Women's Dermatologic Society

By Shadi Damanpour, MD Molly Hinshaw, MD is an Associate Professor and Chief of Dermatopathology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and UW Health in Madison, WI where she also completed her undergraduate and medical training. Dr. Hinshaw completed her dermatology residency the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, and her dermatopathology fellowship at the University of Colorado Health Science Center. Dr. Hinshaw is very active in multiple professional organizations and passionate about her volunteer efforts. She is a member of the UW Hospital medical board and past president of the Wisconsin Dermatological Society. In addition to her role in the WDS, she served as a Section Editor for JAMA Dermatology and an Advisory Board Member of the AAD. She has served on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County, matching children with adult mentors. Dr. Hinshaw is the author of over thirty peer-reviewed publications. Her ...

Editorial Highlight By Shilpi Khetarpal, MD As a young physician, wife, new mother and full-time clinician, I constantly feel pulled in various directions. As much as I try to achieve work-life balance, I constantly feel torn between the two. I have always admired women who are highly accomplished in their careers while having a family. One in particular is Dr. Wilma Fowler Bergfeld, the founder and first president of WDS. I’ve known her for over a decade now and have been fortunate to know her as a colleague, mentor, teacher and friend working alongside her at the Cleveland Clinic. Several of her professional accomplishments include first female president of the AAD, founder of the WPSA, past presidents of the North American Hair Research Society (NAHRS) and American Society of Dermatopathology. She has received honors and the highest awards from virtually every society she’s been involved with. Not only has she been an incredible leader, she has led by example and inspired l...

By Shari Lipner, MD, PhD  The WDS Forum took place January 31-February 2, 2020 in Scottsdale Arizona. The session started with a focus on finding joy in our work and our personal lives with the keynote lecture by Sandra Ellison: “Building Resilience: A Key to Unlocking Physician Health & Happiness.” Other highlights included women’s health topics, including breast cancer screening, healthy aging, nutrition and supplements, and integrative medicine, an update on the International Journal of Women’s Dermatology, a poster session, and a service project. The session concluded with “30 Pearls in 30 minutes,” by WDS Board of Directors and leadership, as well as, an open-mic portion for participants. There was a wealth of pearls including: Be thankful for what you have. Volunteer. Options include skin cancer screenings, WDS events, and AAD events. Action is the antidote to anxiety. Saying yes when you need to say no causes burnout. Make a list of things you don’t want ...

Mara Weinstein Velez, MD, FAAD @drmaraweinstein “Doors open when you least expect them to.” Focus: Board-Certified Dermatologist, Fellowship Trained Cosmetic and Laser Surgeon Location: Rochester, New York Education:  Fellowship - SkinCare Physicians; Residency - Cleveland Clinic Foundation; MD - Northeast Ohio Medical University; BA Psychology - Princeton University Mara Weinstein Velez, MD, FAAD is an Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the University of Rochester Medical Center and serves as the Director of Cosmetics and Laser Surgery. Dr. Weinstein has been invited to present at national professional meetings, published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals and co-authored chapters in dermatologic textbooks including Surgery of the Skin, Treatment of Traumatic and Burn Scars and Procedures in Cosmetic Dermatology. How did you become involved in the WDS and what benefits do you think WDS membership provides for residents/young physicians? I’ve b...

Editorial from the Women’s Dermatologic Society This year the WDS Forum’s Sunday session “30 Pearls in 30 Minutes” was overflowing with valuable, fun, inspiring advice from our panelists and enthusiastic audience members who shared tips on how to make our lives more fulfilling and joyful. We learned so much from each other and we wanted to share our ‘pearls’ with you as well. As you can see, we couldn’t stop at 30! Dr. Wendi Wohltmann Fertility Awareness: Physicians have a higher infertility risk compared to the general population; seek help early, start trying earlier, and consider freezing your eggs.   Don’t try to keep up with the Joneses (or the Kardashians); “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more.” – Oprah Winfrey Volunteering brings joy. Gratitude: Be thankful for what you have. Dr. Deborah McFarlane Fill baked pie crusts for quick, easy meals e.g. quiches, fruit pies.  For excisions around the areola consider a crescentic shape...

PAC Pearls from the Women’s Dermatologic Society Practicing dermatologists seeking to hire or be hired must consider many factors beyond compensation when creating or signing a contract. With the help of Personal Attorney Martha Crenshaw, we assembled a list of legal and practical considerations for the potential employer and employee. Please note, the information and views provided are for general informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute legal advice. In general, it is best to think through and agree upon legal and practical issues ahead of time as terminations and break-ups will inevitably happen – and when they do, it is too late to re-write contractual terms. Ultimately, it is cheaper and easier to have the post-termination path plotted from the beginning. The employer typically has the bargaining power at the beginning of the relationship, especially given that most employees are primarily focused upon compensation and benefits at the time of hire. ...

By Samantha Schneider, MD The Women’s Dermatologic Society is a wonderful community of Dermatologists, made up of both men and women, which supports the personal and professional growth of its members and their communities. Founded in 1973, WDS has provided Dermatologists at all levels in their career the opportunity to connect personally and build lasting relationships while growing professionally and making a difference. There are so many ways to become involved – Join Us Today !   VOLUNTEER:  Impact Your Community   WDS has a presence in our local, regional, and international communities through a variety of outreach programs and grassroots campaigns. As Dermatologists, we know that sun safety is extremely important. As such, WDS has created multiple avenues through which to educate our patients and communities including skin cancer screenings and prevention outreach, sun safety education, and addressing total women’s health through the dermatology gateway. Pla...