Heidi Kong

Heidi H. Kong is a board-certified Dermatologist and currently directs a translational research program studying the human microbiome and inflammatory skin diseases. After training in Dermatology at Duke University, she completed a clinical research fellowship in the Dermatology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute and the Duke-NIH Masters Program in Clinical Research. Dr. Kong is an attending physician on the NIH Dermatology Consultation Service and an Adjunct Investigator at the National Cancer Institute. She is a Senior Investigator and Head of the Cutaneous Microbiome and Inflammation Section at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.

Research Statement

Dr. Heidi Kong has dedicated her research to investigating the skin microbes in patients with inflammatory skin diseases and in healthy individuals. Her translational studies are based on clinical questions related to the skin microbiome in atopic dermatitis and immunodeficiency. Dr. Kong’s work has advanced our understanding of the microbial communities of human skin. She combines translational research expertise with advanced genomic technologies to study skin microbes in order to gain insights into the pathogenesis of skin diseases and to potentially identify therapeutics for patients. Dr. Kong has active clinical studies for healthy volunteers and patients with eczema.

Education

• Duke University, M.H.Sc.

• Baylor College of Medicine, M.D. (Honors)

• Stanford University, B.S., Biological Sciences

Experience

• Assistant Clinical Investigator
  Dermatology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute

• Clinical Research Fellowship
  Dermatology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute

• Dermatology Residency, Chief Resident
  Duke University Medical Center