About Dermpedia
Mission and Objective
The mission of Dermpedia is to collect and disseminate the knowledge, science and experience of dermatology and dermatopathology, fields of medicine concerned with diagnosing and treating diseases of the skin.
The basic premise of the Dermpedia project is that by providing a platform for sharing information and cases, we can advance our field by organizing the vast universe of knowledge acquired by dermatologists and dermatopathologists practicing in different parts of the world.
Dermpedia is also designed to serve as an online community for practicing physicians, medical students and trainees. Dermpedia Textbook is a wiki, a free user-editable encyclopedia of dermatology and dermatopathology, open to the entire community of dermatopathologists, dermatologists and general pathologists interested in skin diseases. This unique medium allows association of cases with textbook entities, offering previously unachievable depth of illustration of disease entities.
Dermpedia is also a Case blog, which allows the users to share interesting cases. Dermpedia provides a platform for institutions and professional organizations to run clinicopathological conferences, grand rounds, courses and seminars. It allows worldwide audiences to learn and participate in these events.
Users of Dermpedia are encouraged to collaborate on research projects. The website provides a forum for collecting series of cases and sharing insights.
Ownership
Dermpedia was founded by Dr. Artur Zembowicz, M.D., Ph.D., a Boston-based consultant in dermatopathology (www.DermatopathologyConsultations.com), Associate Professor of Pathology at Tufts Medical School and Staff Dermatopathologist at Lahey Clinic, Burlington, MA .
The site was designed with the help of and is maintained by Brian Lee and Kent Parker (Passing Phase Web Development).
We are committed to ensuring that Dermpedia data is kept secure, that personal data is kept private, and that any information collected from Dermpedia is utilized with the objective of either improving Dermpedia functionality or the advancement of knowledge in the area of dermatology, dermatopathology and pathology.
Frequently asked questions
Will using Dermpedia cost me anything?
No. Registration and usage of all public functions of Dermpedia is free. However, individual users, societies and institutions may purchase a license which allows them to maintain private content.
Do I need to register to view content on Dermpedia?
No. However, without registering you will not be able to make any contributions to Dermpedia and enjoy all the features of the site.
What are the benefits of registration with Dermpedia?
· Be part of the largest, most vibrant global dermatology and dermatopathology community online
· Advance the art and science of your profession
· Become an editor of Dermpedia textbook, the first dermatology and dermatopathology wiki
· View clinical images (not available for anonymous users)
· Find a noble use for hundreds of pictures you take
· Share your cases, experience and ideas with your peers
· Participate in case discussions, projects, conferences and Grand Rounds
· Peer review, rank and comment about Dermpedia contributions
· View authors profiles
· Receive email alerts about new content on Dermpedia
· Participate in polls, learn what your colleagues think about important issues
· Start your own blog
· Participate in forums
· Post a job and find a job
· Use Dermpedia content for your own presentations
How long it takes to get registered and use Dermpedia?
Minutes. Immediately after registration you will receive a confirmation email and will be able to take full advantage of the site.
What personal information will I need to provide to register?
User profile includes user’s account name, full name and professional title, institutional affiliation, an email address and a password. The password is kept in encrypted format in the Dermpedia database.
Will you ever use my personal information for anything else?
Never. The account information is only used to link the authors of the contributions to Dermpedia and to help other users to assess the author’s professional credentials. Dermpedia account data is never made public, sold or shared with any third party or used for marketing purposes, except in the instance where a user may opt in to receive additional information. Account data may be utilized by Dermpedia staff for statistical purposes to verify that the site is working properly, etc.
Will registration with Dermpedia result in increased email spam?
No. Your email address will never be displayed on the website. Other registered member of Dermpedia community will be able to contact your through a spam-secure form only if you specifically allow it in your user’s profile. Even if you opt not be contacted via a Dermpedia-stored email, Dermpedia staff may contact you in matters related to your account or Dermpedia activities. Email addresses are used to help you maintain your own account on Dermpedia, as a unique identifier to log in and out off your Dermpedia account, and for communications with Dermpedia staff in matters related to the maintenance of your Dermpedia account. You may also opt to have alerts about new contents sent to you via email.
Will I retain copyright to the content I submit to Dermpedia?
Absolutely. In the spirit of academic sharing of knowledge and experience, the default copyright status of all content, published on Dermpedia is governed by the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike license. This means that you retain the copyrights but permit others to copy, distribute and transmit the work and to modify and adapt the work, as long as they attribute the work to you, they do not use the work for commercial purposes, and if they modify or alter the work, they distribute the resulting work only under the same or similar license. You have the same reciprocal rights to the content submitted by others. Dermpedia textbook, a wiki, is edited entirely under this principle.
However, when submitting your cases you will have an option to retain all the copyrights. You may elect this option if you are concerned about publishing a case in a conventional publication, book or atlas which may require transfer of the copyright to a publisher.
Are there terms and conditions to which I must agree?
Yes. All users have to agree to Terms of Use of Dermpedia. Terms of use include important rules designed to protect the rights of users and patients and to assure the highest quality of the site.
How the patient''s privacy is protected on Dermpedia?
Protecting patient privacy is the responsibility of its users and not Dermpedia website. Our policies require that the patient consent for publication was obtained for any content with may pose any risk for identification of the identity of the patient. We assist teh authors in obtaining patient consent by providing a printable Patient Consent Form. It is the user's responsibility to keep the consent forms in the patient's files. Clinical images are not displayed for anonymous users of the site.
Are contributions to Dermpedia peer reviewed?
Not in a traditional sense. The authors can publish content directly without any editorial interference of Dermpedia staff or other users and are solely responsible for the quality of their contributions. However, the design of the site allows other users to rank contributions. Thus, the entire Dermpedia community serves as the largest and most democratic editorial board. Dermpedia is designed so that the highest ranked contributions will migrate towards the top of many search lists.
Is my contribution to Dermpedia a publication?
Dermpedia is not a medical journal. Sharing a case on Dermpedia is more like presenting it at a professional meeting. The only (major) difference is that the audience is significantly larger.
Can I reference content on Dermpedia?
Yes. Other wikis, most notably Wikipedia, are often cited. However, it is important to remember that in contrast to conventional publications, the content of Dermpedia page you are citing may evolve over time.
Will I know the sources of contributions on Dermpedia?
Always. As in the medical publication, the authors are identified by their true names. Registered users have an option to view the authors profile and contact the authors by email (if allowed by the user).
Can I comment or submit any content to Dermpedia anonymously?
No. All content shows clearly identifiable authors.
I like Dermpedia website and its mission. How can I best help?
There is a lot you can do. Most importantly:
· Contribute
· Introduce your colleagues to the site.
· Make a donation or become a sponsor
How does Dermpedia fund its operations?
The website was conceived by Artur Zembowicz, M.D., Ph.D., who continues to provide all the necessary operating funds. In the future some of the costs may be covered by donations, sponsorship and advertising revenue. Please contact us if your organization would like to advertise on Dermpedia or sponsor the site. Only unrestricted sponsorship will be considered.