Dermatology

Dr. Wingfield Rehmus, Division Head

The Dermatology Clinic at BC Children’s Hospital diagnoses and treats common and complex skin conditions, caring for more than 3,000 children each year.

In addition, we are a centre for both teaching and research – trainee medical staff enhance the quality of care, and research conducted here helps improve patient health outcomes.

Mission:

Working for a world in which ALL kids are comfortable in their own skin.

The division of dermatology strives to provide: Excellence in Clinical Care,  Effective Education, Proactive Community Engagement,  Creative Innovation, and Radical Kindness.

We provide care for children with common and complex dermatologic conditions.  Over 3000 children with skin diseases are treated in the outpatient clinics at BCCH as well as throughout the province through outreach clinics/services.  In addition, we are a centre for both teaching and research – trainee medical staff enhance the quality of care, and research conducted here helps improve patient health outcomes.

UPDATED Sept 11 2020

 

Diagnosis and care

Our most frequently seen conditions are eczema (atopic dermatitis), acne, birthmarks, psoriasis, hair loss, vitiligo, molluscum and warts. As a tertiary care centre we also experts at treating rare and complex conditions including epidermolysis bullosa, dermatomyositis, cutaneous lupus erythematosus, morphea, ichthyosis, and rare genetic skin diseases.

The clinic consists primarily of outpatient consultations. We also provide inpatient consultations for hospitalized children, and province-wide teleconsultations.

Services

We provide the following services:

  • Diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care for all skin, hair and nail disorders in children.
  • Cryotherapy for warts.
  • Inpatient consultations for hospitalized children.
  • Laser treatment for port wine stains and other birthmarks.
  • Minor surgical procedures to remove skin lesions.
  • Narrow band UVB phototherapy.
  • Skin biopsies.
  • Teleconsultation for physicians seeing patients outside of the Lower Mainland.
  • Wound care.

Specialty Clinics

Outreach clinic

Many communities in BC do not have access to dermatology care. BC Children’s Hospital physicians travel to Terrace and Prince George four times each year to see patients in their own communities.

Specialized Pediatric Outreach Consultation for Kids (SPOCK)

A component of the RICHER pediatrics program seeking to address disparities in health equity, SPOCK is particularly concerned with health care access for marginalized children in inner city communities.
The BC Children’s Hospital dermatology department supports the RICHER program by providing monthly pediatric outreach clinics in Vancouver’s Strathcona neighbourhood, as well as telehealth support between clinics.

Telehealth

The dermatology service at BC Children’s Hospital supports children throughout the province, although sometimes it is not feasible for a patient to come to Vancouver. In these cases our dermatologists assist physicians with phone and digital consultation.

Vascular anomalies

Monthly multidisciplinary clinics for children with vascular malformations and tumours. The health care team includes dermatologists, plastic surgeons, occupational and physical therapists, pediatricians, radiologists and ENT physicians.

Faculty & Staff

Physicians:
Dr. Wingfield Rehmus, MD, MPH, FAAD
Dr. Sunil Kalia, MD, MHSc, FRCPC
Dr. Joseph Lam, MD, FRCPC
Dr. Harvey Lui, MD, FRCPC
Dr. Sarah Felton MD, MRCP, FACMS

With special thanks and appreciation to Dr. Julie Prendiville for her excellent mentorship, leadership, and clinical care as division head from 1990-2018.

Nurse Practitioner
Alissa Collingridge

Nursing staff
Annette Gardin

Administrative staff
Michelle Deo
Zeba Prasad
Rapinder Rakhra