DermWorld Academy Insider: Your Dermatologist Knows social media correspondents

Oct. 20, 2022

The AAD’s new Your Dermatologist Knows strategy launched on October 10, 2022. Meant to help boost the already-strong public image of dermatologists as the experts in skin, hair, and nails with the public, a major facet of Your Dermatologist Knows are the social media correspondents. Working closely with the AAD, the correspondents — who are all board-certified dermatologists and AAD members — will share content with the public that highlights the broad scope of the specialty.

DermWorld Academy Insider gave each correspondent an opportunity to introduce themselves to their fellow members and explain why they believe they’re a good fit for the role.

Ronda Farah, MD, FAAD, is an associate professor of dermatology at the University of Minnesota.

DWAI: What made you want to be one of the Academy’s Your Dermatologist Knows social media correspondents?

Social media has since fascinated me, and I am passionate about sharing this experience with dermatologists and encouraging dermatologists to use social media. Additionally, engaging with the public and learning from others on social media has been an honor.

DWAI: Why do you believe the Your Dermatologist Knows public strategy is important?

Dr. Farah: Dermatologists are not only passionate about diseases of the skin, hair, and nails, but are also highly trained medical experts. Your Dermatologist Knows provides dermatologists an opportunity to communicate key messages and engage with the public on platforms they are already using daily. It also positions dermatologists as experts in the field. We need our patients to be aware that we are the go-to medical specialty for the treatment of skin, hair, and nail diseases.

DWAI: What social media experience do you have that prepares you to represent your fellow Academy members?

Dr. Farah: As an academic dermatologist, my initial social media exposure comes from working on media pieces in the academic setting. However, I have since expanded to my own social media using @drrondafarah on Instagram and TikTok. I also use LinkedIn and Facebook regularly. Over the last four years, I have spent extensive time understanding where the scientific literature on social media and dermatology currently stands and given national talks on this topic. I have also published within the field of social media and hair loss.

Finally, I have gained the skills of recording, editing, trend selection, and idea generation for social media as I have taught myself to use these accounts. It is an honor to represent my fellow Academy members on social media. I will hold myself to the highest professional standards within social media in this role.

DWAI: Why are you confident that you will be a good correspondent for Your Dermatologist Knows?

Dr. Farah: I am incredibly energized for this position. My Instagram and TikTok accounts have brought my life joy, friendships, and opportunities that I never expected. Furthermore, I am passionate about social media and its impact on our field. I see huge potential for dermatologists on social media to have a voice and better serve our patients.

Sara Moghaddam, MD, FAAD, practices at Delmarva Skin Specialists on the border of Delaware and Maryland.

DWAI: What made you want to be one of the Academy’s Your Dermatologist Knows social media correspondents?

DWAI: Why do you believe the Your Dermatologist Knows public strategy is important?

Dr. Moghaddam: In the current climate, where non-physicians are increasingly active on social media and able to practice independently — each state has different laws about this — the area where we have the most control and impact is public education. If we all work together to disseminate accurate, reliable information and talk about the importance of seeking the expertise of a board-certified dermatologist, hopefully we can transition public perception to come to us first for their skin, hair, and nail needs.

DWAI: What social media experience do you have that prepares you to represent your fellow Academy members?

Dr. Moghaddam: Having started my professional social media account @drsaramd a few years ago, I have observed that with increasing frequency, the public is seeking out health care information online. People love convenience. I have worked closely with the AAD as a social media ambassador on Instagram for the past couple years sharing educational information and engaging the online community. We need to make ourselves available and approachable on social media platforms to ensure we can direct people to seek out the best care for their skin health.

DWAI: Why are you confident that you will be a good correspondent for Your Dermatologist Knows?

Dr. Moghaddam: Witnessing many patient complications due to not getting proper care from a board-certified dermatologist, advocacy and public education has become a cornerstone of my career. For the past several years, I have worked with the AAD on many advocacy fronts, including truth in advertising and scope of practice issues. Also, being active in dermatologist-only social media groups allows me to be in touch with current issues my colleagues are facing. I look forward to representing the AAD in this new outreach campaign to show the public all the positive things a dermatologist can offer.

Oyetewa Oyerinde, MD, FAAD, will serve as Director of the Skin of Color Clinic at Baylor University’s Department of Dermatology starting in April 2023.

DWAI: What made you want to be one of the Academy’s Your Dermatologist Knows social media correspondents?

DWAI: Why do you believe the Your Dermatologist Knows public strategy is important?

Dr. Oyerinde: The beauty of the Internet and social media is that you can find information on literally anything. This fact is also increasingly the most ugly part of the internet. It is so easy for dangerous misinformation to spread like wildfire. The Your Dermatologist Knows strategy is a chance for dermatologists to equip people with evidence-based knowledge that can positively impact their health, starting by pointing them in the correct direction for care. At its core, positioning dermatologists as the true skin experts on the internet is a patient safety issue, and I’m excited to be a part!

DWAI: What social media experience do you have that prepares you to represent your fellow Academy members?

Dr. Oyerinde: As I alluded to earlier, I have been creating content aimed at advising and mentoring medical students for the last four years. In that time, I have also been interviewed on multiple podcasts and featured on Instagram lives and virtual panels, speaking about the importance of diversity in dermatology, hair conditions in patients with skin of color, and the recruitment of underrepresented minorities into our field.

DWAI: Why are you confident that you will be a good correspondent for Your Dermatologist Knows?

Dr. Oyerinde: As a newly minted board-certified dermatologist (I just passed the boards this summer!), I am especially excited to serve in this role to help shine a light on skin conditions affecting patients with diverse skin tones and hair textures. My interest within the field of dermatology lies in pigmentary disorders, hair loss, and other conditions that are particularly devastating for patients with skin of color. Combined with my passion for entertaining through poetry and spoken word, I hope that my personality will shine through on the videos, as I connect with our target audience!