Women's Dermatologic Society

  By Dr. Azeen Sadeghian James Clear is a streamlined popular blogger and has intensively studied habits. He wrote a book to compile all of his personal research on habits. The book, called Atomic Habits, is a best seller on Amazon. Dermatologists have multiple habits that dictate their days. Our lives are filled with habits that can make or break our productivity. Because of this, I was eager to read this book.    This book is an interesting read and written in an easy, clear format. It can be skimmed quickly or it flows well to be read thoroughly if desired. Although habit formation appears obvious, many of us fail at fostering the right habits and we realize willpower alone is not the ticket. This book is full of brief yet practical stories of other individuals and their successes in arranging habits.   I have included some of Mr. Clear’s high yield tips from this book but added some examples in pink that may pertain to Dermatologists, myself included!   Mr. Clear...

  By Dr. Miesha Merati Fifteen years ago, when most people did not own smart phones, the thought of writing an online review of a physician was absurd. Rightfully so, patients prefer compassionate, competent doctors at well-run clinics with a courteous staff. Yet, the instinct to read reviews for guidance intrudes upon the personal aspect of the doctor-patient relationship. Rather than the traditional reliance on suggestions from friends or colleagues, or a doctor’s experience and credentials, many patients prefer quick and accessible reviews. Online platforms like Yelp, ZocDoc, and Vitals allow patients to effortlessly showcase their experience with a doctor for public scrutiny. In some cases, these avenues may influence behavior and practice patterns for many clinicians. A practice’s online image may be the most burdensome liability or favorable asset to a clinic, especially in highly-saturated areas. Management of online presence is time-consuming and utilizes practice resou...

By Dr. Shadi Damanpour Introduction   Over three billion people worldwide are active users of social media, and patients are more readily utilizing it to obtain healthcare information. 1  Dermatologists have a large presence on social media, and it has become a useful platform to educate and communicate accurate information with the public. 1  Recent articles have also shown that social media activity is correlated with patient satisfaction and publication citations. 2,3,4  Therefore, there is increasing interest about how to best utilize social media in practice and which platforms to engage on. I have interviewed four WDS members and prominent social media influencers in dermatology to provide some insight and perspective on their goals, future directions, and everything in between.   What are the goals of your social media presence as a dermatologist?   Joyce Park (@teawithmd, teawithmd.com): When I created my blog as a medical student, I us...

WDS prides itself on its commitment to service. Even though most of the world is functioning virtually these days, it is still possible to contribute to WDS’s mission of being dedicated … to volunteerism! TIPP Women’s Shelter Initiative Through the use of informative presentations, this initiative helps women in shelters and other facilities/organizations enter back into society with confidence and self-esteem. This program helps address the ‘whole-woman’ and her body and mind systems. The best part..? You can conduct the entire event from your living room! Select a local shelter Select your event details (Date, Time, Type of Event & Programming) Determine needs and request WDS support (Food, Beverages, Posters, Takeaway Bags, & Other Materials) Host your Event & Take Photos/Video (Zoom photos would be great!) Recap & Wrap Up  Click here for a more in depth how-to: How to Host a TIPP Event  Contact Ainsley Morley at amorley@womensderm.org to start yo...

Special thanks to Kachiu Lee, MD, Monica Boen, MD, Lindsey Goddard, MD and Arisa Ortiz, MD What should I do if I’m interested in a cosmetic dermatology fellowship? Attend meetings that will allow you to network with various program directors - ASDS, ASLMS. Try to submit abstracts to present at these meetings. Consider which ASDS cosmetic fellowships you would want to apply for during your second year of dermatology residency. Then, reach out to these programs to try to spend a week rotating at these programs. Funding is available through the ASDS, ASLMS, and WDS for these rotations. Look into different ASDS cosmetic programs and what procedures they focus on (available on the ASDS website average numbers of each procedure/category) so that you can apply/rotate at a program that best fits with your career goals (some heavy on lasers vs fillers vs lifting procedures). If you’re unable to rotate, reach out to your program of interest to see if they have any reviews, book cha...

Mara Weinstein Velez, MD, FAAD is an Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY.  How did you become involved in the WDS and what benefits do you think WDS membership provides for residents/young physicians? Ten years ago I had the honor of meeting WDS Founder, Dr. Wilma Bergfeld, at the Cleveland Clinic where I completed my Dermatology Residency training. I was inspired by her story and eager to learn more in addition to joining my co-residents who were already active WDS members. Initially, I applied to be on the various committees and then took the role of resident liaison which allowed me to help promote the organization, serve in a leadership position for our program and further the mission of the WDS. Through my years of service and dedication to the society, so many doors have opened for me and I am grateful. I now serve on the WDS Board of Directors. The benefits of being a member are unmatched. In the past year alone, ...

By Dr. Brittney Schultz Becky Strong is a patient with pemphigus vulgaris. For Becky, her journey included 17 months, 7 physician specialists, multiple encounters with her dentist, and several rounds of incorrect treatments and procedures before correctly being diagnosed with pemphigus vulgaris. She’s a registered nurse living in Michigan with her husband Tim and 2 children. Currently, Becky is the Outreach Director for the International Pemphigus & Pemphigoid Foundation, an organization that supports patients with these two rare autoimmune diseases. Becky is responsible for medical and dental professional, dental student, and patient education at the IPPF. She also spends time advocating at the federal level for patients with rare diseases. I first met Becky at an American Academy of Dermatology meeting where she shared her experience as a patient with pemphigus. She is the unique blend of patient and advocate and she is one of the reasons I chose to focus on autoimmune blistering...