Dr. Frieden is a Professor of Pediatrics and Dermatology, Vice-Chair of Dermatology, and Chief of the Division of Pediatric Dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco. She received her medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco, where she also completed a pediatric internship and residency as well as a dermatology residency.

She has been President of the Society for Pediatric Dermatology, President of the American Board of Dermatology and currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Dermatology. She is currently co-editor-in-chief of the journal, Pediatric Dermatology and Secretary of the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies. She is also on the steering committee of the Leadership Institute of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Her particular interest in hemangiomas and other vascular birthmarks dates back to her dermatology residency at UCSF and to her “mini-fellowship” with Dr. Esterly in 1983. In 1991 she founded the Birthmarks and Vascular Anomalies Center at UCSF, which continues to meet on a monthly basis. In 2001 she helped found the Hemangioma Investigator group. She is the author of over 200 articles, numerous book chapters and is co-editor of the textbook, Neonatal Dermatology, now in its 2nd edition.