Dr. Wisco is the Director of the Brown Dermatology Cutaneous Oncology Program and the Chair of the Department’s Quality and Safety Committee. He is board-certified in Dermatology and Micrographic Surgery & Dermatologic Oncology. He completed dermatology residency at Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, TX and completed a Mohs Micrographic Surgery Fellowship under Donald J. Grande, MD, the first Mohs Surgeon in Boston, MA. He also completed a Melanoma Clinical Research Fellowship under Hensin Tsao, MD, PhD and Arthur Sober, MD at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital & the Wellman Center for Photomedicine in Boston, MA.
Much of Dr. Wisco’s medical career has been in the military, where he served for 27 years in the US Air Force. He has also previously served as academic faculty at Emory University School of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Wisco has been heavily involved in healthcare improvement initiatives primarily through the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS), and the American Medical Association’s National Quality Registry Network (NQRN). Most significantly, his work guided the development of the AAD’s national performance measurement system and data registry (DataDerm) for all of dermatology.
Dr. Wisco’s interest in healthcare performance improvement parallels his clinical research interest of understanding the risk factors that lead to high-risk skin cancer and advanced melanoma to improve care processes and promote health. With his research/performance improvement interest, informatics background, and policy work, Dr. Wisco is dedicated to exploring methods to integrate patients, clinicians, health systems, and city governments to drive the creation of healthy sustainable communities.
| Wisco OJ, Marson JW, Litchman GH, Brownstone N, Covington KR, Martin BJ, Quick AP, Siegel JJ, Caruso HG, Cook RW, Winkelmann RR, Rigel DS. "Improved cutaneous melanoma survival stratification through integration of 31-gene expression profile testing with the American Joint Committee on Cancer 8th Edition Staging." Melanoma research, vol. 32, no. 2, 2022, pp. 98-102. |
| Toman J, Michael GM, Wisco OJ, Adams JR, Hubbs BS. "Mohs Defect Repair with Dehydrated Human Amnion/Chorion Membrane." Facial plastic surgery & aesthetic medicine, vol. 24, no. 1, 2022, pp. 48-53. |
| Wisco OJ, Imbriano P, Zullo M, Adelson D. "Aligning research core outcome set development with clinical care performance measurement." Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, vol. 81, no. 2, 2019, pp. 654-655. |
| Swetter SM, Tsao H, Bichakjian CK, Curiel-Lewandrowski C, Elder DE, Gershenwald JE, Guild V, Grant-Kels JM, Halpern AC, Johnson TM, Sober AJ, Thompson JA, Wisco OJ, Wyatt S, Hu S, Lamina T. "Guidelines of care for the management of primary cutaneous melanoma." Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, vol. 80, no. 1, 2019, pp. 208-250. |
| Wisco OJ, Hajar T, Grande DJ. "Commentary: Skin cancer in the military." Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, vol. 78, no. 6, 2018, pp. 1193-1194. |
| Johnson MM, Leachman SA, Aspinwall LG, Cranmer LD, Curiel-Lewandrowski C, Sondak VK, Stemwedel CE, Swetter SM, Vetto J, Bowles T, Dellavalle RP, Geskin LJ, Grossman D, Grossmann KF, Hawkes JE, Jeter JM, Kim CC, Kirkwood JM, Mangold AR, Meyskens F, Ming ME, Nelson KC, Piepkorn M, Pollack BP, Robinson JK, Sober AJ, Trotter S, Venna SS, Agarwala S, Alani R, Averbook B, Bar A, Becevic M, Box N, E Carson W 3rd, Cassidy PB, Chen SC, Chu EY, Ellis DL, Ferris LK, Fisher DE, Kendra K, Lawson DH, Leming PD, Margolin KA, Markovic S, Martini MC, Miller D, Sahni D, Sharfman WH, Stein J, Stratigos AJ, Tarhini A, Taylor MH, Wisco OJ, Wong MK. "Skin cancer screening: recommendations for data-driven screening guidelines and a review of the US Preventive Services Task Force controversy." Melanoma management, vol. 4, no. 1, 2017, pp. 13-37. |
| Wisco OJ, Adelson D. "Basal cell carcinoma screening drives a comprehensive approach to skin cancer." Br J Dermatol, vol. 174, no. 6, 2016, pp. 1182-3. |
| Leitenberger JJ, Rogers H, Chapman JC, Maher IA, Fox MC, Harmon CB, Bailey EC, Odland P, Wysong A, Johnson T, Wisco OJ. "Defining recurrence of nonmelanoma skin cancer after Mohs micrographic surgery: Report of the American College of Mohs Surgery Registry and Outcomes Committee." Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, vol. 75, no. 5, 2016, pp. 1022-1031. |
| Council ML, Alam M, Gloster HM Jr, Bordeaux JS, Carroll BT, Leitenberger JJ, Wisco OJ, Maher IA. "Identifying and defining complications of dermatologic surgery to be tracked in the American College of Mohs Surgery (ACMS) Registry." Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, vol. 74, no. 4, 2016, pp. 739-45. |
| Moss TA, Spillane AP, Almquist SF, McCleskey PE, Wisco OJ. "Palmoplantar keratoderma with progressive gingivitis and recurrent pyodermas." Cutis, vol. 93, no. 4, 2014, pp. 193-8. |
