Reuben Friedman (1892-1956): Dermatologist, historian, and scabies enthusiast

• Published in: Clinics in dermatology Vol. 40; no. 6; pp. 802 - 807
• Main Authors: Lopez, Christina G., Parish, Lawrence Charles
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-11-2022
• Subjects: History, 20th Century; Humans; Internship and Residency; Medicine; Philadelphia; Physicians; Skin; Philadelphia
• ISSN: 0738-081X; 1879-1131
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2022.08.008

Reuben Friedman was a prominent physician, scholar, and historian whose work contributed significantly to the development of modern dermatology. He was born into a Russian immigrant family in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia, where he established his family and later opened his medical office. He graduated from Temple University School of Medicine, completed his internship at Philadelphia General Hospital, and pursued further training abroad. During the height of his career, Friedman was affiliated with the Philadelphia Skin and Cancer Hospital and served as a faculty member at Temple University School of Medicine. He was recognized internationally for his extensive work on scabies, penning four books, several monographs, and various presentations on its etiology and treatment. His final book, History of Dermatology in Philadelphia, recollects the evolution of dermatology in Philadelphia and numerous biographies of protagonists in the field.