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Richard Sontheimer, MD, Dermatology, Murray, UT, University of Utah Health

RichardDSontheimerMD

Dermatology • Murray, UT

Univ. of Utah Department of Dermatology

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Summary

  • Dr. Sontheimer is currently working as a clinician educator in the Department of Dermatology at the University Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City, Utah. His four-decade academic career has included clinical research and patient care at 3 other USA academic healthcare centers–UT Southwestern in Dallas, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine in which he served as either the Vice-Chairman or Chairman of the Departments of Dermatology.

    His career focus has been on the etiopathogenesis of the cutaneous manifestations of autoimmune connective tissue diseases, especially lupus erythematosus (LE) and dermatomyositis (DM). He was a member of the team lead by his mentor, Dr. James N Gilliam, that first described in 1979 subacute cutaneous LE (SCLE) as a new photosensitive, non-scarring, immunologically-distinct cutaneous LE subset. Since then, Dr. Sontheimer has maintained a subspecialty academic focus on the evolving clinical concept of SCLE. This most recently has included clinical research contributions relating to drug-induced SCLE.

    In addition, Dr. Sontheimer’s work in the early 1990s at UT Southwestern focused needed attention on an orphaned cutaneous subset of DM -- clinically-amyopathic DM (syn. DM sine myositis, skin-predominant DM). That work has led to international recognition that patients with clinically-amyopathic DM are at increased risk for developing potentially-fatal interstitial lung disease marked by the presence of circulating MDA5 autoantibodies.

    Reflecting his long interest and focus in rheumatologic skin disease, Dr. Sontheimer was the lead co-editor of the first textbook dedicated exclusively to the skin manifestations of rheumatologic disease (Cutaneous Manifestations of the Rheumatic Diseases. First edition. Sontheimer RD and Provost TT, Editors. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, MD, 1996 [Second edition published in 2004]).

Education & Training

  • University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
    University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterResidency, Dermatology, 1978 - 1979
  • University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
    University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterPost-Doctoral Fellowship, Immunodermatology, 1976 - 1978
  • University of Utah Health
    University of Utah HealthResidency, Internal Medicine, 1974 - 1976
  • University of Utah Health
    University of Utah HealthInternship, Internal Medicine, 1972 - 1973
  • University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
    University of Texas Southwestern Medical SchoolClass of 1972
  • Tulane University
    Tulane UniversityBS, Pre-Med, 1964 - 1968

Certifications & Licensure

  • UT State Medical License
    UT State Medical License 2008 - 2026
  • TX State Medical License
    TX State Medical License 1976 - 2010
  • OK State Medical License
    OK State Medical License 2005 - 2010
  • IA State Medical License
    IA State Medical License 1998 - 2005
  • LA State Medical License
    LA State Medical License 1973 - 1984
  • American Board of Dermatology Dermatology
  • American Board of Dermatology Dermatological Immunology/Diagnostic & Laboratory Immunology
  • American Board of Internal Medicine Internal Medicine

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

  • Master Dermatologist Award American Academy of Dermatology, 2023
  • Masters Designation Award American College of Rheumatology, 2017
  • Lifetime Achievement Award Lupus Foundation of America, Utah Chapter, 2016
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Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Press Mentions

  • Dermatologist, Rheumatologist Discuss Refractory Cutaneous Lupus Case
    Dermatologist, Rheumatologist Discuss Refractory Cutaneous Lupus CaseSeptember 5th, 2022
  • Dermcast.tv Dermatology Podcasts
    Dermcast.tv Dermatology PodcastsMarch 24th, 2016

