Carolyn Ahlers

Dr. Carolyn Ahlers

First Year Resident

Start Year

2024

 

What are your career interests?

General dermatology, medical dermatology, procedural dermatology

 

Why did you choose Duke for residency training?

I chose Duke University for residency training due to the emphasis on resident education. I am excited to train at a top academic medical center with excellence in general and complex dermatologic disease.

 

Education and Training

Undergraduate: University of Notre Dame, B.S., Science Pre-Professional Studies, 2017

Medical School: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, M.D., 2021

Internship: Internal Medicine Residency, Duke University, 2021 - 2024

Internal Medicine Residency, Duke University, 2021 - 2024

Residency: Dermatology, Duke University, 2024 - 2027

 

Awards and Honors

  • Advocacy and Clinical Leadership Track Certificate, Duke University Hospital (2024)
  • Medical Education Leadership Track Certificate, Duke University Hospital (2023)
  • Duke University Department of Medicine Califf Resident Research Day Poster Winner (2023)
  • Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (2021)
  • Glasgow-Rubin Certificate of Commendation for Academic Achievement, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (2021)
  • The Geoffrey David Chazen Award, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (2021)
  • Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, University of Notre Dame (2017)
  • American Society for Cell Biology Undergraduate Award (2015)
  • University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center Research Fellow (2015)
  • University of Notre Dame Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement Conference Grant (2015)
  • University of Notre Dame College of Science Undergraduate Research Award (2015)
  • Andrews Scholar for Service, University of Notre Dame (2014, 2016)

Publications & Presentations

Publications:

  • Madden C, Thompson KG, Smith IT, Ike J, Halle BR, Ahlers CG, Mosley D, Grossarth S, Bibee K, Wheless L. TNF-alpha inhibitors in organ transplant recipients: a retrospective cohort study. Arch Dermatol Res. 2024 May 17;316(5):179. doi: 10.1007/s00403-024-02944-y. PMID: 38758401.
  • Parker ER, Ahlers CG, Hicks AB. A Report of a Keratoacanthoma-Type Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Arising Within a Multicolored Ink Tattoo. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2024 Apr;17(4):33-36. PMID: 38638186; PMCID: PMC11022846.
  • Ahlers CG, Patel P, Parikh K, Fudim M. Use of invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing to diagnose preload reserve failure in patients with liver disease. ESC Heart Fail. 2023 Nov 27. doi: 10.1002/ehf2.14598. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38012064.
  • Ahlers CG, Parker ER. A report of disseminated actinic granuloma: An unusually extensive presentation. SAGE Open Med Case Rep. 2023 Aug 25;11:2050313X231195487. doi: 10.1177/2050313X231195487. PMID: 37654549; PMCID: PMC10467196.
  • Ahlers CG, Kappus M. Obesity management for the pre-liver transplant and post-liver transplant patient. Clin Liver Dis (Hoboken). 2023 May 16;21(6):165-168. doi: 10.1097/CLD.0000000000000039. PMID: 37361255; PMCID: PMC10287134.
  • Ahlers CG, Wang B, Howell DN, Choksi V. Extensive Palpable Purpura Preceding Renal Dysfunction in Immunoglobulin A Vasculitis Due to Coronavirus-19 Infection. Am J Med. 2023 Apr 15:S0002-9343(23)00249-8. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2023.03.028. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37068573; PMCID: PMC10105621.
  • Ahlers CG, Matthews H, Perez R, Naggie S. Secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis due to Heartland virus. BMJ Case Rep. 2022 Dec 8;15(12):e253082. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2022-253082. PMID: 36593621; PMCID: PMC9743278.
