April Armstrong Lab: About the PI
About the PI
April Wang Armstrong, MD, MPH is Professor and Chief of Dermatology at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). She is an internationally renowned dermatologist and clinical researcher. She is dedicated to reducing the burden of chronic skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa, conditions that affect hundreds of millions worldwide. Professor Armstrong’s passion lies in closing the gap between innovation and access. As a federally funded investigator, her research has three pillars:
- Advancing new systemic and topical therapies for inflammatory skin diseases
- Defining meaningful treatment goals and addressing associated comorbidities
- Expanding patient access through technology-enabled health care delivery
She has conducted over 150 clinical trials and published more than 600 scientific articles, with support from the NIH, AHRQ, PCORI, the Dermatology Foundation, and the National Psoriasis Foundation. Professor Armstrong is also a dedicated educator, having mentored medical students, residents and research fellows who now serve communities across the globe. Her training emphasizes scientific excellence as well as compassion and commitment to caring for underserved patients. She has received institutional and national teaching awards for her educational efforts, reflecting her belief that investing in the next generation of physicians multiplies the impact of innovation and ensures that the benefits of new therapies reach those most in need.
Prior to being Chief of Dermatology at UCLA, Professor Armstrong served as Associate Dean for Clinical Research at the University of Southern California (USC), where she led initiatives to improve research infrastructure and streamline processes to provide an efficient environment for research. She also held two additional prominent leadership positions at USC, Vice Chair in the Department of Dermatology and Director of Clinical Research Support at the Southern California Clinical and Translational Research Institute. Prior to USC, Professor Armstrong served as Vice Chair and Director of Clinical Trials and Outcomes Units at the University of California Davis and the University of Colorado.
Professor Armstrong has a long history of service to the medical profession on a national and international level. She served as:
- Board member of the American Academy of Dermatology
- Immediate Past Chair of the Medical Board at the National Psoriasis Foundation
- Co-President of the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA)
- Councilor for the International Eczema Council and International Psoriasis Council
- Board member for the International Dermatology Outcome Measures and the California Society of Dermatology and Dermatological Surgery (CalDerm)
- Editorial board member of JAMA Dermatology
- Editorial board member of JAAD and other journals
- Past President of the American DermatoEpidemiology Network and Sacramento Valley Dermatology Society
Professor Armstrong obtained her medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed dermatology residency at the Harvard Combined Dermatology Residency Program. She also obtained a Master of Public Health degree from Harvard School of Public Health.