Edward Heilman, MD, FAAD, FCAP

Education and Training

• Medical school: New York Medical College
• Residency: Dermatology, State University of New York Downstate College of Medicine & New York University Medical Center; Anatomic Pathology, New York University Medical Center
• Fellowship: Dermatopathology, New York University Medical Center
• Certifications: Board Certified in Dermatology, Dermatopathology, and Anatomic Pathology

Background

Dr. Ed Heilman was born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx. He received his undergraduate degree from Stony Brook University and completed his preclinical years of medical school at the University of Rome in Italy. He completed his clinical years of medical school and received his medical degree from New York Medical College. He subsequently completed his internship in general surgery at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine.

After completing his internship, Dr. Heilman spent the next three years as a resident in Anatomic Pathology at NYU Medical Center/Bellevue Hospital Center and served as chief resident in his final year. During his time as a pathology resident, Dr Heilman met Dr. A Bernard Ackerman who helped guide him into the field of Dermatopathology, and in the winter of 1978 he became a fellow of Dr. Ackerman. To further enhance his knowledge of clinical dermatology, Dr. Heilman completed a joint dermatology residency, dividing his training between SUNY Downstate and NYU under the guidance of Dr. Alan Shalita and Dr. Rudolph Baer, respectively.

In 1980, Dr. Heilman became the sole dermatopathologist at SUNY Downstate allowing him to work with Dr. Alan Shalita. For the next 34 years, he served as the Director of Dermatopathology and has taught and mentored many residents, fellows, and medical students over his years at Downstate. The opportunity to help train over 200 dermatologists and over 45 dermatopathology fellows has been his most gratifying professional achievement.

In addition to his academic work at Downstate, Dr. Heilman, together with Dr. Robert Friedman, founded a private dermatopathology laboratory, which they managed successfully for over 20 years. He also joined a clinical dermatology practice in Oceanside, Long Island where he practiced for many years.

In the early 2000s, Dr. Heilman, in conjunction with Dr. Ackerman and Dr. Shalita, reestablished the Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology Fellowship program with Downstate as the sponsoring institution. Ed helped rebuild the program, which is now recognized as one of the most prominent Dermatopathology fellowship programs in the country.

Soon after retiring from his dermatopathology laboratory Dr. Heilman took on the role of vice chair of the Department of Dermatology at SUNY Downstate and due to Dr. Shalita's untimely death he was promoted to Chairman. Dr. Heilman is revered by the innumerable residents, fellows, and students that he has educated throughout his many years at Downstate.