Committee Members
Committee Members
Dr Rukshana Ali
Clinical Psychologist
St John’s Institute of Dermatology, Paediatric Dermatology
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Rukshana Ali is the Clinical Psychologist within the Paediatric Dermatology team at the St John’s Institute of Dermatology. Alongside Dr Susannah Baron, Dr Ali jointly leads the Paediatric Psychodermatology service. Dr Ali has over 20 years of clinical experience and qualified with her doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) from Royal Holloway, University of London. Dr Ali holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and is trained in several other therapy models (including EMDR).
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Dr Ali’s interest in the mind-skin link was borne out of first-hand experience of living with a skin condition as a child and during her Doctoral training. This experience has not only informed her practice but, also highlighted the need for psychology in dermatology services. She regularly provides teaching and training around how services can support the psychological wellbeing of
patients living with skin disease.
Dr Ali is part of the British Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Dermatology (BSPAD) Psychology Taskforce, developing guidelines around mental health monitoring and support for children and young people. Dr Ali has contributed to research, publications and conference presentations around the role of psychology and psychological wellbeing in dermatology.
Richard Barlow
Clinical Research Fellow
Barts Health NHS Trust
Richard Barlow is an ST6 in dermatology. Prior to gaining his number he completed 12 months as a Clinical Research Fellow at Barts Health NHS Trust and worked with the psychodermatology team at the Royal London Hospital. He continues to pursue his interest in this subspecialty and has published and presented, nationally and internationally in this field.
Upon completion of training he plans to combine this interest alongside dermatological surgery and skin cancer. The psychosocial impact of skin disorders is particularly important to Richard who knows first-hand the beneficial impact of a holistic approach to the management of skin conditions, being a person with Xeroderma Pigmentosum himself.
Professor Anthony Bewley
Consultant Dermatologist
Barts Health NHS Trust
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Professor Anthony Bewley is a Consultant Dermatologist at Barts Health NHS Trust and Honorary Professor at Queen Mary College (University of London). He is fully trained in general dermatology, and has a special interest in psychodermatology (psycho-cutaneous medicine). He is the lead for commercial clinical trials research at the Barts Health Dermatology Department, and has published extensively in international peer-reviewed journals on a range of different areas within dermatology.
Prof Bewley was Chair of Psychodermatology UK 2008-20; President of the UK
Dowling Dermatology Club 2019-20 and Hon Treasurer of the British Association of Dermatologists (2019-22). He is the co-editor of Practical Psychodermatology (Wiley, 2014), Psychodermatology in Clinical Practice (Springer 2021). He is President of the European Society for Dermatology and Psychiatry
Dr Padma Mohandas MRCP MRCGP MSc
Consultant Dermatologist
Barts Health NHS Trust
Dr Padma Mohandas qualified from the University of Mysore in India and pursued further medical training in the UK, initially in Medicine and General Practice.
After completing a master’s in clinical Dermatology in 2015 with distinction from King’s College London she decided to pursue a career in Dermatology and completed Specialist Dermatology training in the East Midlands during which time she developed a specialist interest in Psychodermatology. She was appointed as Consultant Dermatologist at Bart’s Health London in 2020 with a special interest in Psychodermatology and is part of the team running a dedicated complex needs clinic at the Royal London Hospital, which was awarded ‘BMJ Dermatology Team of the Year’ in 2017.
Dr Mohandas has presented nationally and internationally on Psychodermatology issues, written many peer reviewed papers and textbook chapters in dermatology and is active in research. Dr Mohandas is on the executive committee of Psychodermatology U.K. With her comprehensive clinical background Dr Mohandas is able to provide a holistic approach to patient care taking into consideration the interdependence of the mind, body and skin.
