Mentee: Janeth Campbell, MS
Mentor: Cheryl Burgess, MD, FAAD
Center for Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery
I express immense gratitude to the Skin of Color Society (SOCS) for granting me the SOCS Observership, and to Dr. Cheryl Burgess for hosting me at The Center For Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery in Washington DC and Annapolis MD. It was an honor and privilege to work under such an expert, as I am eager to follow in her footsteps and become a leader in the field of skin of color (SOC).
During my time with Dr. Burgess, I acquired invaluable knowledge in SOC dermatology, professional development, and received insightful guidance on residency and career paths. Dr. Burgess provided numerous research opportunities, exposing me to clinical trials and involving me in writing up a novel treatment for one of her vitiligo patients. This experience deepened my commitment to fostering diversity among both researchers and participants in clinical trials as I pursue a career as a dermatologist.
Encountering the diverse patient population under Dr. Burgess's care allowed me to witness conditions and procedures on various skin types. Dr. Burgess's excellent teaching during patient interactions, covering topics such as facial anatomy, hair loss, psoriasis, and lasers, was particularly enlightening. Observing her attention to detail and compassion for each patient further inspired me to develop impactful, meaningful relationships with my future patients and help them achieve their dermatologic goals. I also gained insights into practice management and formed close connections with Dr. Burgess's wonderful staff, even participating in the office’s Christmas party well after the rotation ended, enjoying dinner, completing an escape room, and partaking in a gift exchange.
Leaving the SOCS Observership under the mentorship of Dr. Burgess, I am both inspired and energized to become a leader in the field of SOC. My aspiration is to become a dermatologist as knowledgeable, kind, and hardworking as Dr. Burgess. This experience has not only made me a more competitive residency applicant but has also provided guidance into the application and interview process. I extend my sincere thanks to the SOCS and Dr. Burgess for this transformative opportunity. As a first-generation student from a low-income family, I understand the profound importance of mentorship and scholarship experiences in helping students achieve their dreams. In the future, as a practicing dermatologist, I aim to support the SOCS Observership Grant and provide mentorship to students pursuing a career in dermatology.
Mentee: Ogechi Ezemma
Mentor: Saakshi Khattri, MD
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Department of Dermatology
I am very grateful to have been selected for the Skin of Color Society Observership Experience with Dr. Saakshi Khattri at Icahn School of Medicine Mount Sinai Department of Dermatology.
During my 2 weeks with Dr. Khattri, I had the opportunity to learn about rheumatology-dermatology and complex medical dermatology. Specifically, I got to see many patients with severe psoriasis, pemphigus vulgaris, dermatomyositis, cutaneous lupus, telangiectasia macularis eruptive perstans, and much more. It was interesting to see these clinical presentations in skin of color. Through Dr. Khattri's expertise, I learned about different biologics, their mechanisms of action, and treatment regimens for these conditions. Outside of clinic, I attended weekly didactics, grand rounds, and participated in various scholarly pursuits with Dr. Khattri's guidance.
This program was an amazing opportunity that has impacted my profession and personal growth. I am looking forward to a meaningful career in academic dermatology with a focus on clinical care, improving healthcare disparities, and teaching.
Mentee: Christine Akoh, MD, PhD
Mentor: Seemal Desai, MD, FAAD
Innovative Dermatology
During my one-week rotation with Dr. Seemal Desai at Innovative Dermatology, I was exposed to new topical therapies and laser-based devices that are not readily available in an academic setting. I also learned to appreciate the value of a dermatology-focused electronic medical record system to improve documentation and clinic follow-up.
Some newer medications I learned about included acne medications for application on the face and trunk, steroid-sparing topicals for plaque psoriasis, and topical medications for actinic keratoses that I was less familiar with. Although some might be cost-prohibitive, the office was able to provide patients with either samples or access to pharmacies to obtain the medications at a cheaper price. I also learned about newer non-ablative lasers to address pigmentation, texture, and were safe for all skin types. Many of these therapies I hope to incorporate into my future practice.