| Balagula Y, Mattei PL, Wisco OJ, Erdag G, Chien AL. "The great imitator revisited: the spectrum of atypical cutaneous manifestations of secondary syphilis." International Journal of Dermatology, vol. 53, no. 12, 2014, pp. 1434-41. |
| American Academy of Dermatology., American College of Mohs Surgery., American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association., American Society for Mohs Surgery., Ad Hoc Task Force., Connolly SM, Baker DR, Coldiron BM, Fazio MJ, Storrs PA, Vidimos AT, Zalla MJ, Brewer JD, Begolka WS, Berger TG, Bigby M, Bolognia JL, Brodland DG, Collins S, Cronin TA Jr, Dahl MV, Grant-Kels JM, Hanke CW, Hruza GJ, James WD, Lober CW, McBurney EI, Norton SA, Roenigk RK, Wheeland RG, Wisco OJ. "AAD/ACMS/ASDSA/ASMS 2012 appropriate use criteria for Mohs micrographic surgery: a report of the American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Mohs Surgery, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association, and the American Society for Mohs Surgery." Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.], vol. 38, no. 10, 2012, pp. 1582-603. |
| Ad Hoc Task Force., Connolly SM, Baker DR, Coldiron BM, Fazio MJ, Storrs PA, Vidimos AT, Zalla MJ, Brewer JD, Smith Begolka W, Ratings Panel., Berger TG, Bigby M, Bolognia JL, Brodland DG, Collins S, Cronin TA Jr, Dahl MV, Grant-Kels JM, Hanke CW, Hruza GJ, James WD, Lober CW, McBurney EI, Norton SA, Roenigk RK, Wheeland RG, Wisco OJ. "AAD/ACMS/ASDSA/ASMS 2012 appropriate use criteria for Mohs micrographic surgery: a report of the American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Mohs Surgery, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association, and the American Society for Mohs Surgery." Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, vol. 67, no. 4, 2012, pp. 531-50. |
| Wisco OJ, Sober AJ. "Prognostic factors for melanoma." Dermatologic clinics, vol. 30, no. 3, 2012, pp. 469-85. |
| Mattei PL, Beachkofsky TM, Gilson RT, Wisco OJ. "Syphilis: a reemerging infection." American family physician, vol. 86, no. 5, 2012, pp. 433-40. |
| Moss TA, Beachkofsky TM, Almquist SF, Wisco OJ, Murchland MR. "Alopecia with perifollicular papules and pustules." The Journal of family practice, vol. 60, no. 2, 2011, pp. 95-8. |
| Bandino JP, Norton SA, Aldrich SL, Wisco OJ, Hodson DS, Murchland MR, Grande DJ. "Low-grade myxofibrosarcoma presenting at the site of prior high-grade disease." J Cutan Pathol, vol. 38, no. 10, 2011, pp. 808-13. |
| Mattei PL, Johnson RP, Beachkofsky TM, Wisco OJ, Hivnor CM, Murchland MR. "Pruritic rash on trunk." The Journal of family practice, vol. 60, no. 9, 2011, pp. 539-42. |
| Beachkofsky TM, Wisco OJ, Osswald SS, Hodson DS. "What is your diagnosis? Labial lichen planus." Cutis, vol. 88, no. 1, 2011, pp. 13, 17-20. |
| Wentzell JM, Wisco OJ. "The helix jelly roll flap." Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.], vol. 36, no. 7, 2010, pp. 1183-90. |
| Clark SM, Beachkofsky TM, Wisco OJ, Hodson DS. "Verrucous papule on thigh." The Journal of family practice, vol. 59, no. 11, 2010, pp. 645-8. |
| Schwendiman MN, Beachkofsky TM, Wisco OJ, Owens NM, Hodson DS. "Primary cutaneous nodular amyloidosis: case report and review of the literature." Cutis, vol. 84, no. 2, 2009, pp. 87-92. |
| Beachkofsky TM, Wisco OJ, Osswald SS, Osswald MB, Hodson DS. "Pulmonary cutaneous metastasis: a case report and review of common cutaneous metastases." Cutis, vol. 84, no. 6, 2009, pp. 315-22. |
| Beachkofsky TM, Wisco OJ, Owens NM, Hodson DS. "Verrucous nodules on the ankle." The Journal of family practice, vol. 58, no. 8, 2009, pp. 427-30. |
| Parra SL, Wisco OJ. "What is your diagnosis? Perniosis (Chilblain)." Cutis, vol. 84, no. 1, 2009, pp. 15, 27-9. |
| Wisco OJ, Wentzell JM. "When an M is a V: vector analysis calls for redesign of the M-plasty." Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.], vol. 35, no. 8, 2009, pp. 1271-6. |
| Wentzell JM, Wisco OJ. "Embryologic fusion planes: a plea for more precise analysis." Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.], vol. 34, no. 6, 2008, pp. 851-3; author reply 853. |
| Wisco OJ, Sloan SB, Johnson RP. "Erythematous annular lesions." American family physician, vol. 76, no. 11, 2007, pp. 1709-10. |
| Howe WR, Wisco OJ, Sartori C. "Fixed cutaneous sporotrichosis in an adolescent boy: a case report." Cutis, vol. 78, no. 5, 2006, pp. 337-40. |
| Wisco OJ, Ritter SE, Murchland MR. "What is your diagnosis? Benign familial chronic pemphigus." Cutis, vol. 75, no. 4, 2005, pp. 208, 210-12. |
