Mentee Imara-Safi Scott with mentor Dr. Eva Kerby
My experience with the Skin of Color Society Mentorship program was excellent! I was paired with a mentor that I already knew personally, which allowed for immediate rapport and comfortability. Dr. Eva Kerby was my mentor, and she and I both did our undergraduate studies at Duke University. We knew each other well back then, and I remember talking with her about our dreams to be Dermatologists all those years ago. It was a pleasant surprise when I saw I had been paired with her!
Dr. Kerby was a fantastic mentor, and she is someone I plan to keep in touch with throughout my career. Talking to her has widened my perspective on what is possible to do during my first few years out of residency. Dr. Kerby incorporates general, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology into her practice and utilizes these skills in her skin of color interests as well. This is what I hope to do in the next few years after residency. Diversifying my skillset early on will help me figure out which topics in Skin of Color, and Dermatology in general, I feel the most passionate about. At my training program, it is not common to have a provider do a combination of general, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology, so having Dr. Kerby to share ideas with and get a feel for how one can successfully mix these in their practice was inspiring. Hearing her journey to discovering her interests in skin of color has also been valuable. I am not sure what “niche” I will pursue just yet, but Dr. Kerby provided sage advice on how to clarify these interests for the future.
Additionally, Dr. Kerby has been an invaluable resource as I look for jobs. I have reached out to her at every step of my job search and will continue to do so. This search can be intimidating for those of us who have never attempted to look for a job in Dermatology, and having wise counsel is crucial. She has helped me sift out offers that are not in my best interest, and she has also helped to point out aspects of a contract/offer that may be red flags. I would not have been able to approach the job search with as much insight without her input. I am very grateful for her.
Lastly, Dr. Kerby is a wife and mother, and she can relate to me in a special way because of this. I have been able to learn from her experiences and see how she handles work/family balance as a practicing Academic Dermatologist. Above all, I hope to establish this balance well throughout my career.
Imara-Safi Scott
Duke Dermatology, PGY4
2021 SOCS Mentorship Program Summary