I am pleased to announce the appointment of JiaDe (Jeff) Yu, M.D., to the position of chair of the Department of Dermatology for the VCU School of Medicine, effective Sept. 1, 2025.
Dr. Yu, a proud Richmond native who attended VCU as an undergraduate, is a board-certified dermatologist and fellowship-trained pediatric dermatologist currently practicing at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass., where he leads the Contact Dermatitis Clinic, Atopic Dermatitis Clinic, and Clinical Trials Unit. Dr. Yu has established himself as a leading expert in allergic skin diseases, particularly in pediatric populations. His research and clinical work have significantly advanced our understanding of contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, and other inflammatory skin conditions.
A graduate of the University of Virginia School of Medicine, Dr. Yu completed his pediatric internship at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, dermatology residency at Medical College of Wisconsin where he was chief resident, and a pediatric dermatology fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. His academic career has been marked by significant contributions to both clinical practice and research, with particular emphasis on understanding the immunological mechanisms of allergic skin diseases.
In his role as chair, Dr. Yu will lead the VCU Department of Dermatology's clinical, research and educational missions. His vision includes expanding the department's clinical services, strengthening its research infrastructure, and enhancing educational opportunities for medical students and residents. He brings particular expertise in patch testing, pediatric dermatology and the management of complex allergic skin diseases, which will enhance VCU's ability to serve patients throughout Virginia with challenging dermatological conditions.
Dr. Yu's research portfolio includes more than 100 publications in leading journals such as the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, British Journal of Dermatology, and Dermatitis. He has been principal investigator on multiple clinical trials and has secured research funding from foundations, industry and private sources. His work has been recognized nationally and internationally with invited lectureships given throughout the world. He has been featured in the New York Times as well as a special guest on Doctor Radio (Sirius XM).
He is currently the president of the American Contact Dermatitis Society and on the board of the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance. Dr. Yu is a counselor in the International Eczema Council and a member of the North American Contact Dermatitis Group. He is also an associate editor for the Pediatric Dermatology journal and serves on the editorial board for the Dermatitis journal.
Before beginning his medical training, Dr. Yu attended high school at Douglas Freeman High School and college at VCU in the Guaranteed Admission Program. His father, Dr. Jinxing Yu, has been an attending physician in the VCU Department of Radiology for the last 25 years and his mother, Mrs. Linying Xie, is a senior researcher in the Center for Biomarker Research and Precision Medicine in the VCU School of Pharmacy. Dr. Yu is excited to return home for this next chapter of his career with his wife, who is a family medicine physician, and two young children. He is a coffee aficionado and an avid runner, with a goal of completing a full marathon in every state and continent, including Antarctica. He is excited to explore the vibrant Richmond running community and local races, and we couldn’t be prouder to welcome him back home.
This was one of the most extensive and competitive chair searches in our recent history and I am indebted to all the members of the search committee, particularly its chairs, Drs. Harinder Dhindsa and Ann Fulcher, for their innovative approach and foresight in the selection process. I am also deeply thankful to Dr. Laurence DiNardo for his unwavering commitment and effective service as interim chair of Dermatology during this extended transition period while also leading as chair of SOMʼs Department of Otolaryngology.
Sincerely,
Arturo P. Saavedra, M.D., Ph.D.
Dean, VCU School of Medicine
Executive vice president for medical affairs, VCU Health System