Biography
Luis A. Sardiña, MD, FCAP, FAAD, received his medical degree from Universidad Central de Venezuela. He completed residency training in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology followed by fellowship training in Dermatopathology at Cleveland Clinic. He subsequently completed residency training in Dermatology at Cleveland Clinic and the University of New Mexico. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Dermatology and Pathology at the University of New Mexico, where his clinical and academic interests focus on hair disorders, scalp pathology, trichoscopy, and the integration of clinical, trichoscopic, and histopathologic data in the diagnosis and management of hair and scalp disorders.
Dr. Sardiña serves as Director of Hair Disorders & Scalp Pathology and Director of Project ECHO Dermatology. He founded the Hair Pathology Unit at UNM, creating a specialized clinical and academic program at the intersection of dermatology, dermatopathology, and hair medicine.
Dr. Sardiña has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and is actively involved in research, medical education, and mentorship. His work focuses on advancing the understanding of hair and scalp disorders while developing innovative approaches that connect clinical care, pathology, research, and longitudinal patient data. He is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, College of American Pathologists, and other professional organizations. Outside of medicine, his interests include international travel, languages, culture, and the arts.
Personal Statement
My academic interests focus on hair disorders and scalp pathology, with an emphasis on integrating clinical examination, trichoscopy, histopathology, laboratory medicine and longitudinal patient outcomes. My training in Dermatology, Dermatopathology, and Anatomic & Clinical Pathology has shaped my interest in developing precise and data-driven approaches to the diagnosis and management of complex hair and scalp disorders.
I also greatly enjoy practicing general dermatology and caring for patients across the spectrum of dermatologic disease; especially in underserved communities. Teaching is an important part of my academic career, and I particularly enjoy teaching dermatopathology to medical students, residents, and fellows while integrating clinical findings with histopathology to enhance diagnostic reasoning.
At the University of New Mexico, I hope to advance clinical care, research, and education in dermatology, with a particular focus on hair and scalp disorders.
Areas of Specialty
General Dermatology
Dermatopathology
Hair and Scalp Disorders
Achievements & Awards
Fellow, American Academy of Dermatology (FAAD)
Fellow, College of American Pathologists (FCAP)
Top Ten of Graduating Class, Universidad Central de Venezuela, December 2012
José María Vargas Award for High Curricular Performance, December 2012
Student Merit Award for Entrepreneurial Creativity and Innovation, October 2011
Top 10% Most Downloaded Papers (2018–2019), “Erythema Elevatum Diutinum: A Rare and Poorly Understood Cutaneous Vasculitis,” Journal of Cutaneous Pathology
Gender
Male
Languages
- English
- Spanish
- Italian
Research and Scholarship
My research and scholarly experience has focused on hair follicle tumors and the clinicopathologic evaluation of cutaneous disease. My current work increasingly focuses on integrating clinical dermatology, trichoscopy, dermatopathology, and laboratory medicine to develop more comprehensive and data-driven approaches to the diagnosis and management of hair and scalp disorders.