Mark E. Burnett, MD, FAAD, FACMS

Doctor

Mark E. Burnett, MD is fellowship-trained in Mohs micrographic surgery and facial-plastic reconstruction. He is also one of only a handful of dermatologists in the country to be board-certified in both Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Dermatology.

He did his undergraduate work in molecular biology at the University of California, San Diego, where he graduated with honors from Revelle College and was an undergraduate ‘Research Scholar’ in the UCSD Cancer Center.

Dr. Burnett was awarded a scholarship to attend the Mount Sinai Medical School in New York City, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, the Gold Humanism Honor Society and graduated with a Distinction in Research.

He completed his residency in Dermatology in the joint program of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the Weill-Cornell Medical Center, where he served as the Chief Resident. As a resident, Dr. Burnett was awarded the 'Distinguished Housestaff Award,' given each year to the top resident in the Medical Center.

Dr. Burnett trained in Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Facial-Plastic Reconstruction in Pittsburgh, under the direction of John A. Zitelli, MD, who himself was trained by Dr. Frederic E. Mohs, the founder of Mohs surgery, and David G. Brodland, MD. Both Dr. Zitelli and Dr. Brodland are former presidents of the American College of Mohs Surgery and have a combined 60+ years of experience in Mohs surgery, skin cancer pathology and reconstructive surgery. Their innovative surgical techniques have shaped the current landscape of skin cancer treatment across the world. This direct descent from Dr. Mohs enables Dr. Burnett to provide his patients with the highest-quality Mohs surgery possible.

During his fellowship, Dr. Burnett was trained to perform microscopically-guided removal of skin cancers of all types, with special training in advanced immunohistochemistry techniques to treat rare and high-risk tumors. He is the only fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon on the Central Coast who has been formally trained to use intra-operative immunohistochemistry to treat rare and high-risk tumors such as Melanoma, Merkel Cell Carcinoma, Extramammary Paget's Disease, Sebaceous Carcinoma, Atypical Fibroxanthoma and others.

Dr. Burnett also has special expertise in the reconstruction of cosmetically sensitive areas like the nose, lips, eyelids, and ears.

Dr. Burnett has published numerous scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals and has authored book chapters, such as: “Repairs of the Nose", "Safety in Office-Based Dermatologic Surgery”, and “Nevogenesis: Mechanisms and Clinical Implications of Nevi Development”. He continues to publish scientific articles with regularity and presents at national, regional, and local academic meetings.

Recently, Dr. Burnett published a landmark study evaluating the long-term outcomes of Mohs micrographic surgery for the treatment of invasive melanoma on the trunk and extremities. The study is the largest of its kind and demonstrated the lowest local recurrence rate ever documented and disease-specific survival for melanoma patients that was equivalent or superior to historical controls. See below to read the study.

