RichardDSontheimerMD

Dermatology • Salt Lake City, UT

Univ. of Utah Department of Dermatology

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Office
50 N Medical Dr
Salt Lake City, UT 84132
Phone+1 801-587-6340

Fax+1 801-587-6346

Summary

Dr. Sontheimer is currently working as a clinician educator in the Department of Dermatology at the University Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City, Utah. His four-decade academic career has included clinical research and patient care at 3 other USA academic healthcare centers–UT Southwestern in Dallas, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine in which he served as either the Vice-Chairman or Chairman of the Departments of Dermatology.

His career focus has been on the etiopathogenesis of the cutaneous manifestations of autoimmune connective tissue diseases, especially lupus erythematosus (LE) and dermatomyositis (DM). He was a member of the team lead by his mentor, Dr. James N Gilliam, that first described in 1979 subacute cutaneous LE (SCLE) as a new photosensitive, non-scarring, immunologically-distinct cutaneous LE subset. Since then, Dr. Sontheimer has maintained a subspecialty academic focus on the evolving clinical concept of SCLE. This most recently has included clinical research contributions relating to drug-induced SCLE.

In addition, Dr. Sontheimer’s work in the early 1990s at UT Southwestern focused needed attention on an orphaned cutaneous subset of DM -- clinically-amyopathic DM (syn. DM sine myositis, skin-predominant DM). That work has led to international recognition that patients with clinically-amyopathic DM are at increased risk for developing potentially-fatal interstitial lung disease marked by the presence of circulating MDA5 autoantibodies.

Reflecting his long interest and focus in rheumatologic skin disease, Dr. Sontheimer was the lead co-editor of the first textbook dedicated exclusively to the skin manifestations of rheumatologic disease (Cutaneous Manifestations of the Rheumatic Diseases. First edition. Sontheimer RD and Provost TT, Editors. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, MD, 1996 [Second edition published in 2004]).

Education & Training

University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterResidency, Dermatology, 1978 - 1979
University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterPost-Doctoral Fellowship, 1976 - 1978
University of Utah HealthResidency, Internal Medicine, 1974 - 1976
University of Utah HealthInternship, Internal Medicine, 1972 - 1973
University of Texas Southwestern Medical SchoolClass of 1972
Tulane UniversityBS, Pre-Med, 1964 - 1968

Certifications & Licensure

UT State Medical License 2008 - 2026
OK State Medical License 2005 - 2010
TX State Medical License 1976 - 2010
IA State Medical License 1998 - 2005
LA State Medical License 1973 - 1984
American Board of Dermatology Dermatology
American Board of Dermatology Dermatological Immunology/Diagnostic & Laboratory Immunology
American Board of Internal Medicine Internal Medicine

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

Master Dermatologist Award American Academy of Dermatology, 2023
Masters Designation Award American College of Rheumatology, 2017
Lifetime Achievement Award Lupus Foundation of America, Utah Chapter, 2016
Lifetime Achievement Award Medical Dermatology Society, 2013
Fleischaker Endowed Chair in Dermatology University of Oklahoma School of Medicine, 2005-2009
Dr. L. Marquis Memento Award for Best Presentation by an International Guest 33rd National Conference of Indian Association of Dermatologists Venerologists and Leprologists, New Delhi, India, 2005
John S. Strauss Endowed Chair in Dermatology University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, 1998-2003
Clinical Investigator Award National Institutes of Health, 1977
Research Career Development Award National Institutes of Health, 1987
Best Doctors in America Woodward/White, Inc., 1992
Elected member Association of American Physicians, 2001
America's Top Doctors Castle Connolly, 2001
Elected member American Dermatological Association, 1991
Elected member American Society of Clinical Investigation, 1989
CMS Meaningful Use Stage 1 Certification EpicCare Ambulatory EMR, Epic Systems Corporation, 2013
Elected Member The American Society for Clinical Investigation, 1989
Fellow (FAAD) American Academy of Dermatology
Fellow (FACR) American College of Rheumatology
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Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Distinctive clinical features are found in dermatomyositis patients with skin of color.
Michelle Lee, L Steven Brown, Richard Sontheimer, Benjamin F Chong
Archives of Dermatological Research. 2024-11-26
Questions raised by a case of adult-onset linear nodular scleroderma.
Christina Marcelus, Amber Jimenez, Jamie Zussman, Christopher B Hansen, Richard D Sontheimer
Dermatology Online Journal. 2022-10-15
Darier disease, radiation therapy, and herpesvirus -- an unfortunate triad.
J Skylar Westerdahl, John Grant, Richard D. Sontheimer, Jamie Zussman
Dermatology Online Journal. 2021-08-15

