in India but also abroad, invited contributors for chapters to international books, graduated (1978–1984) from Government Medical College, Bellary and postgraduated (1986–1989) from Jagadguru Jayadeva Murugarajendra Medical College, Davanagere and acquired WHO Fellowship in HIV/AIDS at University of Washington, Seattle, USA (1996) and Fellowship from Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh (2014).

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Figure 1:

Professor Arun Inamadar.

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His professional carrier in dermatology started as Assistant Professor (1989–1994) in Dermatology, Sri B M Patil Medical College, Bijapur, Karnataka, India where he rose to the rank of Associate Professor (1994–1998) and Professor (1998 onwards) including head of department. Since March 2021, he is also looking after the post of Dean, Faculty of Allied Health Science in the same institute.

WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO JOIN DERMATOLOGY?

When I came back to my native district Bijapur after my undergraduate degree, there was no qualified dermatologist in my place. I had always believed that every medical subject has depth, breadth and length to explore. I also felt that dermatology is a developing science; hence I thought I must pursue such unearthed subject to excel and be a master in that subject. Prof. K. Siddappa motivated me further during my postgraduate days till last days of his life. Prof. R. Patnaik and Prof. M. B. Gharpurey were my indirect teachers. Prof. K. Pavithran and Dr. Gurmohan Singh inspired me to publish whatever little I could write till this time.

LEADERSHIP ROLE AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO DERMATOLOGY?

Since my early career as teacher in dermatology, I had all the opportunity to develop the department from scratch to the present “Dermatology excellence center in North Karnataka” funded by VGST, Government of Karnataka. We were the first to start fellowship in Pediatric Dermatology and to establish Dermatology Intensive Care Unit at our university hospital. Leadership role in National Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists, and Leprologists (IADVL) association as joint secretary, vice-president and academy chairman are enough proof of my leadership qualities. Successfully holding – postgraduate teaching program for state postgraduates and Karnataka state level conference IADVL at Bijapur was much needed stamp of my ability to lead and deliver.

I have authored and edited ten books in dermatology, contributed 65 chapters, published 200 articles in journals, held editorial positions at national and international level such as Section editor, Society for Pediatric Dermatology Newsletter, USA, Member editorial board, Journal of Autoimmune Diseases and Rheumatology, Member editorial board “Journal of Turkish Academy of Dermatology,” Executive Editor, Indian Journal of Pediatric Dermatology, Founding Editor, Clinical Dermatology Review (KN - IADVL Publication), Member of Editorial Board, Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, Associate Editor, Indian Dermatology Online Journal (2011–2012), Section editor (Geno-trichology) – International Journal of Trichology, Member Editorial Board – Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Member Editorial Board, IADVL Textbook of Dermatology (3^rd and 4^th Edition), Advisor, Indian Journal of Study of STDs and Advisor, Indian Journal of Drugs in Dermatology (Maharashtra IADVL Publication).

WHAT ARE YOUR PASSIONS?

Practicing pediatricians by referring all challenging cases to me in the initial period of my professional career made me to shape myself as Pediatric Dermatologist too. Physicians made me to learn and practice critical care in dermatology. For my passion for dermatology, especially pediatric dermatology, I have been rewarded by various organizations both national and international - Dermatology excellence award 2003–2004, Dr. K. Rajendran memorial oration Award on Cutaneous Vasculitis, IADVL Karnataka and Tamil Nadu state 2004, IADVL - Glaxo national oration award 2008, LK Bhutani award for teaching and research awarded by IADVL 2011, Best Researcher Award by BLDE University 2014, Developing countries Travel fellowship award from, WCPD, Chicago 2017, Dr. Rege oration, Goa state IADVL 2017, Dr. Kale Oration, Maharashtra state IADVL 2013, Dr. Shobhanadri oration, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh state IADVL 2016, Dr. J. N. Shetty oration, Karavali Dermatologists Association, Mangalore, 2017, and Inspiring Dermatologists Of India Award, Economic Times 2020.

Another passion was for innovations. Innovations made by me were “Innovative cooling Jacket to combat heat intolerance in children with anhidrosis,” “Blow the balloon” technique to explain the proportionate growth of congenital naevi, “Perforation of the paper with pen” a teaching technique to demonstrate a sign in discoid lupus erythematosus, and “Innovative technique for nail photography.”

During my pursuit for dermatology and its teaching, I had been influenced by Prof. Shelly, Prof. Moschella, Prof. Mc Grath, Prof. Wolverton, Prof. Warren Heymann, Prof. Arnold Orange, Prof. Celia Moss, Prof. Nancy Easterly, Prof. Amy Paller, and Prof. Razzaque Ahmed.

HOW DO YOU SEE THE SPECIALTY OF DERMATOLOGY EVOLVE IN FUTURE?

Future of dermatology is resurrection of endangered “Medical Dermatology!” Pediatric dermatology as a subspecialty will be next best to happen in dermatology world. Well there is already saturation and invasion by other specialists on esthetic, procedural, and laser dermatology. Artificial intelligence and machine learning shall be the new digital dermatology tools. Targeted therapies and personalized medicine as we understand the genetics and pathomechanism better will be the armamentarium of therapy. Bioinformatics shall throw more light on “Translational Medicine” for re-purposing of drugs for therapy. Quality of life improvement will be the main focus in addressing every disease except infectious diseases. The war between micro-organism and human race continues as funding for innovative antibiotics and anti-viral is meager now. Small molecules make a mark in many inflammatory diseases. Lack of emotional intelligence may push the relation between patients and treating physician to widen. Treating untreatable genodermatosis may be a reality in future with better understanding of genomics and mutations involved.

Dermatology is a dynamic, challenging, and ever-changing subject with lots of opportunity to excel in profession in serving community as a whole. Hope “Generation Next” dermatologists shall hoist the flag of excellence forever.