“I get ‘feel good’ moments almost every day, whether it’s when the patient’s condition has resolved, their quality of life has been lifted, or they are just genuinely thankful that I have taken the time to listen.”
We are delighted to introduce Dr Corinne Maiolo as a touchDERMATOLOGY Future Leader 2025. A dedicated Australian dermatologist, Dr Maiolo is based in Adelaide and treats both adult and paediatric patients. Her clinical interests include acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, hair loss and vulval conditions.
Dr Maiolo has worked across both metropolitan and rural settings, founded the myPRODERM clinic, and holds positions at Lyell McEwin Hospital and the University of South Australia. A strong advocate for patient education, she has contributed to international journals and presented at both national and global conferences. In 2024, she was awarded the La Roche-Posay Research Grant in recognition of her work towards atopic dermatitis care reform.
In this Q&A, Dr Maiolo reflects on the spark that led her to dermatology, the daily rewards of patient care, and her passion for education and innovation.
Dermatology was introduced to us in the second year of medical school. I found the subject inherently interesting. At around the same time, my brother developed a rash that spread rapidly over his body. I used my fledgling knowledge and diagnosed him with pityriasis rosea. When this was confirmed by a dermatologist, I was really excited and it ignited the spark within me.
No matter what clinical rotation I undertook, a dermatological case always popped up. This kept bringing me back to dermatology as a specialty. I enjoyed the diagnostic challenge of dermatological conditions in the subtleties of various exanthems and in the variety that dermatology offered – one could consult young children, pregnant women, adults and the elderly all on the same day. I also enjoyed its close connection with histopathology and the opportunity to be both a diagnostician and a proceduralist.
I get ‘feel good’ moments almost every day, whether it’s when the patient’s condition has resolved, their quality of life has been lifted, or they are just genuinely thankful that I have taken the time to listen. It is also rewarding to see family members, friends and colleagues of current and past patients, who have recommended me as a clinician.
Two specific occasions come to mind, however. The first was whilst in-training at a paediatric hospital where I was awarded a Person and Family Centred Care Recognition. This was unexpected and I was honoured to receive it. The second moment was in 2024 when I was awarded the La Roche Posay Research Grant for a pilot study into patient education in atopic dermatitis. I was genuinely thrilled that my project had been selected, given the calibre of entrants. Through this study I hope to shine a light on the importance of patient education in achieving long-term control of atopic dermatitis.
I am particularly excited about disease modification in dermatology. If we can control disease to the point of switching it off, or facilitate a way for the body to restore physiological skin function and/or microbiome, the impact on morbidity and quality of life will be enormous.Â
From an Australian perspective, I hope to see some economic studies on the impact of effective early disease control on quality of life, healthcare expenditure and productivity.
I am also looking forward to more targeted treatments and new uses of existing drugs for conditions that are often recalcitrant, severe or have few effective low-risk/well-tolerated options such as scarring alopecias, vulval lichen planus, alopecia areata, hidradenitis suppurativa and vitiligo.
Disclosures: This short article was prepared by touchDERMATOLOGY in collaboration with Dr Maiolo. No fees or funding were associated with its publication.
touchDERMATOLOGY is celebrating the brightest rising stars in the dermatology community, who are set to shape the future of the field.
Read more about the touchDERMATOLOGY Future Leaders 2025 here.
Register now to receive the touchDERMATOLOGY newsletter!
Don’t miss out on hearing about our latest articles, expert opinions, conference news, podcasts and more.
 