Press Mentions

$Dermatologist, Rheumatologist Discuss Refractory Cutaneous Lupus Case$
Dermatologist, Rheumatologist Discuss Refractory Cutaneous Lupus CaseSeptember 5th, 2022
Dermcast.tv Dermatology PodcastsMarch 24th, 2016

Grant Support

Establishment of a UVA 1 Phototherapy Unit for the Treatment of Scleroderma Spectrum DisordersSkaggs Foundation2010–2011
Mechanisms Of Cutaneous Injury In Lupus ErythematosusNational Institute Of Arthritis And Musculoskeletal And Skin Diseases1998–2001
Immunodermatology Fellowship Training ProgramNational Institute Of Arthritis And Musculoskeletal And Skin Diseases1990–1998
Mechanisms Of Cutaneous Injury In Lupus ErythematosusNational Institute Of Arthritis And Musculoskeletal And Skin Diseases1986–1997
Research Career Development Award. "Mechanisms in the Pathogenesis of Cutaneous LE"National Institutes of Health1987–1992
Mechanisms Of Cutaneous Injury In Lupus ErythematosusNational Institute Of Arthritis And Musculoskeletal And Skin Diseases1987–1991
Immune Mechanisms in Skin Disease, Pathogenetic Mechanisms in Murine Graft-versus-Host Skin DiseaseNational Institutes of Health1983–1988
Mechanisms Of Cutaneous Injury In Lupus ErythematosusNat Inst Of Arthritis, Diabetes, Digestive &Kidney Diseases1985
Lymphocyte Mediated Injury in Lichenoid Skin Diseases, Clinical Investigator AwardNational Institutes of Health1980–1983
Fellowship-Immunopathologic Mechanisms in Discoid Lupus ErythematosusDermatology Foundation1976–1978

Committees

Committee Chairperson, Faculty Engagement Committee, University of Utah Department of Dermatology 2015 - 2017
Member, Working Committee, 2017 European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology Classification Criteria for Adult and Juvenile Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies and Their Major Subgroups 2012 - 2017
Member, 3rd International Conference on Cutaneous LE and Related Disorders, Edinburgh, Scotland, Organizing Committee 2012 - 2013
Committee Head, Planning Committee, Practical Dermatology for Primary Care CME Course, University of Utah Department of Dermatology 2010 - 2017
Member, 2nd International Conference on Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus. Kyoto, Japan, Organizing Committee 2008 - 2009
Member, Advisory Board, Baylor Research Institute, Lupus Center of Research Translation 2006 - 2011
Member, 1st International Conference on Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus. Düsseldorf, Germany, Organizing Committee 2004 - 2004
Member, Board of Directors, Society of Investigative Dermatology 2003 - 2008
Member, Leaders Society Advisory Committee, Dermatology Foundation 2002 - 2005
Member, Research Committee, The Myositis Association 2002 - 2005
Member, Medical Advisory Board, The Myositis Association 2001 - 2004
Grant Reviewer, National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal & Skin Diseases (NIAMS) Pilot and Feasibility Project Reviewer - Yale and UT Southwestern 2000 - 2003
Chairman, Steering Committee, Dr. Christian E. Radcliffe Professorship in Dermatology Endowment Campaign, University of Iowa School of Medicine (campaign was successful in establishing a $500,000.00 Endowed Professorship in Dermatology) 2000 - 2003
Member, Ad Hoc Committee to establish a combined dermatology–internal medicine residency training program, Medical Dermatology Society 1999 - 2000
Chairman, Steering Committee, James N. Gilliam Endowment Campaign, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (campaign was successful in establishing a $500,000.00 Endowed Chair in Dermatology 1994 - 1997
Founding Chairman, Skin Disease Study Group, American College of Rheumatology 1994 - 1996
Member, Medical Advisory Board, Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation 1991 - 1999
Member, Medical Advisory Board, Lupus Foundation of America 1987 - 1990
Member, Grant Review Committee, Lupus Foundation of America 1985 - 1996
Resident Fellow Member, Board of Directors, Society of Investigative Dermatology 1978 - 1980