Managing Chronic Hand Eczema (CHE): Education for Health Professionals A Pilot CME Initiative

Chronic hand eczema is a common and persistent condition that is frequently under-recognized and inconsistently managed, leading to significant patient burden and gaps in diagnosis, severity assessment, and treatment. This enduring material will equip clinicians with evidence-based strategies to improve recognition, diagnostic evaluation, HECSI severity scoring, patch testing, treatment selection, and patient-centered care across diverse patient populations, ultimately supporting more standardized and equitable management of chronic hand eczema.

Target Audience

Physicians, Advanced Practice Providers, and other clinical staff.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

  • Describe the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and clinical spectrum of chronic hand eczema.
  • Perform a structured diagnostic evaluation for chronic hand eczema, including relevant history-taking, assessment of occupational exposures, appropriate use of patch testing, and recognition of presentations across diverse skin tones.
  • Apply the Hand Eczema Severity Index and other clinical assessment strategies to evaluate disease severity and guide management decisions.
  • Implement stepwise, guideline-informed management strategies for chronic hand eczema based on disease severity, patient-specific factors, treatment response, and emerging therapeutic options.
  • Integrate psychosocial, occupational, and health equity considerations that may affect patients with chronic hand eczema and incorporate patient-centered counseling into clinical care.
  • Evaluate clinical cases of chronic hand eczema using interactive case-based exercises, including severity scoring, patch test interpretation, and treatment planning..

Course summary

Available credit: 
  • 1.25 AAPA Category I CME
  • 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
  • 1.25 Attendance
Course opens: 
08/17/2026
Course expires: 
08/17/2027

Faculty:

  • Sonal Choudhary, MD - Assistant Professor of Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
    Planning Committee Member, Course Director, and Presenter
  • Natalie Kay Gardinier, PA-C - Physician Assistant, UPMC Dermatology
    Planning Committee Member
  • Anusha Kambula, MD - PGY-2 Resident, Department of Dermatology at UPMC
    Presenter

Conflict of Interest Disclosure:

Dr. Choudhary is a member of the CE Speakers’ Bureau for Sanofi and Regeneron and receives grant/research support from Eli Lilly and LEO Pharma.

Natalie Kay Gardinier reports participation on the Advisory Board for Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.

No other members of the planning committee, speakers, presenters, authors, content reviewers and/or anyone else in a position to control the content of this education activity have relevant financial relationships with any companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.  

DISCLAIMER STATEMENT

The information presented at this CME program represents the views and opinions of the individual presenters, and does not constitute the opinion or endorsement of, or promotion by, the UPMC Center for Continuing Education in the Health Sciences, UPMC / University of Pittsburgh Medical Center or Affiliates and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Reasonable efforts have been taken intending for educational subject matter to be presented in a balanced, unbiased fashion and in compliance with regulatory requirements. However, each program attendee must always use his/her own personal and professional judgment when considering further application of this information, particularly as it may relate to patient diagnostic or treatment decisions including, without limitation, FDA-approved uses and any off-label uses.

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In support of improving patient care, the University of Pittsburgh is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physician (CME)
The University of Pittsburgh designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit[s]™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Physician Assistant (AAPA)
The University of Pittsburgh has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1.25 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

Other health care professionals will receive a certificate of attendance confirming the number of contact hours commensurate with the extent of participation in this activity.

 

 

Available Credit

  • 1.25 AAPA Category I CME
  • 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
  • 1.25 Attendance
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