  • Ahlers CG, Lan M, Schoenecker JG, Borst AJ. Blood Loss and Transfusion in a Pediatric Scoliosis Surgery Cohort in the Antifibrinolytic Era. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2022 Apr 1;44(3):e701-e706. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0000000000002351. PMID: 34654764; PMCID: PMC8957516.
  • James P. Hovis, Ahlers CG, Eric S. Dilbone, Jacquelyn S. Pennings, Abigail L. Henry, Erich M. Gauger, Mihir J. Desai, Donald H. Lee. Efficacy of utilizing 3D printed models for preoperative surgical planning of open reduction, internal fixation of distal humerus fractures, Annals of 3D Printed Medicine, Volume 5, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stlm.2022.100047.
  • Ahlers CG, Lawson V, Lee J, March C, Schultz J, Anderson K, Neeley M, Fleming AE, Drolet BC. A Virtual Wellness and Learning Communities Program for Medical Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic. South Med J. 2021 Dec;114(12):807-811. doi: 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000001330. PMID: 34853859; PMCID: PMC8607913.
  • Ahlers, CG, Wheless, L. Treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa in immunosuppressed transplant patients. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Volume 83, Issue 3, Supplement AB64. September 2021.
  • Ahlers CG, Zwerner JP, Parker ER. An Extensive Presentation of Cutaneous Angiosarcoma. J Drugs Dermatol. 2021 Aug 1;20(8):895-897. doi: 10.36849/JDD.6051. PMID: 34397202.
  • Ahlers CG, BS; Baron, Christopher M. MD; Sarma, Asha MD; Borst, Alexandra J. MD Contrasting Cases of Complex Lymphatic Anomalies: Case Reports and Review of the Literature, Journal of Vascular Anomalies: March 2021 - Volume 2 - Issue 1 - p e007 doi: 10.1097/JOVA.0000000000000007
  • Ahlers CG, Orimoloye, O. A., Annis, J., Beckermann, K., Johnson, D., Moslehi, J., & Brittain, E. (2021). The Effect of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors on the Right Ventricle and Pulmonary Vasculature: Autopsy/Biopsy and Echocardiographic Data. Circulation, 144(Suppl_1), A9361-A9361.
  • Kuhn AW, Lynch JR, Ahlers CG, Polkowski GG. Spinal Anesthetic Type and Independent Risk Factors for Postoperative Urinary Retention Following Total Joint Arthroplasty. J Surg Orthop Adv. 2020 Winter;29(4):225-229. PMID: 33416482.
  • Ahlers CG, Trinh QH, Montenovo M. Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a 24-Year-Old Female with Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Case Rep Genet. 2020 Oct 7;2020:8811296. doi: 10.1155/2020/8811296. PMID: 33083068; PMCID: PMC7563044.
  • Khattab MH, Sherry AD, Ahlers CG, Kirschner AN. Radiation-associated epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma among five secondary malignancies: A case report and review of literature. World J Clin Oncol. 2018 Dec 20;9(8):200-207. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v9.i8.200. PMID: 30622928; PMCID: PMC6314863.
  • Lesko, A., Ahlers CG, Lyons, A.T., Gaona, J.D., Prosperi, J.R. Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Transcriptionally Regulates Epithelial Membrane Protein 2 to Regulate Apical-Basal Polarity. Cancer Research. 2018, Jul; 78(13 Supplement): 4466. Pub Status: Published.
  • Frieler RA, Chung Y, Ahlers CG, Gheordunescu G, Song J, Vigil TM, Shah YM, Mortensen RM. Genetic neutrophil deficiency ameliorates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Exp Neurol. 2017 Dec;298(Pt A):104-111. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2017.08.016. Epub 2017 Aug 31. PMID: 28865993; PMCID: PMC5658240.
  • Lesko, A., Ahlers CG, Prosperi, J.R. Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Regulates Epithelial Morphogenesis and Migration through FAK/Src Signaling. Cancer Research. 2015, Aug; 75(15 Supplement): LB-066. Pub Status: Published.

