WDS Service Spotlight: 2024 Volunteer of the Year Award

Service Spotlight: 2024 Volunteer of the Year Award 

 Dr. Nada Elbuluk has been selected as the Women’s Dermatologic Society’s prestigious Volunteer of the Year for 2024. Dr. Nada Elbuluk is an Associate Professor at USC Keck School of Medicine. She is also the founder of the Skin of Color Center and Pigmentary Disorders Clinic as well as the Director of Dermatology Diversity and Inclusion Program. We had the opportunity to ask Dr. Elbuluk a few questions regarding her success in balancing her prolific professional and personal life while so generously giving back to her community:

 

1) What first inspired you to become involved in community service and what continues to inspire you?

I was first inspired to be involved in community service by my parents. My parents were very involved in giving back to our local community where I grew up as well as to their communities where they grew up overseas. They instilled in my siblings and I the importance of giving back and helping others regardless of how much we had. I was fortunate that as I grew up, I was surrounded by friends and mentors who were like-minded in this way and giving back continued to organically be part of my life. Now as a mother, I am inspired to continue teaching my children the same principles and helping them find ways to give back even at a young age. 

 

2) How have you navigated sustaining your career, service, and family life throughout your career?

 I have been fortunate to have the support and help of my husband and family as I have navigated balancing career, service, and family. I also have had many mentors who have led by example and who have reminded me that life comes in stages and chapters. There are times in our life where one part of our life may take more of our energy and this can shift with time.  I think understanding this has helped me see the long road and be okay with not always being able to do everything I want to do at the same time. I think being able to give yourself grace and know that at any given time you are doing the best you can has also been helpful. I also think finding a work environment which supports your station in life and your needs is also really important and can make a big difference in juggling different aspects of one’s life.

 

3) Is there a service activity you are particularly passionate about or proud of?

I am really proud of and passionate about the two service programs that I started at USC as director of our department's diversity and inclusion program. Derm RISES (Reaching Inner-city Students through Education of the Sciences) is a program that is dedicated to helping inner city and minority youth have exposure to medicine and healthcare careers starting as early as kindergarten and going all the way through college. Through this program we have reached thousands of kids in the Los Angeles area. It's been very rewarding to get feedback from many of those kids and school administrators about the positive impact our events have had on them. The second program, Dermmunity, is a program I started to bring dermatology education into underserved communities, many of whom underutilize dermatology as a specialty. This program has also allowed us to not only educate people about what we do as dermatologists, but also has given them information about how to access dermatologic care when they need it regardless of their insurance status. I think these programs have had a positive impact on the lives of many adults and children, and I am proud to see the impact that our small group of faculty and residents have been able to have through working together. 

 

4) What advice do you have for Young Physicians looking to get involved in their community?

I would encourage them to go for it. There is no event or effort that is too small. I think everything makes a difference and I think when people each try to make a difference in their local communities, it can collectively have a more large-scale impact. I think that there are many amazing nonprofit organizations in existence and so reaching out to a local organization, school, shelter or community center is an easy place to start. Once connected with a local program, figuring out what their needs are and what you can provide can be enough to get started.  WDS also has many wonderful opportunities to do local community service programs including play safe in the sun which I've enjoyed being participating in as well as the TIPP women's shelter initiative started by Dr. Grimes.  After having a successful event, it can be the start of creating a longitudinal relationship to help foster more long-term sustainable change.

 

5) Is there any other wisdom you would like to share with our readers?

One of my favorite quotes which was said by Ghandi is "Be the change you wish to see in the world." I think that many times if we want to see change or make an impact we have to be comfortable being the catalyst for that change, speaking up where we can, and trying to make a difference where we can. Sometimes that can be in local spaces and sometimes it’s on national or international levels. Regardless of where we are trying to make a difference, it’s all impactful work, and along the journey find the colleagues, mentors and friends, who will support you.