H. William Higgins II, M.D., M.B.E.
Associate Professor of Clinical Dermatology
Department: Dermatology
Contact information
Department of Dermatology
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine
3400 Civic Center Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine
3400 Civic Center Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Publications
Education:
B.A. (Economics )
Connecticut College, 2003.
M.B.E. (Bioethics)
University of South Florida, 2005.
M.D. (Medicine )
Florida State University, 2009.
B.A. (Economics )
Connecticut College, 2003.
M.B.E. (Bioethics)
University of South Florida, 2005.
M.D. (Medicine )
Florida State University, 2009.
Links
Search PubMed for articles
Penn Dermatology/Mohs Surgery Bio
Penn Mohs Surgery and Reconstruction Team
Linkedin Profile
Search PubMed for articles
Penn Dermatology/Mohs Surgery Bio
Penn Mohs Surgery and Reconstruction Team
Linkedin Profile
Post-Graduate Training
Intern in Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT , 2009-2010.
Resident in Dermatology, Brown University, Providence, RI , 2010-2013.
Mohs Micrographic Surgery & Procedural Dermatology Fellowship, Yale University, New Haven, CT , 2013-2014.
Intern in Internal Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT , 2009-2010.
Resident in Dermatology, Brown University, Providence, RI , 2010-2013.
Mohs Micrographic Surgery & Procedural Dermatology Fellowship, Yale University, New Haven, CT , 2013-2014.
Certifications
USMLE Step 1, 2007.
USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge , 2008.
USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills, 2008.
USMLE Step 3, 2009.
American Board of Dermatology, 2013.
American Board of Dermatology, Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery Subspecialty Board Certification, 2021.
Permanent linkUSMLE Step 1, 2007.
USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge , 2008.
USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills, 2008.
USMLE Step 3, 2009.
American Board of Dermatology, 2013.
American Board of Dermatology, Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery Subspecialty Board Certification, 2021.
Selected Publications
Joshi TP, Higgins HW 2nd: Impact of Prior Malignancies on Survival of Patients With Merkel Cell Carcinoma. Dermatol Surg 52(4): 390-1, Apr 2026.Joshi TP, Husseinali M, Higgins HW 2nd: Survival trends, prognostic factors, and drivers of metastases in patients with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma: A Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program-based analysis. J Am Acad Dermatol 94(4): 1287-9, Apr 2026.
Shaikh UR, Valdes-Morales K, Raj LK, Richter CG, Shoshany C, Sheth C, Sheth N, Senthilnathan A, Haynes D, Miller CJ, Sobanko JF, Etzkorn JR, Walker J, Zhang J, Higgins II HW: Ambient PM2.5 exposure above a threshold level is associated with increased aggressiveness of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in patients undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery. Climate Change and Environmental Issues Expert Resource Group Annual Meeting, AAD Annual Meeting, Denver, CO Mar 2026 Notes: Oral podium presentation.
Wang SY, Turner G, Valdes-Morales KL, Hunter ER, Kim M, Tran VA, Polen K, Haynes D, Miller CJ, Etzkorn JR, Sobanko JF, Walker JL, Zhang J, Brody RM, Cannady SB, Rajasekaran K, Farwell DG, Miura JT, Karakousis GC, Lukens JR, Amaravadi RK, Schuchter LM, Mitchell TC, Higgins HW 2nd, Carey RM: Accuracy of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy to Predict Nodal Metastasis in Head and Neck Merkel Cell Carcinoma. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 152(3): 313-22, Mar 2026.
Higgins, H: MCPyV oncoprotein antibody surveillance after surgical excision of Merkel cell carcinoma: an institutional analysis. AAD Annual Meeting, Denver, CO Mar 2026.
Higgins, H: People of Color with Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans Experience High Rates of Fibrosarcomatous Change but No Local Recurrences After Mohs Micrographic Surgery. SBDRC Symposium, Univ of Penn, Phila, PA Mar 2026.
Shaikh UR, Richter CG, Raj LK, Kapoor D, Valdes-Morales K, Trifoi M, Alomary SA, Baker N, Senthilnathan A, Haynes D, Taylor SC, Miller CJ, Etzkorn JR, Sobanko JF, Zhang J, Walker J, Higgins HW II: Perioperative racial disparities in patients with acral lentiginous melanoma undergoing Mohs micrographic surgery. Oral abstract presented at: 22nd Annual Skin of Color Society Scientific Symposium, Denver, CO Mar 2026.
Hunter ER, Wang SY, Valdes-Morales KL, Haynes D, Freeman SC, Sobanko JF, Etzkorn JR, Walker JL, Zhang J, Carr DR, Leitenberger J, Bar A, Alam M, Higgins W 2nd, Miller CJ: Navigating the Mohs Fellowship Match: What Applicants Value in Programs and Their Perceptions Regarding Fellowship Directors Preferences. Dermatol Surg 52(2): 119-22, Feb 2026.
Lin SK, Deitermann AM, Miller CJ, Ricciardelli K, Sharma M, Haynes D, Cheng B, Daneshpajouhnejad P, Valdes-Morales K, Trifoi MD, Frankel D, Etzkorn JR, Modi M, Sobanko JF, Giordano CN, Walker JL, Zhang J, Nguyen HP, Lewis DJ, Higgins HW 2nd: Mohs micrographic surgery of Merkel cell carcinoma lowers local recurrence risk and has similar metastasis and survival compared with conventional excision: A single-center retrospective cohort study. J Am Acad Dermatol 94(2): 675-8, Feb 2026.
Lin SK, Deitermann AM, Miller CJ, Ricciardelli K, Sharma M, Haynes D, Cheng B, Daneshpajouhnejad P, Valdes-Morales K, Trifoi MD, Frankel D, Etzkorn JR, Modi M, Sobanko JF, Giordano CN, Walker JL, Zhang J, Nguyen HP, Lewis DJ, Higgins HW 2nd: Mohs micrographic surgery of Merkel cell carcinoma lowers local recurrence risk and has similar metastasis and survival compared with conventional excision: A single-center retrospective cohort study. J Am Acad Dermatol 94(2): 675-8, Feb 2026.