Carolina Puyana, MD, Chief of Academics

Carolina grew up in Barranquilla, Colombia and Miami, Florida. She obtained her Masters of Science in Public Health and her undergraduate degree from the University of Miami. Prior to medical school she participated in a yearlong National Cancer Institute research training fellowship. She earned her medical degree at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she graduated with honors. As a dermatology resident she brings her diverse background and experiences to impact patient care. On her free time, you will most likely catch her exploring the Chicago food scene, spending time with her family, friends, and two dogs.

Victoria Kuritza, MD, Chief of Scheduling

Victoria Kuritza is a Chicagoland native and graduated college from Northwestern University with degrees in Linguistics and Biology. She then spent a year as a medical assistant before starting medical school at the University of Illinois at Rockford. Before starting at UIC Dermatology, she spent her intern year at St. Francis in Evanston, IL. Outside of clinic, you’ll find Victoria traveling near and far (some favorite trips include South Africa and Jackson Hole), skiing, playing tennis, re-watching Brooklyn 99, and enjoying time with friends and family.

Brian earned his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. During his time there, he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and received a distinction in research. Additionally, he pursued a wound healing research fellowship at the Dr. Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery at the University of Miami. He later completed his internship at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Before his medical journey, Brian worked for a medical publishing company, served in politics for a senator on Capitol Hill, and founded a non-profit service organization.

As a dermatology resident at UIC, he is recognized for his compassion towards patients and his pursuit of excellence in clinical dermatology. During his residency, Brian has not only secured over $20,000 in grants to support his research but has also presented his findings at conferences throughout the country. Brian’s primary research areas are cutaneous oncology and guidelines development.

He is passionate about mentoring and currently guides over 10 medical students, enriching their academic and professional journeys. Additionally, he is actively involved in professional societies within dermatology, serving on various task forces and subcommittees. Clinically, he has a deep interest in Mohs Micrographic surgery, dermatologic oncology, and reconstruction. In his free time, Brian enjoys cooking, skiing, traveling, and spending cherished moments with his fiancé Jayme and her two children, Olive and Nate.

Neha Chandan, MD, Chief of JBVA/ CDS

Neha Chandan grew up in Bourbonnais, IL. She completed her medical school at the University of Illinois Chicago, where she graduated with honors and participated in the dual degree MD/MPH program with a focus on global and community health. Neha hopes to use dermatology as a vehicle to breaking down community barriers. As a resident at UIC, she brings her compassion and cultural awareness to impact patient care. In her free time, Neha enjoys traveling (has been to 24 countries and counting), exploring new cuisines/restaurants, fitness classes, and spending time with family and friends