Dermatopathology Service

The University of Florida Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories are pleased to offer a specialized dermatopathology service. The goal of our service is to provide high quality interpretation of animal skin biopsy specimens by pathologists with interest and expertise in dermatopathology. Our team includes 3 dermatopathologists with years of experience in this area.

Pathologists

William F. Craft, DVM, Diplomate ACVP

William Craft

Dr. William Craft is a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, having served as a boarding team officer, navigator, deck watch officer, and coxswain on polar icebreakers, patrol boats, and small boats. After his Coast Guard career, he earned his DVM at Washington State University in 2004, followed by 6 years in small animal general and emergency practice. In practice his special interests were dermatology, dentistry, complicated medicine cases, and surgery. He then completed a residency in anatomic pathology at the University of Florida in 2013, which was followed by a dermatopathology fellowship and position as a lecturer, all at the University of Florida, before being hired as a Clinical Assistant Professor. He is a Diplomate of the ACVP. His special interests include dermatopathology, diagnostic pathology, dermatology, immune-mediated disease, infectious disease, and allergy. He is the treasurer for the International Society of Veterinary Dermatopathology.

Dr. Craft and his wife (also a veterinary pathologist) are the parents of two boys, two Bearded Collies, a Sheltie, and too many tropical fish to count. They love all outdoor activities, Gator sports, and training and showing Bearded Collies.

Aline Rodrigues Hoffmann, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVP

Hoffmann photo

Dr. Aline Rodrigues Hoffmann received her Veterinary Medicine and Master’s degree from Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Brazil. She pursued a combined veterinary pathology residency and PhD program at Texas A&M University, TX, USA, becoming Board certified by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 2009, and completing her PhD in 2011. She has been involved and dedicated to diagnostic pathology, and, in particular dermatopathology for approximately 12 years. After living many years in Texas and now in Florida, she developed a special interest for fungal infections in animals, and she now runs the Molecular Fungal ID Lab at UF (link to molecular fungal ID Lab). Her research is mostly focused on investigating the role the skin microbiome plays in health and disease in companion animals, basic dermatopathology research, pathogenesis of infectious diseases, and microbiology. Dr. Rodrigues Hoffmann is a member of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, American Academy of Veterinary Dermatology, International Society of Veterinary Dermatopathology, and American Society of Microbiology. She has been an author or co-author on over 80 peer-reviewed scientific publications.

She and her husband are parents of two boys and a Boston Terrier named Lola. Their family loves the outdoors, especially visiting the coast of Florida and Brazil.

Pamela E. Ginn, DVM, Diplomate ACVP (Professor Emeritus)

Ginn

Dr. Pamela Ginn graduated from Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1983 and spent the first seven years of her career in small animal practice in central Florida. She completed a residency in anatomic pathology at the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine in 1992 and was board certified in anatomic pathology in 1993. She quickly developed a special interest in dermatopathology during her residency and continued developing her interest and career at the University of Florida for the next 14 years. During her career at the University of Florida, she taught dermatopathology to veterinary students, and anatomic and dermatology residents. She has also taught courses in disturbances of growth, endocrine, renal, lymphoid, cardiovascular pathology as well as special topics such as tumors and tumor-like lesions of the skin, equine dermatopathology, immune mediated skin diseases, cutaneous manifestations of systemic disease, and histiocytic disorders. She is author or co-author of many scientific publications including textbook chapters in highly regarded pathology textbooks. She is a member, founding member and past officer of the International Society for Veterinary Dermatopathology and a member of the American Academy for Veterinary Dermatology.

Specimen Submission

A completed and printed submission form must be submitted with the samples. Please make sure that the veterinarian’s contact information and a history are completed in the submission form. Send digital images to dermpath@vetmed.ufl.edu.

Shipping Samples

Send samples with a printed copy of the completed order form to:

UF Dermatopathology Service
2015 SW 16th Ave. Room VS-50
Gainesville, FL 32608

Research

Our laboratories are interested in research projects involving disease process affecting the skin in animal species. Contact us if you are interested in a collaborative project and would like to submit research samples.

One of the main areas of focus of our lab is the investigation of skin microbiome of companion animals. Over the years, we have developed several studies describing the bacterial and fungal skin microbiome of dogs and cats. We have investigated the organisms colonizing healthy skin, as well as those with allergic conditions, and bad odor. We continue our interest in this field.