New UAMS Dermatologist Sees Patients for Complex Skin Conditions

Arkansas residents with difficult-to-treat skin conditions can now access specialized care from a new addition to the UAMS Health team. Emily Coleman, M.D., has taken a position as an assistant professor in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine. She is currently seeing patients in the UAMS Dermatology Clinic, located on the second floor of the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute in Little Rock. A doctor's referral is required for anyone seeking an appointment with Dr. Coleman.

Her practice focuses on complex medical dermatology. She treats patients with connective tissue diseases, hidradenitis suppurativa, psoriasis, and autoimmune blistering diseases. Her schedule also allows time for general dermatology, where she manages common issues such as acne vulgaris and atopic dermatitis. Beyond patient care, Coleman is involved in the education of medical students and residents. She mentors aspiring dermatologists as they prepare their applications to residency programs.

Sara Shalin, M.D., Ph.D., who chairs the dermatology department, expressed enthusiasm for Coleman's arrival. "I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Coleman and the enthusiasm she brings to patient care and resident and medical student education," Shalin said. The department chair noted that Coleman's background in complex medical dermatology, including hidradenitis suppurativa and cutaneous lymphoma, will help the team continue providing thoughtful care to patients with significant skin disease.

Coleman moved to Little Rock from Tulane University in New Orleans, where she served as an assistant professor of dermatology. Before that role, she completed her dermatology residency at the University of Vermont. She earned her medical degree from Yale School of Medicine in 2019. During her time at Yale, she worked as a research assistant in the dermatology department and published numerous studies in onco-dermatology. Her undergraduate studies in sociology and anthropology took place at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, where she also played on the women's varsity soccer team and worked as a resident assistant.

UAMS operates as the state's only health sciences university. It includes colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health, along with a graduate school. The system maintains hospitals in Little Rock and Bryant, an orthopaedic hospital, and a main campus in Little Rock. It also runs a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville and a statewide network of other regional campuses. The university manages seven institutes, including the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute and the Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute. UAMS Health encompasses the clinical enterprise, including affiliated hospitals in Pine Bluff, Helena-West Helena, Mena, and Warren. It is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in Arkansas. The university employs about 12,000 people, including 1,200 physicians who provide care at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s, the VA Medical Center, and Baptist Health. The institution currently enrolls 3,813 students and 1,030 medical residents and fellows, plus two dental residents.