Dr. Desai is a world-renowned expert in vitiligo. While in Texas, I saw many pediatric and adult vitiligo patients visit his office. Some patients had very active and widespread disease and were made aware of a phase 3 clinical trial for a JAK inhibitor that would soon be underway. It was aspiring to see how he combined his clinical expertise with cutting-edge research that will greatly impact the field of dermatology and improve the quality of life for many patients in the future.
I am appreciative of the invaluable advice Dr. Desai provided me regarding career trajectory and people who I may want to network with in the future. I was impressed by his commitment to leadership and service in dermatology professional societies and ability to find time to precept with dermatology residents at the local university.
Participating in the SOCS Observership has confirmed my interests in pursuing a career in dermatology in the private practice setting. As a private practice dermatologist, I will be able to make contributions to the dermatology profession through leadership, service, and participation in clinical trials. I truly value the mentorship I received and hope to continue to foster such relationships throughout my training and career.
Mentee: Melissa Alfredo MD
Mentor: Cheri Frey, MD, FAAD
Howard University
I would like to thank SOCS to this opportunity to do an Observership in Skin of color at Howard University with Dr. Cheri Frey. November was a special month for me, full of experiences and better understanding of treatments for black patients. Knowing the reality of dermatology outside my country was enriching! I appreciate all the support and I hope to be able to come back to the United States another time!
Learning is a blessing!
Mentee: Kristin Tissera
Mentor: Nicole Gunasekera, MD, MBA, FAAD
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
I feel incredibly fortunate to have had such an enriching and exciting experience during my 4- week observership with Dr. Nicole Gunasekera at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA. My week consisted of vitiligo clinic, skin of color clinic, general dermatology clinic, and cosmetics clinic. Each of these provided exposure to a different patient population and a unique aspect of clinical practice. Dr. Gunasekera was a wonderful teacher and mentor, who provided me with ample learning opportunities. Throughout our time together, she would take every chance to teach me how best to recognize common dermatologic conditions and how to work through differential diagnoses. Whether this was through practicing dermoscopy on patients experiencing hair loss, or in allowing me to use a Wood’s lamp on a patient presenting with potential vitiligo, my skills in exams and assessments improved greatly under Dr. Gunasekera’s guidance.
Not only was Dr. Gunasekera an exceptional teacher, but observing her practice exposed me to the nuances of dermatology focused on skin of color and providing care specific to skin of color patients. An experience that stuck out to me was a Black patient who came to Dr. Gunasekera after seeing another dermatologist. He had been seen with a concern for an itchy, flaky scalp, and the other dermatologist dandruff dismissed him with the advice to wash his hair more often and the conclusion that there was not much that could be done for him from a medical perspective. Dr. Gunasekera reassured the patient that this was not true, and that there were several ways that they could work together to relieve him of the distressing symptoms that he had been suffering with. It was clear that this patient was skeptical of seeing another dermatologist but was experiencing such discomfort that he wanted a second opinion.
Dr. Gunasekera’s empathy and awareness of the options available for individuals with textured hair melted his skepticism away almost instantly. She went through the options for treatment, with special attention towards what formulation – oil, cream, etc. - of topical medication would work best for the styling and comfort of the patient. Her detailed awareness of how something as seemingly simple as the form of treatment might impact quality of life is something I hope to emulate in my future practice. Through our debrief of this encounter, I learned that this was not an uncommon experience for Black patients, and that bias and lack of awareness can lead dermatologists to provide inadequate care to patients with textured hair.
My desire to work with Dr. Gunasekera stemmed from our mutual interest in vitiligo. Having spent time in her vitiligo clinic, I feel confident in my knowledge of the treatment options available and the common questions and concerns of patients with vitiligo. My passion for helping those with vitiligo has only grown since starting my observership, and I credit that to Dr. Gunasekera. To my surprise, however, what began as an experience with the goal of learning more about vitiligo became an illuminating month that taught me more than I could have imagined about treating skin of color patients. Dr. Gunasekera’s and kindness and genuine regard for her patients was moving, but beyond that, her ability to tailor care to each patient’s specific concerns in the context of their skin was truly inspiring. I plan to continue to learn about how best to care for patients with diverse skin tones and hair textures, and I hope to one day do so as authentically and considerately as Dr. Gunasekera has demonstrated over the past month.