The endowed chair, established in 1991 through private gifts to the UI Foundation, honors the career of John Strauss, MD, professor emeritus in the UI Department of Dermatology who served as department head from 1978 to 1998.

Fairley is noted for her skills in dermatology research, patient care and medical education. Her research interests include blistering diseases of the skin, epidermal (relating to the outer layer of the skin) cell physiology, and dermatology education and training. Her clinical interests include psoriasis, clinical immunology, malignant and benign tumors, and autoimmune and allergic diseases.

She began her tenure as head of the UI Department of Dermatology in January 2007. Prior to that, she was a professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, where she also directed the residency program in dermatology.

"Since her arrival earlier this year, Dr. Fairley has demonstrated all of the attributes that made her such a wonderful person to lead our Department of Dermatology," said Jean Robillard, M.D., dean of the Carver College of Medicine and vice president for medical affairs at the UI. "This endowed chair, honoring Dr. John Strauss, one of the seminal national figures in dermatology, recognizes those attributes."

Fairley earned a medical degree in 1977 from the University of Michigan Medical School, where she also completed a residency in dermatology and a fellowship in cellular and molecular dermatology.

Janet Fairley, MD

For more information:

Department of Dermatology

Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine

Fairley Named
Head of Dermatology