Dr. Michelle Rodrigues with mentee Priscila Arellano Zameza
I first heard about the Skin of Color Society at the end of my first year in medical school from a student in the year above me who was also interested in dermatology. At that time, I was starting to consider dermatology as a field of interest, and knew it was imperative to pursue dermatology-specific opportunities. I loved Dr. Taylor’s story and the Society’s commitment to educate on dermatologic areas of interest in skin of color.
Upon joining SOCS, I was excited to find out about its mentorship program. I applied without hesitation at the start of my second year, in the hopes of being paired with a dermatologist who could answer my questions about the field, point me in the right direction with regards to research, and provide advice and support through the ups and downs of medical school. Right before starting third year, I was notified that I had been paired up with Dr. Michelle Rodrigues who is based out of Melbourne, Australia.
One of the first challenges we faced as mentor and mentee was overcoming the time difference, as Melbourne is 14 hours ahead of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. With diligent planning, we were able to schedule an initial, introductory phone call. From that phone call I learned about Dr. Rodrigues’ own journey into dermatology, and the hard work and grit that went into getting her to where she is today. She is the founder and director of Chroma Dermatology, a center dedicated to pigmentary disorders and people with skin color, she is involved in clinical research and has authored various publications, and she is a lecturer at the University of Melbourne. In short, Dr. Rodrigues is an inspiration for what one can achieve in their medical field of interest when they have a genuine love for what they do.
In that same phone call, Dr. Rodrigues learned some about my own background, and about my goals for my participation in the mentorship program. We set up a follow-up Zoom meeting, where we spoke candidly about the challenges that lay ahead in my journey to applying for a residency in dermatology. She made suggestions for next steps and began connecting me with faculty in US-based residency programs, including at Henry Ford in Detroit.
When I reflect on my mentorship experience, I believe I’ve achieved most of what I set out to accomplish over a 1-year period. I formed a relationship with a trailblazer in the field, one I hope to continue in my professional life. Dr. Rodrigues’ support, although at a distance, gave me the confidence to reach out to faculty for research projects. I’ve since been involved in a variety of dermatology-related research and community projects, some of which have been published and some which I hope to present at conferences in the upcoming year. I’ve taken the lead on dermatology-specific initiatives that are of interest to me, including for Spanish-speaking patients with hidradenitis suppurativa, and a community outreach program for increased skin cancer awareness in patients with skin of color. I’ve also really enjoyed the monthly, virtual meetings available to all mentees in the program, where I’ve gained advice and tips from current dermatology residents and program directors.
Although Dr. Rodrigues could not attend the SOCS meeting in New Orleans this year, I decided to go and got to meet some of the faculty I had been introduced to virtually. I met other mentees in the mentorship program, research fellows (including Yae Kye pictured with me), and really enjoyed being a part of the larger SOCS community. As I get closer and closer to applying for residency, I intend on continuing my relationship with Dr. Rodrigues. It’s my hope that we meet in person one day, so that I may thank her in person for instilling a sense of boldness and for helping me prioritize where I invest my time and energy. This advice, along with the advice of the other mentors I’ve found along the way, will hopefully make me into a well-rounded, dermatology residency applicant, and one step-closer to my ultimate goal of becoming a bilingual dermatologist.