With a client list that boasts names like Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, Victoria Beckham, Christina Ricci and Kim Kardashian, and a cutting-edge clinic in Beverly Hills, it’s easy to imagine that Harold Lancer, MD, FAAD — perhaps the most famous dermatologist on the planet — exists in a rarified world of Hollywood glitz and glamour. But in many ways, his heart still roams the halls of Massachusetts General Hospital where he trained as a Harvard Medical School resident.
“I was the luckiest person on Earth to train where I did when I did,” said Dr. Lancer during a recent visit to Harvard Medical School (HMS).
Dr. Lancer and his family were in town to celebrate the dedication of the second Lancer Family chair — the Lancer Professorship of Dermatology at HMS — and the appointment of Mass General Chief of Dermatology David E. Fisher, MD, PhD, as the inaugural recipient. In 2019, he established the Lancer Endowed Chair in Dermatology at Mass General, currently held by R. Rox Anderson, MD, director of the Wellman Center for Photomedicine.
We asked Dr. Lancer about the creation of these chairs and his deep philanthropic dedication to supporting dermatology at Mass General.
“My life changed when I was given the opportunity to study at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. It was a special time in history — a time when giants still walked the Earth, and learning opportunities were endless.
Back then, Thomas Fitzpatrick served as chief of the Dermatology Service at Mass General and chairman of the Department of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Fitzpatrick was commanding and bold, a strong leader who inspired confidence in his residents. He taught us the importance of strong leadership, and how it gave patients confidence and could create a kind of familial bond. In that way, he was a tremendous example to me in how to build trust with patients.
Today, I believe dermatology is in danger. The specialty is being nibbled on from all sides by the proliferation of med spas and other medical surgical providers, by corporate consumer groups, state regulations, even social media. (We’re all familiar with Dr. Google, Dr. Instagram, Dr. TikTok, and brace yourselves, Dr. Artificial Intelligence is on the horizon.) Dermatology is experiencing a loss of identity, caused in part, by a lack of leadership – and patients are the ones with the most to lose.
That’s why I’ve established these two Lancer Family chairs. These are leadership chairs — designed to become institutional components and set a new standard in the training of dermatology residents and fellows. My hope is that these chairs will inspire others to get involved and help usher in a new era in this specialty. This isn’t an ego thing. It’s a matter of being grateful and indebted to Mass General, Harvard Medical School, and the profession and patients to which I’ve dedicated my heart and soul.”
To learn more about how you can help support dermatology care and research at Mass General, contact us.