Grant Support

  • Establishment of a UVA 1 Phototherapy Unit for the Treatment of Scleroderma Spectrum DisordersSkaggs Foundation2010–2011
  • Mechanisms Of Cutaneous Injury In Lupus ErythematosusNational Institute Of Arthritis And Musculoskeletal And Skin Diseases1998–2001
  • Immunodermatology Fellowship Training ProgramNational Institute Of Arthritis And Musculoskeletal And Skin Diseases1990–1998
  • Mechanisms Of Cutaneous Injury In Lupus ErythematosusNational Institute Of Arthritis And Musculoskeletal And Skin Diseases1986–1997
  • Research Career Development Award. "Mechanisms in the Pathogenesis of Cutaneous LE"National Institutes of Health1987–1992
  • Mechanisms Of Cutaneous Injury In Lupus ErythematosusNational Institute Of Arthritis And Musculoskeletal And Skin Diseases1987–1991
  • Immune Mechanisms in Skin Disease, Pathogenetic Mechanisms in Murine Graft-versus-Host Skin DiseaseNational Institutes of Health1983–1988
  • Mechanisms Of Cutaneous Injury In Lupus ErythematosusNat Inst Of Arthritis, Diabetes, Digestive &Kidney Diseases1985
  • Lymphocyte Mediated Injury in Lichenoid Skin Diseases, Clinical Investigator AwardNational Institutes of Health1980–1983
  • Fellowship-Immunopathologic Mechanisms in Discoid Lupus ErythematosusDermatology Foundation1976–1978

Committees

  • Committee Chairperson, Faculty Engagement Committee, University of Utah Department of Dermatology 2015 - 2017
  • Member, Working Committee, 2017 European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology Classification Criteria for Adult and Juvenile Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies and Their Major Subgroups 2012 - 2017
  • Member, 3rd International Conference on Cutaneous LE and Related Disorders, Edinburgh, Scotland, Organizing Committee 2012 - 2013
  • Committee Head, Planning Committee, Practical Dermatology for Primary Care CME Course, University of Utah Department of Dermatology 2010 - 2017
  • Member, 2nd International Conference on Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus. Kyoto, Japan, Organizing Committee 2008 - 2009
  • Member, Advisory Board, Baylor Research Institute, Lupus Center of Research Translation 2006 - 2011
  • Member, 1st International Conference on Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus. Düsseldorf, Germany, Organizing Committee 2004 - 2004
  • Member, Board of Directors, Society of Investigative Dermatology 2003 - 2008
  • Member, Research Committee, The Myositis Association 2002 - 2005
  • Member, Leaders Society Advisory Committee, Dermatology Foundation 2002 - 2005
  • Member, Medical Advisory Board, The Myositis Association 2001 - 2004
  • Chairman, Steering Committee, Dr. Christian E. Radcliffe Professorship in Dermatology Endowment Campaign, University of Iowa School of Medicine (campaign was successful in establishing a $500,000.00 Endowed Professorship in Dermatology) 2000 - 2003
  • Grant Reviewer, National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal & Skin Diseases (NIAMS) Pilot and Feasibility Project Reviewer - Yale and UT Southwestern 2000 - 2003
  • Member, Ad Hoc Committee to establish a combined dermatology–internal medicine residency training program, Medical Dermatology Society 1999 - 2000
  • Chairman, Steering Committee, James N. Gilliam Endowment Campaign, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (campaign was successful in establishing a $500,000.00 Endowed Chair in Dermatology 1994 - 1997
  • Founding Chairman, Skin Disease Study Group, American College of Rheumatology 1994 - 1996
  • Member, Medical Advisory Board, Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation 1991 - 1999
  • Member, Medical Advisory Board, Lupus Foundation of America 1987 - 1990
  • Member, Grant Review Committee, Lupus Foundation of America 1985 - 1996
  • Resident Fellow Member, Board of Directors, Society of Investigative Dermatology 1978 - 1980

Professional Memberships

Hospital Affiliations

Industry Relationships

  • Consultant, CelgeneAd hoc consultancy for drug development strategies for autoimmune skin disorders2016 - Present

Dr. Richard Sontheimer, Dr. Richard Sontheimer, MD, Dr. R Sontheimer, Dr. Richard D Sontheimer