Dermatology (Skin)

Our Division of Dermatology provides coverage for urgent inpatient and outpatient dermatology issues and emergencies at St. Paul's Hospital and Mount Saint Joseph Hospital, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and cross-coverage of Vancouver Acute weekdays and evenings.

REFERRAL 

Download our referral form. 

CONTACT INFORMATION

Division of Dermatology (Administrative Office, Non-Clinical):
Address: 547-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6
Telephone: 604-682-2344 ext. 62676

PHC Dermatology Centre (Clinical Services):
Address: 518-1033 Davie Street, Vancouver, BC, V6E 1M5
Telephone: 604-806-9409
Fax: 604-806-9356

*For Clinic locations, please refer to the bottom of the page

FACULTY

Head:
Dr. Noelle Wong, Division Head & Clinical Instructor

Core Staff:
Dr. Sheila Au, Active Staff, Clinical Associate Professor
Dr. Bahar Bahrani, Active Staff, Clinical Instructor
Dr. Gurbir Dhadwal, Active Staff, Clinical Instructor
Dr. Diana Diao, Active Staff, Clinical Instructor
Dr. Gillian de Gannes, Active Staff, Clinical Assistant Professor
Dr. Chih-ho Hong, Active Staff, Clinical Assistant Professor
Dr. Angela Law, Active Staff, Clinical Instructor
Dr. Marisa Ponzo, Active Staff, Clinical Instructor
Dr. Aaron Wong, Active Staff, Clinical Assistant Professor
Dr. Noelle Wong, Active Staff and Head, Clinical Instructor
Dr. Simon (Se Mang) Wong, Active Staff, Clinical Associate Professor
Dr. Hanieh Zargham, Active Staff, Clinical Instructor

Consulting Staff:

Dr. Jan Dutz, Consulting Staff, Professor
Dr. Vincent Ho, Consulting Staff, Professor
Dr. Sunil Kalia, Consulting Staff, Associate Professor
Dr. C. Neil Kitson, Consulting Staff, Associate Professor
Dr. Harvey Lui, Consulting Staff, Professor
Dr. Youwen Zhou, Consulting Staff, Professor


TEACHING

The clinical services at St. Paul's Hospital and Mount Saint Joseph Hospital provide a venue for teaching medical students, residents and postgraduate fellows. Providence dermatologists provide continuous training to dermatology residents, as well as residents in internal medicine, family medicine, oral medicine and pathology, rheumatology, psychiatry, and allergy and immunology. Dermatologists participate as faculty in UBC-sponsored continuing medical education events in Dermatology and Dermatopathology for Family Physicians, Internists, Emergency Physicians, Pediatricians and Pathologists.


SERVICES (CLINIC DESCRIPTIONS & INCLUSION/EXCLUSION CRITERIA)

We are proud to offer unique sub-specialty clinics, some of which are not offered anywhere else in the province, including:

Please note, as all these clinics are sub-specialty clinics, they are BY REFERRAL ONLY. For Clinic locations, please refer to the bottom of the page.


Urgent Dermatology Clinic

LOCATION: St. Paul’s Hospital (Davie Street Location) or Mount Saint Joseph Hospital

Priority is given to urgent consultations within Providence Health Care. This clinic is a part of central intake, but appointment booking is completed at the individual site locations. Please mark which location is preferred but please note that the patient may be triaged to either the St. Paul's Hospital or Mount Saint Joseph Hospital Urgent Dermatology Clinic locations.

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

  • Conditions for which patients need to be medically seen within 1-3 weeks for their urgent skin issue and require expedited diagnosis and treatment (i.e. skin conditions which are highly symptomatic but not life, limb or organ-threatening)
  • If the patient needs to be seen within the next 1 week, the referring physician MUST call the Dermatology On Call Service via St. Paul's Hospital Locating to discuss
  • Patient has been informed that this is a rapid access clinic for diagnosis and stabilization of their skin condition. Patient has been informed that they will be discharged from clinic at the discretion of the dermatologist to be followed by their primary care provider/or other.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

  • Life, limb or organ-threatening condition – MUST call the Dermatology On Call Service via St. Paul’s Hospital Locating to discuss
  • Patient requires assessment within 1 week – MUST call the Dermatology On Call Service via St. Paul’s Hospital Locating to discuss
  • Has a current community dermatologist
  • Already been seen by a dermatologist for same condition recently
  • Pediatric patients
  • Chronic, stable conditions (i.e. hair, nail, acne conditions)


Med Safe Clinic

LOCATION: St. Paul’s Hospital (Davie Street Location)

Interdisciplinary clinic between Dermatology, Allergy and Clinical Pharmacology. Patients with a known history of severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs) are assessed. Research and clinical-based assays (lymphocyte toxicity assays, OX40 assay, HLA testing, pharmacogenomic testing, contact dermatitis testing) for clarification of the culprit drug are offered. Safe alternative drug options are provided for future use. Family members are also provided with counselling and testing as appropriate. 

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

  • Confirmed history of SCARs (i.e. SJS, TEN, DRESS, AGEP*)
  • Referred from specialist only (Internal Medicine, Allergy/Immunology, Infectious Disease, Rheumatology, Dermatology)
  • Family member with one of these conditions for counselling
  • Patients are medically stable and discharged from the hospital
  • Patients must have a history of a cutaneous eruption (skin rash)

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

  • This is not a clinic for patients with an acute drug eruption of any kind
  • This is not a clinic for inpatients to attend
  • Self-reported drug allergies

*Stevens-Johnson syndrome, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, Drug Eruption with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms, Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis.


