Women's Dermatologic Society

What a year 2019 has been for the field of dermatology! Researchers and dermatologists have been working hard to propel the specialty forward, and the hard work has paid off. From discoveries in basic science, to new drugs and new indications for old drugs, there is a lot to review. >> Read the Full Editorial New Clinical Guidelines New in Psoriasis Treatment New in Atopic Dermatitis New in Hair Loss New in Disorders of Pigmentation New in Acne New in Cosmetic Dermatology New in Cutaneous Oncology

The WDS Young Physicians Committee has put together resources to provide more information on Post-Residency Dermatology opportunities including Traditional Post-Residency Fellowships, Non-Traditional Fellowships, and more. >> Read the Full Article Micrographic Surgery & Dermatologic Oncology (Mohs) Fellowships Dermatopathology Fellowships Pediatric Dermatology Fellowships Cosmetic Dermatology Fellowships Complex Medical Dermatology Fellowship Contact Dermatitis Fellowship Teledermatology Fellowship Dermatology/Rheumatology Fellowship Research Fellowships Cutaneous Oncology Fellowship Clinician Educator Fellowship

Monica Boen, MD is a board-certified Dermatologist in San Diego, California. She completed her medical degree at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. During medical school, Dr. Boen pursued her interest in global health and did medical rotations in South Africa and France. For dermatology training, Dr. Boen attended the University of Illinois at Chicago, where she served as chief resident. Further cosmetic surgery training included completion of a fellowship through the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. >> Read the Full Interview

PAC Pearls from the Women’s Dermatologic Society Follow these tips from the WDS Practice Advisory Committee (PAC) for all stages of having difficult conversations with patients. Before the Conversation Successfully addressing an unhappy or concerned patient requires training and preparation. Approach difficult conversations with a customer service mindset using a method called BLAST – Believe, Listen, Apologize, Satisfy, Thank. Detailed by Albert Barneto and further expounded upon for clinicians by Dr. Howard K. Steinman , the BLAST method is a standardized customer based conflict resolution method. By incorporating the BLAST method into staff training, you will be better prepared to have difficult conversations with patients. During the Conversation Believe : Believe in the genuineness of the patient's concern and the emotion attached to it. Listen : Maintain eye contact and actively listen without judgement to determine the patient’s concerns. Avoid escalating ...

PAC Pearls from the Women’s Dermatologic Society Difficult conversations can be stressful for everyone involved, especially with employees. However, avoiding these conversations won't make the problem go away. By not addressing the issue, you may be enabling negative behavior and allowing it to affect others. Follow these tips from the WDS Practice Advisory Committee (PAC) for all stages of having difficult conversations with employees. Before the Conversation Before the conversation, identify what corrective actions or problems to address. However, resist the urge to publicly correct the employee. Having a private conversation creates an opportunity to show respect and sensitivity regarding the difficult topic. If possible, be sure to have an office manager present to provide support. During the Conversation During the conversation, ensure you have a clear plan to convey the issue, set expectations for future behavior, and outline a concrete action plan.  Convey t...

By Maryanne Makredes Senna, MD and Brianna De Souza, MD Some time ago I was first asked to give a lecture to our residents on diagnosing and treating hair loss disorders. As I prepared my lecture, I typed “attractive women” into a search engine, and what returned were images of young women with tons of long, flowing hair.  Although, a similar search for “attractive men” yielded images of men with hair and also included pictures of bald men like Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Bruce Willis, and Jason Statham.  These images were promptly used in my lecture to portray an important, increasing phenomenon that I see every day in clinic:  hair loss is becoming a largely female problem. >> Read the Full Editorial “A considerable number of women are at risk of developing female pattern hair loss (FPHL), and it has been shown that women with alopecia bear a greater emotional burden compared to men with hair loss.”

Office morale is very important. Low office morale can wreck total productivity, while high office morale can keep everyone not only productive but happy and fulfilled in their work. Signs of low morale include lack of cooperation, few personal conversations, increased rates of turnover, and overall poor performance or attitude. Here are some tips from the WDS Practice Advisory Committee (PAC) on how to improve morale in your practice. Daily Opportunities Inspire your staff and create an environment where they want to help you, rather than just try to stay out of your way. The following suggestions can be implemented daily to encourage positive office morale. Lead by Example The best way to encourage positive attitudes throughout the company is by modeling a positive attitude yourself. Positive energy, as well as negative energy, is contagious and compounding. Say positive things, walk with a smile on your face, and personally greet people when you arrive to work. Your e...