Women's Dermatologic Society

Thanks to Contributors:  Alison Seline, MD; Leah Swanson, MD; Angela Jiang, MD; Emma Johnson, MD; Jane Scribner, MD; Michi Shinohara, MD What should I do if I’m interested in a dermatopathology fellowship? Network! Learn more about the different programs, solidify your career choice, learn about opportunities for research or to increase your exposure to signout, possible away rotations/zoom double scoping Speak with your program director and mentors early; if your program does not have a fellowship, ask that your faculty reach out to their contacts on your behalf Attend ASDP if possible for networking events Attend ASDP “Meet the Program Directors” event Reach out to dermatopathologists within WDS, dermatopathologists are more than happy to provide advice and input! Try to talk to people early as the typical application process begins two years in advance (beginning of PGY-3 year) If your program does not have a dermpath fellowship, seek out research opportunities with programs th...

Susan Pei, MD is an Assistant Professor at the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.    How did you become involved in the WDS and what benefits do you think WDS membership provides for residents/young physicians? I became involved in WDS during residency. Dr. Molly Hinshaw, one of the faculty attendings at my program, would always invite residents, female and male, to attend WDS events and talks, including generously paying for WDS sponsored networking luncheons at the AAD annual meetings. Her enthusiasm and support really helped many residents such as myself realize the great benefits of WDS, such as networking, professional development and career opportunities. I was also fortunate to be able to attend a WDS Forum as a resident through a grant, which allowed me to present a poster. At the WDS Forum I was very impressed by how all the senior members were welcoming and eager to mentor junior members, the camaraderie and energy, and the very specific career and life advice...

By Dr. Morgan Murphrey Earlier this year, Dr. Susan Taylor and Dr. Jenna Lester published a call for action in JAMA Dermatology, charging dermatologists to reflect on structural racism and how it manifests within our field.1 Bias plays an important role in patient interactions and encounters, as well as structural racism and inequities. Within dermatology, there are important opportunities to identify, address, and combat biases. When people make decisions, they rely on their quick, intuitive reasoning, as well as their slow, deliberate cognitive thinking. Psychologists call this Type 1 and Type 2 processing, respectively. Type 1 thinking can be riddled with bias, often unknowingly. Implicit biases are biases that we are not consciously aware of, which affect our interactions with the world around us. A recent pilot study suggests that dermatologists are susceptible to these biases, and prescribing practices may be influenced by extraneous factors such as...