Dr. John DiGiovanna (FAC)

Dr. John DiGiovanna, of Bethesda; Feb. 6, of metastatic pancreatic cancer. In addition to the practice of dermatology, he was a senior research physician at the National Cancer Institute, where his research involved inherited skin disorders, particularly those causing skin cancer. He was involved in pioneering studies of use of oral retinoids for treatment of acne and for prevention of skin cancer. He also served as head of the Dermatology Clinical Research Unit in the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. He was a longtime consultant to the Federal Drug Administration over three decades. In addition, he served as the director of dermatopharmacology and professor in the department of dermatology at the Warren Alpert Medical School, where he was an investigator on more than 70 clinical trials. He coauthored more than 200 scientific articles and 33 book chapters, and he lectured widely at national and international conferences. He was a member of several prestigious dermatology societies, including the American Dermatological Association, the American Academy of Dermatology, and the Washington, D.C. Dermatology Society. He enjoyed traveling, gardening, the theater, being with his close friends and endlessly talking about science and medicine. He is survived by his husband, Julian Trail; two sisters; a brother; and several nieces and nephews.