Research Fellows

Bianca Ituarte, 2023-2024

Medical Education: University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine

Sierra Thomas, 2023-2024

Medical Education: University of Utah School of Medicine

Mitchell Taylor, 2023-2024

Medical Education: Creighton University School of Medicine

Priscilla Rosa-Nieves, 2022-2023

Medical Education: Ponce Health Sciences University, Puerto Rico

Katie Plampton, 2022-2023

Medical Education: University of Minnesota Medical School - Twin Cities

Elizabeth Mata, 2021-22

Medical education: University of Arizona College of Medicine Tucson; slated to graduate with Distinction in Commitment to Underserved Communities, Distinction in Medical Spanish, and Distinction in Research.

Divya Sharma, MD, 2023-2024

Dr. Sharma completed his medical education at Northeast Ohio Medical University after earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Kent State University. He has a keen interest in environmental dermatology, skin cancer prevention and genetics, medical dermatology, and the education of residents and medical students. Sharma is dedicated to advancing the field through both clinical practice and research. 

Elliot Blue, MD, 2021-22

Dr. Blue’s medical journey began after graduating summa cum laude from Augustana University, where he received a bachelor's degree in biology. He attended medical school at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. As a medical student, Dr. Blue was a Scholarship Pathways Scholar and received a Certificate in Bioethics as well as the Excellence in Neurosciences (Bioethics) Award. Dr. Blue completed a preliminary medicine internship in internal medicine at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. Throughout his medical training, Dr. Blue has prioritized service and research. He has published scholarly work in the areas of medical dermatology, dermatopathology, and stem cells and regenerative medicine. Additionally, he has facilitated numerous poster and oral presentations, many focused on dermatologic topics. Born and raised in South Dakota, Dr. Blue is especially interested in dermatologic access to care as well as cutaneous oncology.

Erica Lee, MD, 2020-21

Dr. Lee graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California with a degree in neuroscience and health promotion, and disease prevention. Dr. Lee was a USC Presidential Scholar. She attended medical school at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii, where she was a scholarship recipient and was heavily involved in service, leadership and research. While a medical student, Dr. Lee completed an advanced research experience with Dr. Jashin Wu at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles, Department of Dermatology. She completed her intern year of residency in internal medicine as a prelim at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. Dr. Lee has published extensively in the medical literature, including over 42 research manuscripts and two book chapters.

Dillon Clarey, MD, 2019-20

Dr. Clarey graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in biological sciences and a business administration minor. He attended medical school at UNMC, earning a Regent scholarship and being elected into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He completed his intern year of residency at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. While there, he was very active in medical student mentorship and teaching. His research interests include increasing dermatologic access to care in underserved areas, teledermatology, and complex medical dermatology. He completed his dermatology residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center residency program in June 2023.

Shauna Higgins, MD, 2018-19

Before coming to UNMC, Dr. Higgins was the postdoctoral skin cancer clinical research fellow at the University of Southern California. While there, she authored 32 publications and three book chapters and presented over 30 abstracts via poster or oral presentation. Dr. Higgins graduated from Brown University, where she studied human biology and business economics while simultaneously studying photography at the Rhode Island School of Design. She was an exceptional medical student at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and completed her internship at the Yale-Waterbury Internal Medicine Program. She has a special interest in complementary and alternative medicine in dermatology and in studying dermatologic conditions in skin of color. She completed her dermatology residency at the University of Southern California + LA County Hospitals residency program in June 2022.

University of Nebraska Medical Center
Germline genomic study in immunosuppressed skin cancer vs non-immunosuppressed individuals with skin cancer with Dr. Ashley Wysong

University of Nebraska Medical Center
Clinical case study skin of color SCC vs Caucasian: staging, outcomes with Dr. Erin Barrett

University of Nebraska Medical Center
Clinical and historical review of morbilliform drug and DRESS on inpatient service with Dr. Corey Georgesen

University of Nebraska Medical Center
Nutritional components on the prevention of melanoma: A Systematic Review with Dr. Adam Sutton

Rush Medical College
Comorbidities associated with autoimmune bullous disease with Dr. Erin Barrett

2022