Mentee: Pauline Flaum-Dunoyer
Mentor: Andrew F. Alexis, MD, MPH
Weill Cornell Medicine
My experience working with Dr. Andrew Alexis over four weeks can best be summarized as productive, joyful, and inspiring. On my first day, I was asked what I would like to get out of the rotation. I responded: to learn the most that I can in a month, while getting in the way the least that I can. I say with confidence that I achieved the former. As for the latter, I was pleasantly surprised when I technically did not accomplish this goal, at least, not as I originally imagined it. As a medical student, I have learned to blend into the walls behind me. I am sure many of my fellow students understand what I mean. We try to hover enough to learn but not to disturb. During my rotation, this did not feel necessary. It was easy to find my place among the staff, seamlessly joining into the choreography of clinic and patient care. There were a few missteps, but I never felt like I disrupted the corps. I attribute this to Dr. Alexis and his staff – they created the welcoming atmosphere which allowed me to thrive as part of their team.
I am grateful to the patients as well. I met many each day (it is a busy clinic!) and felt like with each patient, I learned a new lesson I could apply to the next patient. Conversation, and subsequent counsel, became natural and informative. I found myself particularly adept at hair loss consultations. Dr. Alexis has a very structured plan for managing hair loss, no matter the etiology. I learned the steps of this plan on the first day and was able to track my own progress as I familiarized myself with this paramount issue in dermatology, especially in patients with Skin of Color. As a Black woman, I felt strong in my cultural competence with this subject. I was able to meet my patients where they were, through kinship and understanding, strengthened by the wealth of knowledge that Dr. Alexis provided. I built trust with my patients, encouraged by the trust Dr. Alexis and his team had in me.
My joy sprang from newfound confidence in my ability to present my findings, decide on a plan, and convey that plan to the team, all the while explaining the plan to my patients in ways that were digestible and agreeable. My joy continued in the little moments shared with the medical assistants over lunch, commiserating about our lives and shared experiences, or funny anecdotes.
I left the rotation feeling sad it was ending but inspired in so many ways. My commitment to this field was reinforced and I feel excited about my future. I am grateful to know that Dr. Alexis will be a mentor to me for hopefully many years, in my corner supporting my ambitions. Finally, I am inspired by this opportunity in general, and hope that wherever I end up in my career in dermatology, I can pay it forward and welcome others to thrive in dermatology.