TUSM Professor Appointed to International Board
Dermatology Professor Dr. A. Razzaque Ahmed was recently elected to serve as Executive Vice President of the Board of Directors of the International Society of Dermatology (ISD). The honor was bestowed by a gathering of Dr. Ahmed’s peers in June, where the ISD held its International Congress of Dermatology (ICD) in Rome.
In addition to receiving the leadership appointment at the June conference, Dr. Ahmed was instrumental in producing and leading the first full day of panel discussions, recruiting 18 guest speakers from 13 different countries to present on the topic of autoimmunity. Dr. Ahmed is currently working to transform the transcripts of those discussions into a book, which will be the first of its kind.
Dr. Ahmed is among the most influential dermatologists of his time, internationally recognized for his contributions to the fields of dermatology, immunology, immunochemistry, and molecular immuno-genetics. An expert in the diagnosis and treatment of blistering diseases, Dr. Ahmed is credited with having pioneered the use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and rituximab therapies, and his protocols have resulted in producing clinical remissions lasting more than 20 years off all therapy.
Fei-Shiuann (Clarissa) Yang, MD, MBA, FAAD, the Harvey B. Ansell Professor of Dermatology at TUSM and Chair of Dermatology at Tufts Medical Center, celebrates Dr. Ahmed’s considerable research contributions in this way, "Razzaque is an internationally renowned expert in blistering disorders, whose clinical work and research have revolutionized the care of patients with blistering disease."
The ISD appointment comes on the heels of another prestigious recognition at the March 2025 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology in Orlando, Florida. The AAD conferred its Presidential Citation Award to Dr. Ahmed, “in recognition of [his] scientific publications and contributions to the literature in the area of autoimmune blistering disease.”
A collaborative TUSM/TM initiative is underway to raise funds for an endowed clinical professorship to be established in Dr. Ahmed’s name, in recognition of his enduring contributions to dermatology, immunology, and the Tufts community. To date, the effort has raised $1 million toward a goal of $3 million. Once established, the proceeds from the endowment will fund the recruitment of a mid-career faculty member with experience and ambition in line with Dr. Ahmed’s professional ethos and body of work – a commitment to innovation and making important contributions to dermatologic research.
For more information about this initiative, please contact Dan Lennon, Director of Development, Tufts Medicine at Dan.Lennon@tuftsmedicine.org or 617-636-5020.