Publications

  • Burnett ME, Brodland DG, Zitelli JA. Long-term outcomes of Mohs micrographic surgery for invasive melanoma of the trunk and proximal portion of the extremities.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021 Mar;84(3):661-668. PMID 32763327 - Read Now
  • Levy J, Burnett ME, Magro CM. Lipophagic Panniculitis of Childhood: A Case Report and Comprehensive Review of the Literature. Am J Dermatopathol. 2017 Mar;39(3):217-224. PMID 28195843 - Read Now
  • Burnett ME, Hibler BP, Wang SQ. “Reconstruction of a Lower Conchal Bowl Defect.”Dermatologic Surgery. 2016;0:1–4. PMID: 27050679 - Read Now
  • Burnett ME, and Lee EH.  “Key Issues in Surgical Training of Residents and Fellows.” Current Dermatology Reports. July, 2015. Vol. 4 (3). - Read Now
  • Fonseca M, Marchetti MA, Chung E, Dusza SW, Burnett ME, Marghoob AA, Geller AC, Bishop M, Scope A and Halpern AC. “Cross-Sectional Analysis of the Dermoscopic Patterns and Structures of Melanocytic Naevi on the Back and Legs of Adolescents.” Br J Dermatol. 2015 Jul. doi: 10.1111/bjd.14035. PMID: 26189624 - Read Now
  • Jansen R, Wang SQ, Burnett M, Osterwalder U, Lim HW. “Photoprotection: part I. Photoprotection by naturally occurring, physical, and systemic agents.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013 Dec;69(6):85. PMID: 24238179 - Read Now
  • Jansen R, Osterwalder U, Wang SQ, Burnett M, Lim HW. “Photoprotection: part II. Sunscreen: development, efficacy, and controversies.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2013 Dec; 69(6):867. PMID: 24238180 - Read Now
  • Bernardo SG*, Burnett ME*, Emer JJ, Gordon M. "Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy presenting as unilateral cellulitis and successful treatment with pamidronate disodium: A case report and review of the literature." Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. Sep 2012; 5(9): 37–46. PMID: 23050033 - Read Now
  • Burnett ME, Hu JY, Wang SQ. “Sunscreens: Obtaining Adequate Photoprotection.” Dermatologic Therapy. 2012 May-Jun;25(3):244-5. PMID: 22913442 - Read Now
  • Burnett ME, Wang SQ. “Current sunscreen controversies: a critical review.“ Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine. 2011 Apr;27(2):58-67. PMID 21392107 - Read Now
  • Wang SQ, Burnett ME, Lim HW. “Oxybenzone: Putting numbers into perspective.” Archives of Dermatology. 2011. July;147(7):865-6. PMID 21768493 - Read More
  • Wang SQ , Burnett ME. “Safety and efficacy of sunscreens: demystifying the debate.” Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine. 2011. October; 27(5): 259–260.  PMID 21950633 - Read Now
  • Burnett ME, Wang SQ. “Demystifying the Dangers of Sunscreen.” 2011. Published online: AccessDermatology.
  • Juarez JC, Manuia M, Burnett ME, Betancourt O, Boivin B, Shaw DE, Tonks NK, Mazar AP, Doñate F.  “Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) is essential for H2O2-mediated oxidation and inactivation of phosphatases in growth factor signaling.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, May 2008, 105(20):7147-7152.  PMID 18480265 - Read Now
  • Doñate F, Juarez JC, Burnett ME, Manuia MM, Guan X, Shaw DE, Smith ELP, Timucin C,  Braunstein MJ,  Batuman OA, Mazar AP. “Identification of biomarkers for the anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor activity of the Superoxide Dismutase (SOD1) inhibitor Tetrathiomolybdate (ATN-224).” British Journal of Cancer, February 2008, 98:776-783. PMID 18253124 - Read More

Book chapters

  • Burnett ME and Zitelli JA. “Repairs of the Nose.” In: Evidence-Based Procedural Dermatology, 2nd Edition. Alam M (Ed.). 2019. Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
  • Burnett, ME and Levitt JO. “Incision and Drainage (Abscesses, Acne, and Milia). Chapter 13. In: Safety in Office-Based Dermatologic Surgery. Levitt JO and Sobanko JF (Eds.). 2014. London. Springer-Verlag.
  • Burnett, ME and Levitt JO. “Paring.” Chapter 14. In: Safety in Office-Based Dermatologic Surgery. Levitt JO and Sobanko JF (Eds.). 2014. London. Springer-Verlag.
  • Burnett ME, Scope A, Marghoob AA. “Nevogenesis: Changing Theories.” In Marghoob AA (Ed.), Nevogenesis: Mechanisms and Clinical Implications of Nevi Development. 2011. Heidelberg, Germany. Springer.
  • Burnett ME, Scope A, Marghoob AA. “Genes and Nevogenesis.” In Marghoob AA (Ed.), Nevogenesis: Mechanisms and Clinical Implications of Nevi Development. 2011. Heidelberg, Germany. Springer.
  • DeLeon-Kraus Y, Burnett ME, Levitt JO. “Skin Cancers.” Chapter 94. In: Geriatric Palliative Care. Chai E, Meier D, Morris J and Goldhirsch S (Eds).  2012. Oxford University Press.

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