Women's Dermatologic Society

An Interview with Lawrence J Green, MD, FAAD Clinical Professor of Dermatology George Washington University School of Medicine Vice President Elect, American Academy of Dermatology Interviewed by Dr. Amaris Geisler and Dr. Brianna Olamiju  1.) How did you become involved in the WDS and what benefits do you think WDS membership provides for residents/young physicians? I started volunteering with the WDS about 10 years ago, when Dr Adelaide Hebert, who was part of my class on the AAD Board of Directors filled me on how important a role the WDS plays in dermatology. Before that, I never really appreciated the value the WDS adds to our field. Many/Most of the recent leaders in dermatology have come through the WDS. I believe this is because the WDS fosters not just collegiality among all dermatologists, but it also uniquely encourages and provides opportunities for young dermatologists (and dermatologists to be) to get involved in our field. The WDS also encourages and pr...

WDS Young Physician Spotlight Interview - Jordan Lim, MD Interviewed by Brianna Olamiju, MD and Amaris Geisler, MD   1.) How did you become involved in the WDS and what benefits do you think WDS membership provides for residents/young physicians? I first heard about WDS in residency and I actually served as a resident liaison for my program. Since then, I have attended many of their events – one most recent that I found incredibly impactful was their Women in Dermatology Collaborative Event at the AAD where a panel of several dermatology leaders addressed issues that women dermatologists face on a daily basis providing supportive tools and resources to combat these issues. Another memorable event was one of their virtual panels regarding family planning in an academic career where they hosted fertility experts, and had members share their personal experiences. This event literally brought me to tears. That is the impact of the WDS. All of their events are inspiring, ...

  WDS Young Physician Spotlight Interview - Jennifer Adams, MD Interviewed by Brianna Olamiju, MD and Amaris Geisler, MD 1.)        How did you become involved in the WDS and what benefits do you think WDS membership provides for residents/young physicians? I learned about the free resident membership for WDS and signed up to stay in the loop during my first-year of dermatology training at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital. I was later chosen for the WDS mentorship award during my senior year which supported a rotation with the National Hansen’s Disease Program- reinforcing my career foundation for infectious disease dermatology.   Although WDS mentorship, networking with colleagues, scholarships and service opportunities have long been available to support residents/young physicians, I have also loved to direct our current residents to their fantastic recent resident lecture series (the repository of prior recorded lectures are ...

WDS Young Physician Spotlight Interview - Dr. Christina Kraus Interviewed by Amaris Geisler and Brianna Olamiju   1.)      How did you become involved in the WDS and what benefits do you think WDS membership provides for residents/young physicians? My involvement with the Women's Dermatologic Society (WDS) began as a medical student, thanks to Dr. Libby Edwards. During my fourth year of medical school, I had the privilege of rotating with Dr. Edwards, who was deeply engaged with the WDS and serving as a mentor in the WDS Mentorship Award Program. Upon starting my dermatology residency, I joined the WDS, and learned more about the organization and was fortunate to receive the WDS mentorship award to rotate with Dr. Libby Edwards again as a resident. Currently, I am very fortunate to serve on the WDS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee, which has been an incredibly rewarding experience.   Membership in the WDS is invaluable for residents and...

  WDS Young Physician Spotlight Interview – Leah Swanson, M.D. Interviewed by Stephanie Florez-Pollack, M.D. Dr. Leah Swanson is a double board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist. She is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Dermatology of Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Swanson has built an expertise in comprehensive dermatologic care for women, including vulvar and breast dermatoses. In addition to her clinical activities, Dr. Swanson serves as a member of multiple dermatologic societies and is active in the education and mentorship of medical students and resident physicians. Dr. Swanson has previously served in the WDS Young Physicians Committee and continues to be an active member of the WDS. 1.)      How did you become involved in the WDS and what benefits do you think WDS membership provides for residents/young physicians? One of my mentors from residency highly valued the inspiration and support she received from ...

Interviewed by Stephanie Florez-Pollack, MD Neha Jariwala, M.D. is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania. 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 as a resident when I attended one of their review lectures. I was impressed by the resources of the WDS community. Since then, I have been attending their events, which have helped me to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in our field. Being a part of the WDS community has allowed me to network, which has opened doors for mentorship and career opportunities. Overall, I believe that WDS membership provides a unique and invaluable experience for physicians and residents who are looking to grow, develop, and collaborate in dermatology.     At what point did you decide that you wanted to do academics versus private practice? What's the biggest challenge you've faced in acad...