Women's Dermatologic Society

  Mnemonics to Help Identify Melanoma   By Julie K. Karen, MD     When diagnosed and treated at an early stage, all skin cancers, including melanoma are highly curable. As dermatologists, we devote h ours each day to evaluating every millimeter of our patients’ skin for lesions that demonstrate clinical or dermoscopic features of melanoma. The rapidity with which melanoma can progress means that even consistent annual skin examinations paired with perfect diagnostic accuracy would not guarantee zero mortality.    Therefore, it is prudent for us to educate our patients (and the public in general) about the warning signs of skin cancer to increase their chances of detecting a suspicious lesion before it is too late. Monthly self-examinations are important, but most patients are terrified of their own skin and find the task daunting. Regrettably, it is estimated that less than 20% of the population currently performs self-examination. [1]    Several mnemonics assist in simplifying comm

  From Dr. Shawna Flanagan I think achieving career balance is a lifetime juggle! I have been out of dermatology residency for more than 25 years now. At times throughout my career, I have donated a lot more of my time to my children and husband and felt guilty about my career. At other times I have done the opposite and felt guilty about my family. As the late great Barbara Walters was once quoted, “Most of us have trouble juggling. The woman who says she does not is someone I admire but have never met.” From Dr. Mona Sadeghpour As women we are constantly judged for the type of physician, mother, spouse, or leader that we are. We are judged if we work too much or too "little”. These narratives often impart guilt on our conscience and unnecessary stress that we don't always address openly. The truth is that no one creates our life or productivity narratives, but us. Studies have shown that even when women and men dermatologists work similar hours and are "equal