Ruth Ann Vleugels, M.D., MPH, MBA
Milton Bixler Hartzell Professor of Dermatology
Department: Dermatology
Contact information
3400 Civic Center Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Education
B.A. (Echols Interdisciplinary, American Literature and Biochemistry)
University of Virginia, 2000.
M.D. (Medicine)
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 2004.
M.P.H. (Clinical Effectiveness)
Harvard School of Public Health, 2011.
M.B.A. (Business Administration)
MIT Sloan School of Management, 2020.
B.A. (Echols Interdisciplinary, American Literature and Biochemistry)
University of Virginia, 2000.
M.D. (Medicine)
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 2004.
M.P.H. (Clinical Effectiveness)
Harvard School of Public Health, 2011.
M.B.A. (Business Administration)
MIT Sloan School of Management, 2020.
Post-Graduate Training
Research Scholar, Department of Medicine; Division of Dermatology, Vanderbilt University, 2001-2004.
Intern, Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 2004-2005.
Resident Dermatology, Harvard Dermatology, 2005-2008.
Chief Resident, Dermatology, Harvard Dermatology, 2007-2008.
Rabkin Fellowship in Medical Education, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 2008-2009.
Research Scholar, Department of Medicine; Division of Dermatology, Vanderbilt University, 2001-2004.
Intern, Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 2004-2005.
Resident Dermatology, Harvard Dermatology, 2005-2008.
Chief Resident, Dermatology, Harvard Dermatology, 2007-2008.
Rabkin Fellowship in Medical Education, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 2008-2009.
Certifications
Dermatology Certified, American Board of Dermatology, 2008.
Permanent linkDermatology Certified, American Board of Dermatology, 2008.
Selected Publications
Vleugels RA, Peeva E, Aggarwal R, Chu M, Sloan A, Rath N, Mangialardi E, Fiorentino D: Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Dazukibart in Dermatomyositis: Combined Phase II Results From Double-Blind and Open-Label Extension Studies. J Rheumatol 53(10): 1125-34, Oct 2026.Arkin LM, Buhr KA, Ardoin SP, Faith EF, Lee LW, von Scheven E, Brandling-Bennett JH, Castelo-Soccio L, Chiu YE, Co DO, Diaz LZ, Garcia-Romero MT, Hunt RD, Oza VS, Schoch JJ, Paller AS, Vleugels RA, Chong BF, Werth VP, Ardalan K; CARRA-PeDRA Lupus Dermatology Work Group: Progression of skin-limited pediatric-onset discoid lupus erythematosus to diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus: Results of a multicenter, retrospective cohort study. J Am Acad Dermatol 95(4): 1011-19, Oct 2026.
Cohen SM, Morrison KA, Nguyen TT, Dedeoglu F, Vleugels RA, Ganske IM: Barriers to Surgical Care in Craniofacial Scleroderma (Parry-Romberg Syndrome). Cleft Palate Craniofac J 63(10): 3166-75, Oct 2026.
Mahajan A, Whittelsey M, Vleugels RA, Rao P, Ravishankar A, Haemel A, LaChance A, Costenbader KH, Sparks JA: Anifrolumab Versus Belimumab for Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Arthritis Rheumatol Aug 2026.
Mangold AR, Haemel A, Shahriari N, Chong B, Fernandez AP, Fiorentino D, Pearson D, Sluzevich J, Onajin O, Rambhatla PV, Rashighi M, Hurabielle C, Fivenson D, Boh E, Paravar T, Crew A, Flowers RH, Taylor D, Subhardashani S, Culton D, Schadt C, Callen J, Lam C, Graham L, Hashemi K, Castillo R, Maderal A, Elman S, Shaw KS, Cascino MD, LaChance A, Min MS, Femia A, Vleugels RA, Werth VP: Skin-Specific Outcomes of Brepocitinib in Patients With Dermatomyositis: Secondary Analysis of a Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Dermatol Aug 2026.
Wang Y, Afshari K, Haddadi NS, Lopes CS, Eng CL, Whiteman LM, Martinez N, Kyawe PP, Anufrieva KS, Wei K, Frieda K, Rosenbach M, Vleugels RA, Gallucci S, Harris JE, Rashighi M, Garber M: A spatially coordinated keratinocyte-fibroblast circuit recruits MMP9+ myeloid cells to drive type I interferon-driven inflammation in photosensitive autoimmunity. Nat Immunol 27(6): 1184-96, Jun 2026.
Prenner J, Rentfro K, Vleugels RA, Shahriari N: GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Therapy in Patients With Extragenital Lichen Sclerosus. JAMA Dermatol 162(6): 657-59, Jun 2026.
Aggarwal R, Peeva E, Fiorentino DF, Vleugels RA, Mangold AR, Werth VP, Oemar BS, Rath JN, Sloan A, Chu M: Rapid Onset of Response in Adults with Dermatomyositis Receiving Dazukibart: A Phase 2, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol Jun 2026.
Crisler WJ, Anufrieva KS, Whittelsey M, Mahajan A, Maia-Silva D, Martinez MJ, Gao C, Liu J, Oke O, Machado MV, Rowley R, Teague J, Vleugels RA, Clark RA, Wei K, LaChance A: Spatial transcriptomics identifies cytotoxic and fibrotic immune-stromal niches in morphea and eosinophilic fasciitis. J Invest Dermatol Jun 2026.
Anufrieva KS, Shahriari N, Gao C, Yiu SPT, Kazerounian S, Castillo RL, Liu J, Prell SA, Bhamidipati K, Afshari K, Parmelee L, Kazakova AN, Theisen E, Bowman T, LaChance A, Crisler WJ, Hashemi K, Korsunsky I, Jiang S, Rashighi M, Vleugels RA, Wei K: Spatial transcriptomics identifies immune-stromal niches associated with cancer in adult dermatomyositis. Nat Commun 17(1): 8000, Jun 2026.