As the saying goes, after knowledge comes action.
This isn’t a comprehensive list but hopefully will serve as a start.
If you’re looking for even more options specific to your state, we recommend checking outblackdermdirectory.com.
Courtesy Images; Illustration by Bella Geraci
Reporting byMichella OreandGina Way.
I am a visual learner and dermatology is a perfect blend of my passions.
“To blend my two passions: dermatology and caring for children.
I focus on building the self-esteem of children with rare and common skin conditions.
My mission is to see that every child is treated equally and is accepted.”
“My personal struggle with acne and eczema cultivated my interest in the field of dermatology.
Unlike other medical conditions, dermatologic ones are visible and can significantly affect confidence and self-esteem.
“Your skin is the first thing to walk into any room with you.
I believe everyone deserves an opportunity to feel seen, and to look and feel his or her best.
“While in medical school, I shadowed a black female dermatologist in her private practice.
This volunteer work served as my first time meeting a black dermatologist, and it was life-changing for me.
This presents an opportunity to help rebuild that confidence.
The feeling when seeing a patient stand taller, prouder, and more confident is priceless.”
I get to help peoplefeelbetter by looking better.”
“My love of dermatology started on a medical school rotation.
I found that dermatologists had an incredible talent for using their eyes and hands.
I was amazed at the residents' different diagnoses after looking at a seemingly subtle rash.
Also, I just found myself excited to work and learn every day!”
It isrightthere, and we frequently see what’s going on from the moment we enter the room.
I realized this as a medical student and I never looked back.
I enjoy treating a wide variety of skin, hair, andnail conditionsin patients of all ages.”
“Dermatology is a fantastic field that offers variety: there are medical, surgical and aesthetic components.
I became a dermatologist because I did not see dermatologists that looked like me growing up.
I wanted to improve patient access to a skin of color (SOC) specialist.
“I realized very early on in medical school that dermatology and I were a good match.
The field of dermatology challenges me to use both my left and right brain.
I am able to solve challenging medical cases, but also enhance beauty through aesthetic treatments.
Dermatology is a blend of internal medicine, surgery, and cutting-edge technology.
I am so very proud and fortunate to be part of such a wonderful subspecialty.”
“As a medical student, I found dermatology to be an innovative, fast-changing specialty.
I gave a short talk on black hair as a student and was praised for my ‘knowledge.’
I didn’t present groundbreaking research, just simple practices that were second nature to me.
I realized then I could make a huge impact on patient care and ultimately the field of dermatology.”
“I chose dermatology after completing my pediatric residency because I was intrigued by skin health and skin care.
“I was one of those medical students who was fascinated by every rotation in medical school.
The variety of conditions I see every day continues to captivate me daily.”
“I am a child of a physician.
My father is a vascular surgeon.
It can open your mind to options and possibilities.
“I got into dermatology because of my personal experiences and visits to the dermatologist starting in early childhood.
“As a teenager, I struggled with acne, as well as access to dermatologic care.
“In dermatology, I found the juxtaposition of everything I love about medicine.
I love being able to treat patients of all ages, ethnicities, and skin types.
Most importantly, I feel like I am making a difference in people’s lives every day.
I find as much joy in clearing up someone’s acne as I do in excising a melanoma.
Health is not only about the physical state of your body but also about your mental state of mind.
“A large part of what brought me to dermatology was my sisters journey with her skin.
“My mother is a pediatrician, and my grandfather was a dentist.
As a teenager, I had terrible skin bad acne and bad eczema.
I wanted my skin to look better because people were judging me.
“Skin is your largest organ and has such an impact on your overall health, including your self-esteem.
“My journey with dermatology started as a patient.
I suffered from severe acne as a teenager growing up.
I assisted on the Isotretinoin (Accutane) Phase IV safety and dosing studies.
The clinical research experience heightened my interest in the field.”
“Studies show that patients prefer doctors who share their same race and ethnicity.
In fact, dermatology is one of the least diverse medical fields.
Our field should reflect the overall U.S. population.
“During medical school, I consulted with a dermatologist for a scalp condition.
He prescribed a medicated shampoo and instructed me to use it every day.
“We need to normalize the treatment ofdermatologic conditions in darker skin tones.
We can start to achieve this by improving the diversity of our workforce and providing more comprehensive education.”
My first mentor in medical school was a Mohs surgeon.
My mentor informed me that Mohs surgery was a subspecialty of dermatology.”
“I selected dermatology because of the specialty’s visual nature.
The skin is a window into the entire body and internal diseases have visible cutaneous manifestations.”
“IG:@kindredermWEBSITE:kindredhairandskin.comWHY DID YOU GET INTO DERMATOLOGY?
“I love that dermatology is a visual science.
Also, I love offering cutting-edge and advanced treatments to patients to yield the best results.”
I knew at that very moment that I wanted to be a dermatologist.”
As a child, I loved science and I loved the arts.
“We have come a long way, but still have a long way to go.
We should strive for equity in our care.
Also, we should continue to research these skin disorders to expand our treatment options.”
“As a teenager, I recognized the lack of Black physicians, especially those in specialized fields.
I made the decision to become a physician in high school.
I knew then I wanted to be a dermatologist.
My prior experiences seeing a dermatologist left me wanting more from a patient-doctor relationship.
This is something I often hear from my patients.
“As a medical student, I was interested in dermatology because it is a very visual specialty.
I loved that you just need to see the skin to make a diagnosis.
“The institution of medicine is finally acknowledging how racism and implicit bias affect patient outcomes.
“I was exposed to dermatology in medical school and chose to pursue the specialty for many reasons.
I am outgoing, compassionate, and a critical thinker.
I enjoy seeing a variety of patients, and no two days are the same in a dermatology practice.
“Dermatology has a long way to go.
Our textbooks do not have a color palette that represents the U.S. population.
There has been a wonderful movement toward publishing literature and textbooks that represent Black and brown skin.
The larger issue at hand is having a workforce that represents the diversity of our country.”
He told the patient to wash her hair daily with a very drying medicated shampoo.
Unfortunately, it immediately made the patient uncomfortable and distrustful of any further advice from the doctor.”
“My journey to dermatology was providencial.
It started when I applied and was awarded the American Academy of Dermatology diversity scholarships.
This allowed me to spend a month exposed to dermatology (a very rare opportunity).
The same skin condition can look totally different on skin of color than it would on caucasian skin.
My mentor was very astute at pointing these out to me.
“This exposure set my desire to be a dermatologist aflame.
I could not have been more wrong.”
“I first became interested in dermatology as a teenager.
I felt that we were on the same team fighting skin disease.
I was hooked!”
“We need more training, photographs, and atlases showing conditions in Black and brown skin.
Because it’s not as easy to spot variants of inflammation, skin of color is frequently misdiagnosed.
We also need more specialized training to advise in the care of different textures of hair.”
“I got into dermatology because I simply love seeing the way my patients' skin improves after treatment.
