Maria Wei

Maria Wei is a Professor in the Department of Dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. With over three decades of academic experience, her work bridges clinical dermatology with cutting-edge research in artificial intelligence (AI) applications, environmental health impacts on skin disease, and melanoma biology.

• Education: Duke University (MD, PhD in Immunology), UCSF (Residency), Postdoctoral Fellow in Biochemistry
• Key research areas: AI-enabled dermatology, melanoma pathogenesis, environmental triggers of skin disease, health disparities

Wei's research integrates machine learning for precision medicine in inflammatory skin conditions and cancer diagnostics. Her recent work explores wildfire smoke effects on skin health, air pollution impacts on dermatitis, and digital tools for melanoma detection.

From 2017-2025, her publications show increasing focus on:

• AI applications in dermatology (15+ papers)
• Environmental health intersections (climate change, air pollution)
• Melanoma molecular mechanisms (BRAF, ALDH1, MEF2C)
• Health equity and access (Medicaid acceptance, screening disparities)

Scientific awards include the Estella Medrano Award, multiple Top Docs recognitions, and Excellence in Mentoring. Her 2014-2023 work emphasizes translational research connecting cellular mechanisms to population health.