NAAF Minnesota Support Group Hosts Alopecia Areata Education Meeting

The Minnesota Alopecia Areata Support Group is set to host its upcoming continuing education meeting on Saturday, November 14, 2026, offering both in-person attendance and a virtual option via Zoom. Running from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. CST, the gathering takes place at the University of Minnesota’s Phillips-Wangensteen Building.

University of Minnesota Dermatology Department Hosts Hybrid Event

For participants joining on-site, the meeting will be held in the Dermatology Department Conference Room, Suite 1-400, located on the first floor of the Phillips-Wangensteen Building at 516 Delaware Street SE in Minneapolis. Organizers have arranged for complimentary refreshments for attendees.

Accessing the venue requires specific directions due to the building's layout. Attendees are instructed to enter through the main street-level entrance on the third floor from Delaware Street SE. Organizers will badge participants at this entrance between 9:45 A.M. and 10:00 A.M. Those arriving after that window or encountering entry issues are advised to contact 612-710-5507. Event coordinators explicitly caution attendees against following outdated elevator signage pointing toward the fourth floor, advising instead to take the elevator down two levels to the first floor and follow the posted directions to the Dermatology Department.

Participants preferring to join remotely can access the session through an official Zoom Meeting link using Meeting ID 920 0017 7335 and Passcode gQ8S2h.

Dermatology Presentations Highlight Research on Alopecia Areata

The agenda features a series of presentations highlighting current clinical developments and research directions in dermatology and patient care:

Welcome and Introductions: Maria Hordinsky, MD, Professor and Vice-Chair of Research
JAK Inhibitors in Alopecia Areata: Katie Beier, Clinical Research Fellow
Clinical Trials in Alopecia Areata: Allison Hanka, Clinical Research Fellow
Tracking Immune Cells in the Scalp Following Microbiome Therapy in Alopecia Areata: Javed Shaik, PhD, Clinical and Transitional Research Lead
Psychological Functioning in Persons with Alopecia Areata: Kristina Gorbatenko-Roth, PhD, Adjunct Faculty
Open Discussion session

Support group leader Heidi Odmark is available via email at [email protected] or by phone at 612-226-7857 for individuals seeking additional information regarding the meeting.