A Doctor Who Empowers His Patients and Learns From Them

The National Psoriasis Foundation was created in 1967 by volunteers. For more than 50 years, patients, families, friends, scientists and health care providers have pitched in to help our cause. Volunteering takes many forms, from following us on Facebook to running with Team NPF to sharing your story with the people who represent you at the state and federal levels.

In this series, you’ll meet a group of providers who, in their own quiet, steady way, have been working hard to help many with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Today: Ronald Prussick, M.D.

Ronald Prussick, M.D., understands that education opens doors. During his residency at the University of Toronto, he had the good fortune of meeting an inspiring dermatologist who got him interested in psoriasis.

And for the past 30 years, he’s empowered patients to learn more about their disease. He was happy to see that the new psoriasis treatment guidelines (the first section was released in February 2019 by the American Academy of Dermatology and NPF) recommend biologics as front-line therapies.

“Too many patients are still getting topicals,” he says. “I can give patients the proper perspective on the risks versus the rewards of the new biologics. Their doctor may not be aware of the current data. I can help people make the decision that is right for them. I can also talk to them about health and lifestyle changes.”

Prussick is passionate about educating patients, but he also knows how to listen. “I get great feedback from psoriasis patients,” he says. “They’re my most appreciative patients, possibly because other dermatologists have disappointed them.”

Among his volunteer activities, Prussick served on the NPF medical board for six years. He enjoys walking with Team NPF (“It’s something I can do with my staff and patients together”) and he has guest-starred on two episodes of our podcast series, Psound Bytes: “Treatment side effects impacting psoriatic disease” (Episode 2) and “If I’m clear, why do I need to continue my psoriasis treatment?” (Episode 12).

Prussick moved to Maryland in 1991 for a dermatology fellowship at the U.S. National Institutes of Health and since 1995 has been running his own practice in Rockville, Maryland.

Photo: Storytellez