 

Presentations:

  • Ahlers CG, Parker E. Alpha-Gal Syndrome for the Dermatologist. 2023 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting. 2023.
  • Wegermann K, Ahlers CG, Karachaliou G, Au S, Miller K, Diehl A, Abdelmalek M, Moylan C, Fudim M. Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction in Patients with Biopsy-Proven Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. 2023 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions: The Best and the Brightest of Heart Failure Research. 2023.
  • Ahlers CG, Choksi V. Palpable Purpura Preceding Renal Dysfunction in Immunoglobulin A Vasculitis due to Coronavirus-19 Infection. 2023 North Carolina American College of Physicians Annual Meeting. 2023.
  • Ahlers CG, Choksi V. Palpable Purpura Preceding Renal Dysfunction in Immunoglobulin A Vasculitis due to Coronavirus-19 Infection. 2023 Duke University Hospital Department of Medicine Resident Research Day. 2023.
  • Ahlers CG, Matthews, H, Loriaux, A, Perez, R, Mourad, A, Naggie, S. Secondary HLH in an Immunocompetent Patient with Heartland Virus and Ehrlichiosis Chaffeensis: Case Report and Review of the Literature. Duke University Hospital Department of Medicine Resident Research Day. 2022.
  • Siktberg, J, Hanna, E, Zheng, Y, Ahlers CG, Brady, D. A Model for Translating Surveys into Action in the Independent Student Analysis during the Medical School Re-accreditation Process. Learn Serve Lead 2021: AAMC Annual Meeting. 2021.
  •  Ahlers CG, Orimoloye, O. A., Annis, J., Beckermann, K., Johnson, D., Moslehi, J., & Brittain, E. The Effect of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors on the Right Ventricle and Pulmonary Vasculature: Autopsy/Biopsy and Echocardiographic Data. 2021 American Heart Association Annual Scientific Sessions. 2021.
  • Ahlers CG, Wheless, L. Treatment of Hidradenitis Suppurative in Immunocompromised Transplant Patients. 2020 American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting, 2020.
  • Ahlers CG, Kuhn, A., Lynch, L., Polkowski, GG. Spinal Anesthesia and Post-Operative Urinary Retention Following Total Joint Arthroplasty. Southern Orthopaedic Association Annual Meeting, July 2020.
  • Ahlers CG, Parker, E. Extensive Cutaneous Angiosarcoma of the Scalp: A Clinical Vignette. American College of Physicians Tennessee Chapter Annual Meeting. October 2020.
  • Ahlers CG, Lawson, V, Lee, J, March, C, Neeley, M, Anderson, K, Fleming, AE, Drolet BC. Virtual Wellness and Learning Community Programming to Support Medical Student Wellbeing during COVID-19. Learning Communities Institute 17th Annual Conference. October 2020.
  • Ahlers CG, Lan, M, Schoenecker, JG, Borst, AJ. Worsened Outcomes in Pediatric Neuromuscular Scoliosis Patients Compared to Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients After Posterior Spinal Fusion Surgery. American Society of Anesthesiologists 2020 Annual Meeting. October 2020.
  • Ahlers CG, Liberman, J. Implementation of an Anesthesia Airway Shadow Board in the Operating Room: A Quality Improvement Project. American Society of Anesthesiologists 2020 Annual Meeting. October 2020. 
  • Ahlers CG, Raymond, B. In the Face of Coagulopathy: Management of an Epidural Catheter for a High-Risk Patient. American Society of Anesthesiologists 2020 Annual Meeting. October 2020.
  • Lesko, A., Ahlers CG, Lyons, A., Gaona, G., Prosperi, J. Adenomatous Polyposis Coli transcriptionally regulates Epithelial Membrane Protein 2 to regulate apical-basal polarity. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, Chicago. April 2018.
  • Lesko, A., Ahlers CG, Lyons, A., Prosperi, J. Epithelial Membrane Protein 2 and Adenomatous Polyposis Coli interactions regulate apical-basal polarity. American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) Annual Meeting, Philadelphia. December 2017.
  •  Lesko, A., Ahlers CG, Lyons, A., Prosperi, J. Epithelial Membrane Protein 2 Regulates APC-Mediated 3D Morphogenesis and Apical-Basal Polarity. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Future Fellow Research Conference, Memphis. June 2017.
  • Lesko, A., Ahlers CG, and Prosperi, J. Epithelial Membrane Protein 2 regulates APC-mediated 3D morphogenesis and apical-basal polarity. American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) Annual Meeting, San Francisco. December 2016.
  • Ahlers CG, Lesko, A., Prosperi, J. APC Regulation of Epithelial Membrane Protein 2. University of Notre Dame, College of Science Joint Annual Meeting, South Bend. May 2016.
  • Ahlers CG, Lesko, A., Prosperi, J. APC Regulation of Epithelial Membrane Protein 2. Harper Cancer Research Institute, Harper Cancer Research Day, South Bend. April 2016.
  • Ahlers CG, Lesko, A., Prosperi, J. Activation of Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) in Epithelial Morphogenesis. American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) Annual Meeting, San Diego. December 2015.
  • Lesko, A., Chandra, M., Ahlers CG, Prosperi, J. Epithelial Membrane Protein 2 is Regulated by APC to Mediate 3D Morphogenesis, Apical-Basal Polarity, and Cell Motility. American Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting, San Diego. December 2015.
  • Ahlers CG, Lesko, A., Prosperi, J. APC Regulation of EMP2 through FAK/Src Signaling. Harper Cancer Research Institute, Harper Cancer Research Day, South Bend. April 2015.
  • Ahlers CG, Lesko, A., Prosperi, J. APC Regulation of EMP2 through FAK/Src Signaling. University of Notre Dame, College of Science Joint Annual Meeting, South Bend. April 2015.
  • Lesko, A., Ahlers CG, Prosperi, J. Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Regulates Epithelial Morphogenesis and Migration through FAK/Src Signaling. American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, Philadelphia. April 2015.

 

Dr. Ahlers has a weekly clinic in our resident continuity clinic at the Durham VA. This clinic is run by both resident and attending physicians at the VA. To make an appointment with Dr. Ahlers, please call 919-416-8070.