Research Interests

Joseph C. Kvedar, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, is Founder and Director of Partners Telemedicine and Vice Chair of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School. Partners HealthCare is the umbrella organization created by Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, both Harvard Medical School teaching hospitals. Dr. Kvedar's primary responsibilities involve direction and management of Partners Telemedicine, a program that is recognized globally for excellence and leadership in the emerging field of telemedicine. The department is responsible for management of remote teleconsultations in all specialties, benefitting patients in more than 30 countries; and coordination of clinical and educational videoconferences and multimedia productions that link and provide information to health care providers globally. Partners Telemedicine is responsible for important investigations into novel approaches to lower extremity wound care, stroke management, post-operative care in the home, web-based specialty consultations, remote monitoring of patients with chronic diseases and remote echocardiography. Partners Telemedicine has also been a pioneer in bringing health care to the developing world through a monthly telemedicine clinic in the remote village of Robib Cambodia, a project that began in 2001.

Dr. Kvedar is President-elect and a member of the governing Board of the American Telemedicine Association (ATA). He chairs the Board subcommittee on credentialing and privileging and is an active member of the Board subcommittee on policy. In this capacity, Dr. Kvedar served as manager for the ATA's relationship with the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Dr. Kvedar was elected a member of Who's Who among Executives and Professionals in 2002.

Dr. Kvedar is Vice Chair of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) task force on telemedicine, with a focus on image management and guideline development. He co-authored the initial set of AAD telemedicine guidelines and participated in their revision during the summer of 2001.