Women's Dermatologic Society

  Industry Insight: A Conversation with Dr. Kachiu C. Lee Special thanks to Dr. Kachiu C. Lee for sharing her reflections on drug development, industry partnerships, and working with pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Lee is a board-certified dermatologist based in Pennsylvania. How did you initially become involved in working with pharmaceutical companies and drug development? Dr. Lee: "I have always been interested in drug development and the clinical trial process, so I began getting involved in clinical trials during residency. When I was applying for fellowship, I specifically looked for programs that would allow me to continue building that experience through research and clinical trials. In my first few years as an attending, I remained involved in clinical trials in an academic setting, which gave me the foundation and experience to later serve as a principal investigator."   Are there particular qualifications or experiences that pharmaceutical companies look...

Pride in Practice: Creating a Welcoming and Inclusive Dermatology Office for LGBTQIA+ Patients and Staff  By: Molly Stout, MD June is Pride Month! It’s a time to celebrate the resilience, diversity, and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) people. As dermatologists and colleagues, we can also use this as an opportunity to reflect on whether our practices truly serve all people with the dignity and respect they deserve. While this topic is undoubtedly important to every aspect of a dermatology practice, herein are some tips for ensuring a welcoming environment this Pride month and beyond.   The Waiting Room Is Where Inclusion Begins We are all aware that care does not start in the exam room — it starts the moment a patient visits a practice website, calls to schedule, or walks through the door. Evidence consistently shows that visual cues such as a pride flag, nondiscrimination signage, and diverse imagery in waiting area...

Finding Autonomy and Meaning through Locum Tenens: Advice from A Locums Dermatologist Special thanks to Dr. Ista Egbeto for sharing her reflections and insights on locum tenens as a dermatologist. Dr. Egbeto is a board-certified dermatologist based in Illinois. Why did you decide on locums? Dr. Egbeto: Locum tenens gives me the flexibility to serve diverse communities while continuing to grow as a dermatologist. Moving between different practice settings challenges me clinically and brings fresh insight to my home practice. As a mom of two young children, locums allows me to maintain a career I love while still creating space for my family. I can choose assignments that fit my schedule and support a healthy work-life balance. Most importantly, locums lets me show up where dermatologic care is needed most. Filling those gaps, even briefly, keeps me connected to service, compassion, and the heart of why I chose this field.   Now that you have been doing this for several mon...

 Skin Cancer Awareness Month: Updates in Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer By: Lauryn R. Reid, MD Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common type of malignancy worldwide. 1 Exciting recent advancements in the field of non-melanoma skin cancer range from new prevention recommendations to treatment modalities. Let’s get into the details. Prevention Primary prevention of skin cancer is the ultimate goal for patients and dermatologists alike. In November 2025, congress passed the Safe Sunscreen Standards Act. This act permits the Food and Drug Administration to accelerate the approval process for active ingredients in sunscreen. The FDA last approved new ingredients in sunscreen over 26 years ago, 2 placing the United States behind other countries who have continuously modernized UV filters. Recently the FDA proposed bemotrizinol for usage in sunscreen in concentrations up to 6%. Bemotrizinol has properties capable of higher UVA and UVB absorption than traditional active ingredients with...

The Many Paths to a Successful Dermatology Career  By:  Shawna A. Flanagan, MD There is no such thing as a “typical” dermatology career. What begins as a carefully planned path often evolves into something entirely unexpected shaped by opportunities, challenges, and the courage to take risks at pivotal moments. Being later in my career, I have had the privilege of gaining a deep understanding of the many possible paths within dermatology. A career in dermatology rarely follows a straight line; instead, it evolves over time, shaped by opportunities, interests, and life circumstances.  As a newly graduated resident today, you have far more options than were available in decades past. These include pursuing a cosmetic fellowship, completing a Mohs micrographic surgery fellowship, engaging in research, joining a private equity–backed practice, working with industry, or even building a presence as an influencer. First and foremost , it is important to reflect on which path wil...

An Interview with Efe Kakpovbia, MD, MSc Interviewed by Brianna Olamiju, MD and Priyanka Kumar, MD

 By Marie Leger, MD, PhD WDS News You Can Use Committee Going to medical school was an honor for me. As products of the American dream, both my sister and I went to graduate school, but the women in my family who came before us, including my mom, my grandmothers, my eight aunts, did not go to college. My mom worked as a legal secretary in San Francisco. When I think of my mom in that era, I think of Joan in Mad Men , fending off advances, clearly brilliant, navigating not just grammar and shorthand, but business decisions, personalities, and her male colleagues. When she worked in San Francisco in the 1960s and ‘70s, her law firm had 25 attorneys, all of them men, and the secretaries were all women. She says, “It was a really big deal the day my friend Pat came to work wearing pants instead of a dress, and all of the other secretaries came running down to our cubicles to observe her.” Medicine has its own version of this story. As I was interviewing for my internal medicine prelimi...