Women's Dermatologic Society

By Dr. Susan Massick Due to the FDA’s concern regarding the high risk of teratogenicity associated with isotretinoin, the iPLEDGE program was introduced by the Isotretinoin Products Manufacturers Group (IPMG) and approved by the FDA in 2005 in an effort to prevent pregnancy and fetal exposure during isotretinoin treatment. Despite concerns raised by clinicians and the AAD regarding the program and its implementation, the FDA approved March 1, 2006, as the mandatory start date for iPLEDGE. i In 2007, the FDA gained the authority to determine which medications would require Risk Evaluation and Management Strategy (REMS) programs to mitigate risks associated with certain drugs. In 2010, the iPLEDGE program was updated to the iPLEDGE REMS program with mandatory participation of all isotretinoin drug manufacturers and mandatory registration of all health care providers and pharmacies in order to prescribe and dispense isotretinoin to patients. ii While th...

By the WDS Academic Dermatology Committee   Question: Are there specific things I should negotiate for in academics?     Dear WDS Member, Great question! The best opportunity to negotiate and make adjustments to a contract is often prior to signing with an institution. The approach will not be one-size-fits-all given the differences in culture at academic institutions and a variable desire for parity amongst faculty. You will need to think carefully about your priorities when approaching your negotiation. For some people, salary may be a primary issue while others may find items such as protected time or research support to be critical. Be thoughtful about what strengths you bring to the table, and do not sell yourself short. It can also be helpful to think about the negotiation from the chairperson’s point of view. How will the institution benefit from what you can bring? Oftentimes, jobs that are in highly desirable locations may be a little less flexible in negotiation...

    By the WDS Practice Advisory Committee   From Dr. Lori Fiessinger: Start with one platform. Look to other dermatologists who have been successful on that platform to gain more information on what kind of posts do well. Early on, it is very important to be consistent. Post at least once weekly, but ideally more frequently on this. There are apps that can make posting easier. I currently use an app to design posts (Canva) and an app that auto-posts for me (Planoly) so I can design and plan posts in advance. For efficiency, I try to devote time once weekly to make all my posts for the following week.   From Dr. Mona Sadeghpour: Whatever you do, stay authentic to who you are and your practice's brand. You do not have to keep up with the Joneses or the latest TikTok trend.  Do post consistently even if it means posting 1-2 times per week.   The Women’s Dermatologic Society (WDS) Practice Advisory Committee supports dermatologists at any stage of their caree...

  The New Year ushers in new hopes, dreams, and ultimately new goals. To kick start 2022, the editorial committee has shared their best pearls for conquering goals. I find that it’s helpful to stick to a goal by making it fun and easy. The biggest thing for me is to remove barriers to my goal, even if the barriers seem insignificant. I also set a reward that I think is very worthwhile. One that gets me pumped up! My reward for exercising this month is a small shopping spree at a garden nursery store. This is a reward I will work towards. I also share my goal with someone who will help me stay accountable and sign off on my reward. -Azeen Sadeghian, MD, FAAD Baton Rouge, Louisiana Instagram: @skinchickmd Conquering a new goal is typically easier when you share it with a friend or family member. If you strive to be more active in the New Year, perhaps plan times to meet at the gym with your goal buddy. I also find that keeping a daily and/or weekly checklist helps keep me accountabl...

  By the WDS Academic Dermatology Committee   Question: Does an academic career provide flexibility and support for working parents?     Dear WDS Member, Every academic center is unique in terms of their policies and flexibility for family planning and support for parents. An academic practice can provide opportunities for working parents. At the most basic level, academic careers are often salaried with benefits and paid leave time, but this can vary widely. Many private practices are primarily production based, so any leave time is unpaid. Academic centers often offer daycare programs with lower rates and emergency childcare services when needed for a certain number of days of the year. Flexible spending accounts (FSA) are often offered to allow pre-tax dollars for dependent care. In addition to medical benefits, academic facilities have varying coverage options for family planning with respect to family planning benefits to cover fertility treatments and assisted...

By Dr. Cather McKay   Our specialty continues to advance despite the pandemic, thanks to the hard work and dedication of researchers and leaders in the field. Here is a summary of some of the biggest news from the last year. COVID-19 COVID-19 still affects our daily lives despite widely available and effective vaccines. As dermatologists, we are tasked with counseling our patients who are treated with disease-modifying drugs. Data published this year suggests that those on methotrexate are more likely to be hospitalized for COVID-19 than those on biologics 1 , apremilast (Otezla®) does not increase the risk of COVID-19 infection 2 , and dupilumab (Dupixent®) is associated with milder infection 3 . At this time, the National Psoriasis Foundation COVID-19 Task Force recommends vaccination and a booster for psoriasis patients. In general, psoriasis treatment should be continued. Those on methotrexate may consider stopping medication for 2 weeks ...

   By the WDS Practice Advisory Committee   From Dr. Shawna Flanagan: I think cross training your team in very important. My office is like a fine dining experience where all the servers and staff can answer your questions and they work as a team to create the best experience. You will never hear in my office “that’s not in my job description” or “I don’t know.” If one of my staff doesn’t know the answer to something, we politely address the issue and immediately get someone who does know. The patients appreciate the effort and the confidence in this big team approach. Frequent training and retraining sessions as well as lunch and learn meetings are an important part of creating an effective team. My team members love hearing about new procedures and protocols. This also creates an environment where everyone is willing to help each other out. Letting staff experience new procedures while others watch and learn is also a great team activity. The old adage “one bad appl...