In the US, there is a significant skin cancer burden of disease that drives healthcare costs and utilization. Recent advancements in treatment modalities have lessened the morbidity & mortality incurred by patients. However, while this progress is improving the burden of disease, further work must be dedicated towards identifying and characterizing the highest at-risk populations to allow for more targeted interventions. The skin cancer community has a broad understanding of the risk factors that traditionally lead to the occurrence of disease, but limited knowledge exists on how to predict who will present with advanced disease. Within the public health and social science sectors, there has been significant work evaluating how socioeconomic status and other related social factors, and how they relate spatially, influence disease and care delivery. There has also been a refocus on how prominent diseases influence the delay in treatment for less “critical” medical problems. This has been demonstrated with COVID-19 and how the epidemic has created an access-to-care barrier for timely care of diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. In reviewing this current work, we have recognized that there is a gap in our understanding on how social access-to-care barriers and other disease priorities, along with their geospatial influence, act as risk factors, or magnify traditional risk factors, that impact the development of advanced skin cancer disease. As such, the primary focus of Dr Wisco's research team is to assess how social, geospatial, and disease access-to-care factors, along with traditional skin cancer risk factors and genetic predisposition, influence skin cancer disease severity to better address high-risk populations.
Dr. Wisco's research team's current main projects include the following:
Evaluation of Advanced Skin Cancer Risk in the United States, A National County Level Geospatial Risk Analysis
The objective of this retrospective study is to identify the populations of patients in the United States that are at greatest risk for advanced stage skin cancer. We will be using skin cancer, US census, and public health larger public domain data sources to perform multivariate and geospatial analysis to identify at-risk populations. By identifying these at-risk populations and examining access-to-care risk factors and how they relate geographically, we hope to better focus care on identified high-risk populations.
Predictive Modeling of Advanced Skin Cancer Risk in Rhode Island, A Geospatial Risk Analysis
The objective of this retrospective study is to identify the populations of patients in Rhode Island that are at greatest risk for advanced stage skin cancer. By examining the Rhode Island standard skin cancer patient factors, along with access-to-care risk factors and how they relate geographically, we hope to better focus care on identified high-risk populations. In addition, through this population-level data analysis, an opportunity also arises to identify where data gaps exist that could be addressed. It is intended that this study will also enhance the institution’s clinical research infrastructure by supporting the development of a high quality, sustainable, and relevant database in a common cancer.
Development of a Department of Defense Melanoma Prognostic Risk Index and Performance Measurement Driven Melanoma Disease Registry Plan
This retrospective study is a DoD-wide research initiative to comprehensively assess potential influencing risk factors in patients, affiliated with the Department of Defense, that have been diagnosed with melanoma, with a focus on the risk for melanoma on fighter pilots. A more granular subgroup analysis will also be performed on patients that had their tissue samples evaluated at Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Antonio Military Medical Center, Walter Reed Military Medical Center, or the Joint Pathology Center. The design of the proposed study is two-pronged, consisting of an epidemiologic and geospatial research component to develop a comprehensive prognostic index for melanoma within the DoD and a translational research component to identify the methodology to validate, refine, and clinically apply this data into a future DoD-wide automated melanoma registry that will incorporate tissue banking for genomic analysis and performance metrics to drive care.
| Year | Degree | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | DO | Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine |
| 1997 | BS | University of Portland |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Cho, Eunyoung | Associate Professor of Epidemiology, Associate Professor of Dermatology |
| Mwenda, Kevin | Director of Spatial Structures in the Social Sciences, Associate Professor of Population Studies (Research) |
| Vance, Terrence | Instructor in Dermatology |
| Weinstock, Martin | Professor of Dermatology |
Adjunct Associate Professor of Dermatology
F. Edward Hebet School of Medicine of the Uniformed Services University
Affiliated Faculty, Spatial Structures in the Social Sciences (S4)
Brown University
| Director of Cutaneous Oncology, Mohs Surgeon. Rhode Island Hospital, - |
| Associate Professor of Dermatology, Clinician Educator. Brown Univeristy , - |
