DermWorld Academy Insider: Takeaways from the Diversity Champion Workshop

Oct. 13, 2022

Last month, the AAD hosted its 4th annual Diversity Champion Workshop in Chicago. The in-person workshop provided participants with an opportunity to share success stories, discuss outreach programs and initiatives, and exchange ideas.

The DCW featured eight different panels throughout the day, each led by a knowledgeable and diverse group of doctors and medical students, speaking on a wide variety of diversity- and inclusion-related issues. Some of the topics discussed include perspectives from various underrepresented communities, creating and supporting safe and inclusive spaces, and discussing the root cause of workforce diversity and health disparities.

Having a conversation about these important issues helps shed light on some of the most powerful tools available to residency programs to recruit and retain a diverse trainee group. DermWorld Academy Insider asked four DCW participants what they learned from the experience that they will use in their everyday practice.

Victoria Barbosa, MD, FAAD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Chicago.

DWAI: What did you learn at the Diversity Champion Workshop that you will apply in your day-to-day practice?

Dr. Barbosa: The Diversity Champion Workshop was a wealth of information and a great source of inspiration. There is so much work to do to move our great specialty along the path of diversity and inclusion in order to be able to improve health equity and justice. Our trainees are our future, and as a faculty member I particularly enjoyed hearing Dr. Rosenblatt and Dr. Waul discuss how to implement a holistic review of applicants that helps us move past relying so heavily on traditional metrics. The panel of students and residents provided a new perspective for me on making sure we have safe spaces for our trainees and will help guide us in looking at our online presence to make sure that we are communicating our core values with respect to DEI for those considering our program. Dr. Vela’s presentation was absolutely masterful, and was a history lesson, a wakeup call, and a roadmap all in one. As always, I left the meeting energized to continue the DEI work that is not always easy but is so important.

Mary Wu Chang, MD, FAAD, is a Clinical Professor of Dermatology and Pediatrics at the University of Connecticut.

DWAI: What did you learn at the Diversity Champion Workshop that you will apply in your day-to-day practice?

Dr. Chang: I learned that although our power in society may differ, we all have influence wherever we are, every day. The AAD Diversity Champion Workshop inspired me to be more aware, to educate myself more about diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to hopefully be a positive influence in my clinic and in my community.

L. Claire Hollins, MD, FAAD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Dermatology at Pennsylvania State University.

DWAI: What did you learn at the Diversity Champion Workshop that you will apply in your day-to-day practice?

Dr. Hollins: I learned to make inclusion efforts the focus — that we need to focus on gaining and more importantly, retaining diverse applicants. Burnout affects underrepresented in medicine physicians more potently, so we need to make sure URM employees know where they can turn for support when their programs feel overwhelming. I learned so much about the plight of the Native American people. I learned about the difficulty our patients have reading informed consents, which are currently written at the level of law school comprehension. I learned that I should ensure my hospital system is not using race-based practice points like PFTs. I learned just how much work needs to be done, and that we need to keep recruiting allies from the majority to help with our efforts! However, looking around the conference, I found that the allies are there, and they are invaluable to our causes.

Shannon Zullo, MD, is a resident in dermatology at the University of California San Francisco.

DWAI: What did you learn at the Diversity Champion Workshop that you will apply in your day-to-day practice?

Dr. Zullo: It was an honor to speak at the Diversity Champion Workshop. I learned so much from our colleagues and their unique perspectives. As a Native American, I was inspired by our discussions about reservation communities and the AAD’s commitment to address our field’s largest gap in representation. I left the workshop excited for the future — one in which Native Americans, tribal reservations, and our membership can work together to tackle our biggest challenges.