Nicole Gunasekera with mentor Dr. Andrew Alexis
I was fortunate to complete my SOCS Mentorship with Dr. Andrew Alexis. We were able to cover many topics over the course of the year.
We began by thinking through my specific clinical interests within the field of skin of color. Through our discussions, Dr. Alexis helped me realize my particular interest in vitiligo and pigmentation disorders. This has been very helpful for me as I think about developing expertise in skin of color broadly but also seeking opportunities to build deeper expertise in these areas. We also discussed opportunities to get involved in scholarship, writing, and speaking, and I really appreciated his encouragement to get involved in these areas to help advance our field.
Dr. Alexis also gave me very practical and helpful advice regarding building my leadership skills and experience as well. He recommended getting involved with committees in my hospital system and in dermatology organizations. He noted these can be great opportunities to collaborate with others, make connections and develop different skills. He encouraged me to take on smaller roles in these arenas at the beginning, noting that doing a great job at one thing often leads to larger opportunities down the road.
I feel very fortunate to have connected with Dr. Alexis and to have learned from him this year. I am very grateful to him and to SOCS for supporting my learning and development through this mentorship program.
Nicole Gunasekera, MD, MBA
2021 SOCS Mentorship Program Summary