Mentee: Jiwon Park, BA
Mentor: Emma Guttman-Yassky, MD, PhD
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
I am very grateful for the wonderful opportunity to spend a month with Dr. Emma Guttman at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, made possible by the generous support of the SOCS Observership Grant. As a patient with atopic dermatitis, this experience was both personally and professionally enriching.
During my time with Dr. Guttman, I gained invaluable insights into the complexities of treating inflammatory skin conditions, particularly atopic dermatitis and alopecia areata. An especially enlightening aspect of my observership was learning about novel, immune-pathway specific biologics and small-molecule inhibitors that offer hope to patients with severe disease unresponsive to traditional therapies. In Dr. Guttman’s clinic, I learned about the various treatment options currently available to patients and those in clinical trials, as well as the process for selecting the best treatment plan for each patient. Dr. Guttman’s expertise, compassionate patient care, and integration of clinical practice with cutting-edge research findings were truly inspiring.
I also had the amazing opportunity to work with Dr. Jordan Talia, the Director of the Skin of Color Center at Mount Sinai. I was able to deepen my clinical knowledge by observing the general resident clinic, resident surgery clinic, and in-patient consultations. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to learn about the diagnosis and treatment of skin conditions more common in patients of color, especially cutaneous sarcoidosis and primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis. Through Dr. Talia’s mentorship and support, we are preparing two manuscripts to submit for publication in peer-reviewed journals regarding these conditions.
The blend of clinical experience and research provided through the SOCS Observership not only deepened my interest in dermatology but also reaffirmed my aspirations to advance clinical care for patients of color with inflammatory skin disorders. I extend my deepest gratitude to Dr. Guttman and Dr. Talia for this transformative opportunity and to the SOCS for funding this invaluable observership.