JAK-iNSTITUTE Symposium
The conference kicked off with the highly anticipated JAK-iNSTITUTE Symposium, a deep dive into JAK inhibitors and their growing role in dermatologic care. After a symposium lunch, the educational sessions began in earnest.
Dr. Walter Liszewski opened the CME programming with JAK Inhibitors in Immunologically Mediated Skin Disorders, reviewing the pathophysiology of JAK inhibitors, their notorious black box warnings, existing and pipeline therapies, and practical tips for prescribing JAKs in clinical practice.
Then, Dr. Lisa Swanson presented JAK Inhibitors Efficacy, Safety, & Patient Selection, guiding attendees through the efficacy of JAK inhibitors across various inflammatory and autoimmune skin conditions, their safety profiles, and strategies for discussing safety with patients and families. She also explored what characteristics make a patient an ideal candidate for a JAK inhibitor and what factors should give pause.
A dessert symposium and brief coffee break gave attendees a chance to recharge before the afternoon panel sessions.
The panel Lab Monitoring for JAK Inhibitors featured Eileen Cheever, PA-C, and Dr. Walter Liszewski, who covered baseline and ongoing lab monitoring recommendations for patients on JAK inhibitors. They provided useful insights on identifying and managing common laboratory abnormalities and assessing patient-specific risk factors that APPs often encounter in clinic.
Following, the panel "Conversations & Patient Counseling" brought together Buchi Neita, PA-C, and Dr. Lisa Swanson to develop practical communication strategies for addressing patient concerns about boxed warnings, monitoring requirements, and long-term safety, as well as counseling approaches for setting realistic treatment expectations.
The interactive JAK Workshop: Case-Based Roundtables engaged attendees with real-world dermatology cases. Facilitated by Eileen Cheever, PA-C, Victoria Garcia-Albea, NP, Keri Holyoak, PA-C, and Buchi Neita, PA-C, the workshop applied evidence-based decision-making to identify appropriate candidates for JAK inhibitor therapy, navigate clinical challenges, and incorporate risk assessment and monitoring strategies into case management.
The symposium concluded with a SkinSync Live panel discussion: Mastering Melanin: Contemporary Management of Hyperpigmentation Disorders, featuring Eileen Cheever, PA-C, and Veronica Richardson, NP. The panel reviewed new global consensus recommendations for diagnosis and management of common melanin hyperpigmentation disorders, the expanding role of photoprotection (including visible light and tinted sunscreens), and practical treatment algorithms for melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, periorbital hyperpigmentation, ADMH, and other challenging pigmentary disorders.
The JAK-iNSTITUTE Symposium concluded, and attendees gathered for the Ascending Leaders Circle for a brief but meaningful networking moment.
The day ended with an evening arrival event with exhibitors in the Port of San Diego Ballroom. Attendees gathered with exhibitors and peers while enjoying appetizers and beverages, a wonderful way to ease into the conference and begin building connections.
Please check HERE for daily photos from the conference.
