It is with deep love and pride that we dedicate this page to
Dr. Daniel Lewis Popkin — co-founder of Innova Dermatology,
beloved husband of Dr. Margaret Mann, and father of Samuel Popkin.
The world lost a wonderful person — a dear and beloved husband, father,
son, brother, friend, physician, and scientist who made a profound impact
on everyone who knew him.
His vision for what a dermatology practice could be — rigorous,
evidence-based, and deeply personal — lives in everything we do at Innova.
We carry his legacy forward with pride.
Dr. Daniel Popkin
MD PhD
An Extraordinary Life in Science and Medicine
Daniel Popkin grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, attending Hume-Fogg Academic High School before earning his BA in Molecular Biology at Princeton University. His intellectual curiosity led him to Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, where he earned both his MD and his PhD in Immunology — a rare dual achievement that reflected both clinical dedication and a love of discovery.
After completing his dermatology residency at Washington University / Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Dr. Popkin pursued a prestigious post-doctoral fellowship at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California — conducting basic science research in immunology while practicing clinically at The Scripps Clinic in San Diego.
In 2012, Dr. Popkin joined Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, where he established his own immunology research laboratory, held a joint faculty position at the Cleveland Clinic, and served as Assistant Professor of Dermatology. He was recognized for expertise in skin cancer, acne, psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo, and immunodermatologic disorders.
He co-authored the Handbook of Dermatology: A Practical Manual (Wiley-Blackwell, 2009 and second edition) with Dr. Mann — a clinical reference used in dermatology residency training programs across the country.
He returned to his hometown of Nashville to co-found Innova Dermatology with his wife — to build a practice that delivered the standard of care he had practiced his entire career: rigorous, evidence-based, and deeply personal.
Education & Training
Undergraduate
Princeton University — BA in Molecular Biology
Medical Degree
Washington University School of Medicine — MD
PhD
Washington University — PhD in Immunology
Residency
Dermatology — Barnes-Jewish Hospital / Washington University
Post-Doctorate
Immunology — The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
Certification
American Board of Dermatology · Fellow, American Academy of Dermatology
Academic Posts
Assistant Professor, Case Western Reserve · Joint Faculty, Cleveland Clinic · Asst. Chief, Louis Stokes VA Medical Center
Publications
Co-author, Handbook of Dermatology (Wiley-Blackwell) · Multiple peer-reviewed journals
Co-Founder
Innova Dermatology, Hendersonville, TN — 2019
Honoring Daniel’s Legacy
Daniel was passionate about science and learning, and desired to improve the world with his work. His colleagues remember his precision, his curiosity, and his warmth with patients. His family remembers a man who came home.
At Innova, we carry his standard forward — in every diagnosis, every procedure, every patient conversation. This practice is, and always will be, his too.