Home

About the Awards

The Recipients

Faculty Award Dinner Photos

2001 Achievement in Clinical Research Award

Sewon Kang, M.D., associate professor, Dermatology
and Gary Fisher, Ph.D., associate professor, Dermatology

Sewon Kang, M.D.	Gary Fisher, M.D.

Drs. Sewon Kang and Gary Fisher were chosen for the University of Michigan Medical School Clinical Research Award because of their strong commitment and dedication in the area of dermatological research. They serve many critical roles including clinician, teacher, director of research units, and clinical research investigator. Their profound intellect, uncompromising work ethic, and positive, energetic creativity allow them to excel in these roles.

The emphasis of the research projects that Dr. Kang and Fisher have collaborated focuses in three main areas: 1) molecular basis of retinoid action in human skin; 2) molecular mechanisms by which

UV light causes photoaging, where they are undoubtedly two of the top investigators in this field; and 3) molecular basis of chronological aging of human skin. These areas of research are among the most important in modern investigative dermatology. Their studies have elucidated the molecular basis of the pharmacological actions of vitamin A in human skin. Drs. Kang and Fisher are engaged in studies to understand how ultraviolet irradiation from the sun damages human skin and leads to premature skin aging.

Drs. Kang and Fisher have a strong, unique ability to work in concert. This ability is evident in their co-authorship of multiple publications in peer reviewed journals; collaboration on NIH grants such as Dr. Kang's K-24 and two NIH RO1 grants currently under review; and Clinical Pharmacology Unit research project funded by pharmaceutical companies. The quality and quantity of research ranks their dermatology research program as one of the best, if not the best, in the country. Both Drs. Kang and Fisher appreciate the complexities involved in collaborating to achieve first class translational research making them an ideal physician/scientist team for this award.

Dr. Kang graduated from Williams College in 1980 with a Bachelor of Art's degree in Chemistry. He then went on to the University of Michigan School of Public Health to obtain his M.P.H. in Epidemiology in 1982 and the University of Michigan Medical School to complete his M.D. in 1987. In 1988, Dr. Kang completed his Internship in Internal Medicine at the University of Rochester Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York. Dr. Kang then spent several years in Boston, Massachusetts. He completed a Research Fellowship in 1990, a Residency in 1992 from the Department of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School associated with Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Kang was the Longwood Chief Medical Resident at Brigham & Women's, Beth Israel, Boston Children's, Dana Farber Cancer Institute associated with the Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School. In 1992, Dr. Kang joined the University of Michigan faculty as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Dermatology and was promoted to Associate Professor in 1998.

Dr. Fisher began his career at the University of California, San Diego where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology in 1974. He then went on to Cornell University upon which he received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry. From that point, he came to the University of Michigan where he was a Research Investigator from 1985-1989, Assistant Research Scientist 1989-1994, Associate Research Scientist from 1994-1997, Senior Associate Research Scientist from 1997-1999, and most recently Associate Professor from 1999-present, all in the Department of Dermatology.