Howard I. Maibach: extraordinary leadership in integrating key concepts underpinning our understanding of percutaneous absorption and occupational dermatology.
The purpose of the present article is to briefly highlight some contributions of Prof. Howard I. Maibach to the field of dermatology. After a few introducing remarks regarding Howard's personal career, the article specifically reviews contributions to the understanding of percutaneous absorption and to occupational dermatology. He and his companions/coworkers established and introduced experimental prerequisites to better study and understand percutaneous absorption - both in vitro and in vivo. Not less influential was his contribution to occupational dermatology acting as a founding member of the International Contact Dermatitis Research Group and coinaugurating the North American Contact Dermatitis Group. These groups have been very active ever since. As an academic teacher, he inspired young colleagues to perform original research work and to establish their own working groups. He has done this most successfully with many fellows who worked with him over the years, and who are now leading departments or companies dedicated to dermatological research all over the world. Probably this is his most important and lasting achievement.
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. christian.surber @ unibas.ch
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D000818:Animals; D003880:Dermatology / Q000266:history; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000266:history*; D009787:Occupational Medicine / Q000266:history; D012106:Research / Q000266:history / Q000458:organization & administration; D012869:Skin Absorption; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000266:history / Q000628:therapy*