A pioneer’s path: Dr. Mary Lupo’s transformative journey in dermatology
Dr. Mary Lupo (NC ’76, M *80, R *84) is a pioneer in cosmetic dermatology, and she was recently honored with three prestigious nationwide lifetime achievement awards that celebrate her groundbreaking contributions to the field.
Her journey began at Tulane University, where a full academic scholarship from the Gus Meyer Foundation opened doors to myriad opportunities. Growing up in mid-city New Orleans with limited financial means, Dr. Lupo found Tulane to be a game-changing experience. “Tulane never tried to put you in a box,” she said. “They valued different people for all that they could become.”
She received the American Academy of Dermatology’s Presidential Citation for Pioneering Innovation in Aesthetics, the Dermatology Foundation’s Lifetime Career Educator Award and the Women’s Dermatologic Society’s Wilma Bergfeld, MD Visionary & Leadership Award. These three honors celebrate different facets of Dr. Lupo’s career: her leadership, her teaching and her innovation.
She is especially proud that the recognition came from these three organizations, which don’t often recognize cosmetic dermatologists.
Dr. Lupo credits Tulane with laying a strong foundation for her to pursue her path. A graduate of Newcomb College in 1976 and Tulane School of Medicine in 1980, Dr. Lupo completed her dermatology residency at a time when cosmetic dermatology was barely recognized as a legitimate medical specialty. Her innovative spirit was evident early on, when, as a resident herself, she developed the first formal residency program with a cosmetic injection curriculum at Tulane, setting new standards in training.
“I couldn’t have been a doctor who just talks to patients and writes prescriptions,” she said. “I have a creative nature, and innovation has always been what fulfills me.” This vision led her to establish the Lupo Center for Aesthetic Dermatology immediately after her residency, the first of its kind in the area and one of the first in the country.
She has always been energized by her work as an innovator. She was one of the first people, for example, to figure out how to use Botox to raise a patient’s eyebrows. “For me, innovation means looking at what already exists and reimagining how it can benefit the patient in new ways.”
Her connection to Tulane has been far-reaching. As a long-time adjunct faculty member, Dr. Lupo has been committed to mentoring the next generation of dermatologists. “What good is innovation, what good is a passion, if you don’t pass them on?” she asked.
Together with her husband Robert Lupo (A ’77), Dr. Lupo is passionate about supporting Tulane philanthropically.
“Donating to your college is a way of showing gratitude for the education and opportunities that allowed you to have the life you’ve built.”
The couple is known for their philanthropic efforts, supporting not just Tulane but also local institutions like City Park — a place with deep personal significance to Dr. Lupo, because it is where her parents first met.
From a scholarship student to a nationally recognized leader, Dr. Lupo embodies the transformative power of education, innovation and an unwavering commitment to her profession and her alma mater. As she continues to explore new frontiers in dermatology, she remains excited about the future. “What excites me most is always the next thing,” she said. “What is going to be innovative, different and, most importantly, what will truly make a difference?”
