Ashley Wysong MD, MS. is an accomplished executive leader, a nationally recognized Mohs micrographic surgeon, a translational skin cancer researcher and a dedicated mentor. Dr. Wysong served as Founding Chairman, Tenured Professor and the William W. Bruce MD Distinguished Chair of the Department of Dermatology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and Nebraska Medicine from 2018 to 2024 is currently on emeritus faculty. Dr. Wysong was recruited to UNMC to envision and build the clinical, education, research, and service/outreach programs for dermatology. She recruited 20 board-certified dermatologists to Nebraska, launched the dermatology residency program in 2019 (and served as the first residency program director), developed comprehensive medical student and graduate educational programs (MD, PhD, MS, MPH), created a foundational research infrastructure, and built comprehensive dermatology clinical programs at Nebraska Medicine (6 locations), Children's Nebraska, and at the VA Hospital. During her time as Department Chair, Dr. Wysong also served as Director of the Skin Cancer Program at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center (FPBCC) and Chief of Dermatology at the Nebraska Western Iowa Veteran's Affairs Health Care System (NWI-VAHCS). Dr. Wysong was also heavily involved in healthcare system wide leadership as Chair of the Clinical Program Executive Committee, Co-Chair of Financial Sustainability Initiatives, and an active member of the Medical Group Executive Committee at Nebraska Medicine.

Dr. Wysong has an outstanding educational background receiving her B.S. in biology, psychology, and chemistry at the University of Missouri. She was also a 6-Time All-American and National Champion in Track and Field. After running professionally for Nike, Dr. Wysong obtained her master’s degree in Epidemiology from Stanford University’s Department of Health Research and Policy and her medical degree at Duke University School of Medicine. She was valedictorian of her medical school class. Dr. Wysong completed her residency in dermatology at Stanford University, where she was elected to serve as chief resident. Her fellowship in procedural dermatology and Mohs micrographic surgery was completed at Scripps Clinic under the direction of Dr. Hugh Greenway in Mohs surgery, Dr. Victor Ross in laser and cosmetic dermatology, and Dr. Leland Housman in veins. Dr. Greenway, Dr. Wysong's mentor, trained with Dr. Fredrick Mohs, who invented "Mohs" surgery. Before coming to UNMC, Dr. Wysong was the University of Southern California’s Director of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Procedural Dermatology in the Department of Dermatology and the Director of the Multidisciplinary Skin Cancer Tumor Board at the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Wysong has also served as residency program director in dermatology at UNMC and Medical Director of dermatology at Nebraska Medicine.

Dr. Wysong specializes in Mohs surgery and reconstruction for melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. She lectures nationally and internationally on complex facial reconstruction, particularly of large, multi-subunit defects after skin cancer surgery and management of high-risk skin cancer. Dr. Wysong was elected the prestigious "Iron Surgeon" in 2016 by her peers at the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) Annual Meeting. Surgeons compete to receive the audience-awarded gold medal for the best surgical approach to complicated facial reconstruction. Dr. Wysong is a perfectionist in suturing and reconstructing the face after skin cancer removal with Mohs surgery. Dr. Wysong also practices using laser and cosmetic techniques to revise surgical, traumatic, and burn scars. Finally, Dr. Wysong is certified by the American Board of Venolymphatic Medicine (ABVLM) to perform medical and surgical treatment for patients with varicose veins and other vein conditions.

Dr. Wysong has a special interest and expertise in locally advanced and metastatic squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma, as well as the treatment of rare skin tumors. As the Director of the Skin Cancer Program at the Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, she developed multidisciplinary programs in melanoma/sarcoma, high-risk non-melanoma skin cancer and cutaneous lymphoma. Dr. Wysong has significant experience treating skin cancer in high-risk populations such as patients with organ transplants, leukemia/lymphoma, HIV, and other forms of chronic immunosuppression.

As a cancer epidemiologist and translational scientist, Dr. Wysong has an extensive background in clinical and outcomes based research in high-risk squamous cell carcinoma and is a widely published in the medical literature. She is particularly interested in identifying novel genetic mutations in squamous cell carcinoma and other high-risk skin cancers to help predict which tumors can be cured by surgery alone, and which tumors are at higher risk for metastasis and death.

Dr. Wysong is active in numerous national societies and has held leadership positions as a member of the Board of Directors for the American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS, 2020-2023) and the Women's Dermatologic Society (WDS, 2018-2025), and Board of Trustees for the Dermatology Foundation (2018-2024). She serves as a chair and/or committee member for numerous national committees in the ACMS, WDS, ASDS, American Professors of Dermatology (APD), American Board of Dermatology and the American College of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

Education

MD, Duke University School of Medicine
MS, Epidemiology, Stanford University
BA, Biology, Psychology, and Chemistry, University of Missouri

Residency

Duke University Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine
Stanford University, Department of Dermatology

Fellowship

Scripps Clinic, Procedural Dermatology & Mohs Micrographic Surgery

Certifications

American Board of Dermatology

American Board of Dermatology - Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery

Professional Society Memberships

American Dermatological Association (Elected to Honor Society) Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society
American Academy of Dermatology
American College of Mohs Surgery
American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
Women’s Dermatologic Society
Association of Professors of Dermatology

Awards

2024 Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Inductee

2023 National Mentor of the Year Award, Women’s Dermatologic Society

2022-23 University of Nebraska Distinguished Scientist Award

2022 Scientific Program Chair Service Award, American College of Mohs Surgery

2022 President’s Distinguished Service Award, American College of Mohs Surgery

2021 National Volunteer of the Year Award, Women’s Dermatologic Society

2021 UNMC Dermatology Mentor of the Year Award

2017 National Service Award, Women’s Dermatologic Society

2016 Iron Surgeon, American Society of Dermatologic Surgery

2015 USC Dermatology Teacher of the Year/Golden Apple Award

Pasadena Magazine, Top Doctor Award: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018

Chief Resident, Stanford Dermatology

Cavanagh Prize, Duke Outstanding Medical Graduate and Valedictorian

Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Fellow

Duke AOA Research Day, Best Laboratory-Based Research Award

Academy of Achievement International Summit, Student Delegate

6-Time All American, Track and Field

NCAA National Champion, Track and Field

University of Missouri Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee

Announcement of Dr. Ashley Wysong as Inductee into the University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame. Video taken during Mizzou men's basketball game victory over Tennessee on February