Eli Lilly and Company announced that Michael P. Heffernan, M.D., an expert in complex medical dermatology, psoriasis and clinical trials, has joined its autoimmune team. Most recently, Heffernan was in private practice at Central Dermatology in St. Louis, and was formerly the chair of the Department of Dermatology at the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine.

In this new position at Lilly, he will provide scientific and medical direction to those molecules in clinical development for the treatment of psoriasis and other autoimmune dermatological conditions. He will also serve as a senior medical advisor to Lilly's advocacy and medical education efforts in these disease states. Alisa E. Koch, M.D., a rheumatologist who has won numerous academic awards for her work in rheumatoid arthritis, joined as senior medical fellow.

Koch recently served in an endowed chair position, the Frederick G.L. Huetwell and William D. Robinson, M.D. Professor of Rheumatology, at the University of Michigan Medical School. As senior medical fellow, her key responsibilities are to advance and support the development, launch and commercialization of the U.S. autoimmune programs. She will serve as a representative and advocate for the programs within the rheumatological professional medical community and support Lilly's overall medical education efforts in these disease states.