Contact Dermatitis Clinic

LOCATION: St. Paul’s Hospital (Davie Street Location)

This clinic provides clinical assessments and extensive, comprehensive cutaneous patch testing for the evaluation of allergic contact dermatitis, including occupational dermatitis. Patients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis are initially triaged at the office of Dr. Gillian de Gannes. Once the patient is deemed appropriate for patch testing, the patient then undergoes the testing at the Contact Dermatitis Clinic within the PHC Dermatology Centre (St. Paul’s Hospital Davie Street Location). 

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

  • Referrals from Dermatologists


Dermatology and Rheumatology Clinic (DART Clinic)

LOCATION: St. Paul’s Hospital (Davie Street Location)

Patients with autoimmune rheumatic disease and concomitant skin manifestations are assessed and treated. The clinic is attended by both a rheumatologist and a dermatologist.

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

  • Must be referred by a Dermatologist or a Rheumatologist
  • Suspected to have cutaneous manifestations of a rheumatic disease or skin disease related to the diagnosis/management of rheumatic diseases.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

  • Pediatric patients


Phototherapy Intake Clinic

LOCATION: St. Paul’s Hospital (Davie Street Location)

At the Phototherapy Intake Clinic, narrow-band ultraviolet light (NB-UVB) is used 2-3 times per week to treat several resistant skin disorders including psoriasis, eczema, generalized pruritus and renal pruritus.

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

  • Adult patients (18+)
  • Patients with dermatology conditions that are treatable by NB-UVB
  • Referrals from Providence Health Care sites or Dermatologists
  • An initial consultation is done by the dermatologist at the clinic to assess for treatment suitability (if patient is not suitable for phototherapy they will be sent back to referring physician)

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

  • Pediatric patients
  • Patients who are taking medications that cause photosensitivity
  • Patients who have medical conditions that make them photosensitive (i.e. lupus)


Skin Health Liaison Clinic (SKiL Clinic)

LOCATION: Mount Saint Joseph Hospital

Clinic run by Dermatology and Psychiatry. This clinic serves patients suffering from skin and psychiatric diseases. Patients referred to this clinic are assessed by both a psychiatrist and dermatologist. This is a consult-only clinic, and the patient will be discharged from clinic to the care of the referring physician/primary care provider with recommendations regarding management.

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

  • Adults (18+)
  • Accept referrals from Dermatologists only
  • Consult only (patient care returns to referring dermatologist for ongoing dermatologic care)
  • Patient must be aware that they are being referred to see a dermatologist and a psychiatrist

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

  • Already under the care of a psychiatrist
  • Concomitant substance abuse and/or eating disorder
  • Prior missed appointment without explanation


HIV Dermatology Clinic

LOCATION: St. Paul’s Hospital (Burrard Building, 5th Floor)

This clinic is housed at the John Ruedy Clinic (JRC) at St. Paul’s Hospital. The specialized clinic caters to the unique and specific dermatologic needs of the HIV population.

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

  • Adult patients with HIV (from John Ruedy Clinic)
  • Referrals from community dermatologists, family physicians and infectious diseases physicians (from John Ruedy Clinic)

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

  • Pediatric patients


Skin Cancer in Renal Transplant Clinic (SCREEN Clinic)

LOCATION: St. Paul’s Hospital (Providence Building, Unit 6A)

This clinic addresses skin cancer issues unique to renal transplant patients. Dermatology is integrated into the St. Paul’s Hospital post-renal transplant clinic.

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

  • Must be post-renal transplant patient followed at Providence Health Care
  • The referring practitioner and patient must be aware that this clinic is for skin cancer assessment, screening and triaging only
  • Priority is given to patients who have a known current skin cancer or rapidly growing lesion/lesions suspicious for skin cancer
  • Pre-renal transplant patients at Providence Health Care with a possible active skin cancer or pre-cancer will be accepted

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

  • Non-renal transplant patient
  • Non-Providence Health Care renal transplant patient
  • Non-skin cancer related chronic skin issues in transplant patients


Surgical Dermatology Clinic

LOCATION: St. Paul’s Hospital (Davie Street Location)

This clinic offers expedited access to skin cancer excision surgery as well as other dermatologic surgery services (such as surgery for conditions like hidradenitis suppurativa).

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

  • Adult patients (18+)
  • Referrals from Dermatologists
  • Booking priority will be given to Providence Health Care patients*

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

  • Pediatric Patients

*Please note: Due to this being a teaching clinic, patient caseloads are kept lower to facilitate supervision and quality education of residents. Your patient referral may be re-directed to a surgical facility in the community run by the St. Paul’s physician in order to expedite their care and keep their wait time to a minimum.


RESEARCH

Dermatologists with a primary appointment at Providence undertake clinically based independent and collaborative research. Our consulting staff also supervise basic research programs in immunology, photobiology and the molecular biology of neoplastic and inflammatory skin diseases.

For more information on Dermatology, please explore these useful websites: 

University of British Columbia Department of Dermatology 
The Canadian Dermatology Association 


CLINIC LOCATIONS

St. Paul’s Hospital:

Davie Location
Clinics:  Urgent Dermatology Clinic, Med Safe Clinic, Contact Dermatitis Clinic, DART Clinic, Phototherapy Intake Clinic, Surgical Dermatology Clinic

518-1033 Davie Street
Vancouver, BC, V6E 1M5

Burrard Building, 5th Floor
Clinics: HIV Dermatology Clinic

547-1081 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6

Providence Building, Unit 6A
Clinics: SCREEN Clinic

547-1081 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6

Mount Saint Joseph Hospital:

Outpatient Clinic Area
Clinics: Urgent Dermatology Clinic, SKiL Clinic

3080 Prince Edward Street
Vancouver, BC, V5T 3N4