Department of Dermatology

Laura Korb Ferris, MD, PhD

  • Professor
  • Professor, University of Pittsburgh Clinical and Translational Science Institute
  • Director of Clinical Trials, UPMC Department of Dermatology
Laura Ferris, MD, PhD, joined the Department of Dermatology in 2006, after completing her Dermatology Residency and Investigative Dermatology Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh.  Dr. Ferris earned her undergraduate degree in biology, from Marquette University; she completed her PhD in Immunology at Johns Hopkins Medical School, and received her medical degree from the University of Maryland. 
 
Dr. Ferris practices general medical dermatology with a special focus on skin cancer and psoriasis. She also directs the Clinical Trials Unit in the Department of Dermatology and has served as a principal investigator on more than 30 clinical trials in Dermatology, primarily in the area of new treatments for psoriasis. She has been an invited speaker at several national and international meetings and has published more than 60 book chapters and articles in the peer-reviewed literature. 

Professional Membership

  • American Academy of Dermatology, Fellow
  • Pittsburgh Academy of Dermatology
  • PA Academy of Dermatology
  • Allegheny County Medical Society
  • ​PA Medical Society

Media Appearances 

  • 90.5FM WESA – Pitt Researchers Create Program to Diagnose Skin Lesions (2015)
  • The Today Show, Health & Wellness – 7 rashes you shouldn’t ignore: Warning signs from your skin (2015)
  • Pittsburgh Post- Gazette – Company Develops Mobile App to Detect Skin Problems (2015)
  • Good Morning America – Apps Used for Melanoma Detection Under Scrutiny (2015)
  • NBC News – FTC Targets App Marketers That Claim to Detect Melanoma (2015)
  • Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Pitt study suggests dermatologists give contraception advice (2015)
  • Pittsburgh Tribune Review – Dermatology worker gets public sunscreen dispenser installed at Mt. Lebanon Park (2015)
  • Pittsburgh Tribune Review – Skin Cancer Screenings, awareness event planned by UPMC St. Margaret (2014)
  • Wall Street Journal -- Apps Aim to Detect Skin Cancer (2013)

Education & Training

  • B.S., Marquette University
  • Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University
  • M.D., University of Maryland

Representative Publications

Dr. Ferris' publications can be reviewed at the National Library of Medicine’s public database.

Research Interests

Psoriasis, Atopic dermatitis, Melanoma and skin cancer