Women's Dermatologic Society

  An interview with the co-chairs of the WDS DEI Committee, Dr. Olabola Awosika & Dr. Leah Cardwell conducted by WDS Communications Committee co-chair, Dr. Susuan Massick. Dr. Awosika is a board-certified Dermatologist and Mohs surgeon who completed her Dermatology residency at Henry Ford Health System and Mohs Surgery fellowship at Hamzavi Dermatology. Dr.  Cardwell is a board-certified Dermatologist and Dermatopathologist who completed her Dermatology residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin and Dermatopathology fellowship at University of Alabama Birmingham and is now pursuing a Hair Transplant Surgery fellowship at Advanced Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery.  Their paths first crossed as medical students at Howard University College of Medicine, where they were fellow Dermatology hopefuls navigating the journey to residency together. Years later, their shared passion for Dermatology continues to bring them together through education, mentorship, and advocacy. ...

  WDS Career Corner: Mohs Fellowship Feature Special thanks to our authors, Dr. Porter, Assistant Professor in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and Dr. Vanessa Voss, Assistant Professor in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Assistant Mohs Fellowship Program Director, and Director of the High-Risk and Post-Transplant Skin Cancer Clinic, for sharing their expertise. 1. What are the top three factors that make for a strong application? Strong letters of recommendation — It's a small field, so having a respected Mohs surgeon vouch for you carries significant weight in receiving interviews. Ideally, this letter comes from your home fellowship program director (if you have a fellowship), or your home institution’s Mohs surgeon since they've observed your clinical skills, judgment, and character over an extended period. If you don't have a home program with a Mohs surgeon, make it a priority to s...

August Reset: The Back-to-School Juggle Is Real  By:  Kim Drew, MD As a mom, the month of August always brings a wave of anxiety for me. Every year, I know what is coming, and I try to brace myself for the hundreds of emails between three children in preparation for the new school year. Supply lists, sports schedules, orientation dates, forms to sign, teacher emails, and calendar invitations seem to arrive all at once. And yet, despite my best intentions, I still struggle to organize my calendar—especially while balancing the demands of a busy private practice. Every year, I tell myself, this is the year I finally get it together.   Meanwhile, my children joke about how many times I'll forget them at carpool or the bus stop before the school year is over.  True story.  I mentally prepare “the run of show.” I promise myself I’ll block my clinic schedule early, plan ahead for school events, and stay one step ahead of the chaos. Somehow, despite all of that preparation, ...

The Summer Skin Reset: Practical Pearls for Healthy Skin All Season By Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand, MD, FAAD Summer brings longer days, outdoor activities, travel, camps, and increased exposure to heat, humidity, ultraviolet radiation, insects, chlorine, and salt water. These seasonal changes provide an important opportunity to help patients simplify their routines, strengthen photoprotection habits, and prepare for common warm-weather skin concerns. Rather than focusing on sunscreen alone, dermatologists can encourage patients to perform a comprehensive “summer skin reset.” This includes updating products, clothing, routines, and travel supplies to match the season. Lighten Your Skincare Routine Without Abandoning the Skin Barrier Heat and humidity may increase sweating, oil production, follicular occlusion, and acne or folliculitis. Patients who used heavier creams and ointments during winter may benefit from switching to lighter, noncomedogenic lotions, gel creams, or fluid fo...