Mona Shahriari, MD, FAAD

The Medical Sisterhood: A Woman’s Path to Leadership in Medicine, with Laura Ferris, MD, PhD

In this episode of The Medical Sisterhood, host Mona Shahriari, MD, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University, speaks with Laura K. Ferris, MD, PhD, a Clayton E. Wheeler, Jr. Distinguished Professor and chair of the University of North Carolina Department of Dermatology, about her unexpected path to departmental leadership, the lessons she has learned in her first year as chair, and her advice for women physicians navigating academic medicine.

Ferris begins by reflecting on her career evolution. Initially envisioning herself as a physician-scientist following a PhD in immunology, she quickly realized that basic science research’s high rate of failure did not provide the daily sense of accomplishment she sought. Her passion for immunology and patient impact drew her to 

 during the pivotal era of biologic drug development. Over time, she transitioned into a clinician and clinical trialist, which opened doors to leadership. Though Ferris once stated she “never wanted to be a chair,” her growing interest in shaping departmental culture and operations ultimately led her to embrace the challenge at UNC.

One of her early “aha” moments as chair, Ferris shares, was realizing that her voice now carried new weight—her suggestions could spark tangible institutional change. She has focused heavily on improving clinical operations to enhance both patient care and provider well-being, emphasizing that better systems can reduce burnout. While the first ten months have brought curveballs—including changes in NIH funding priorities, shifting reimbursement models in a rural safety-net hospital, and access barriers for underserved patients—Ferris stresses the importance of adaptability and creative problem-solving in leadership.

Ferris discusses the art of managing faculty expectations, particularly when resources are limited. Listening tours, she notes, are invaluable for understanding what motivates individuals across career stages. While she cannot fulfill every request, she strives to offer partial solutions, flexibility, and autonomy—factors that often matter more than salary.

On advancing women in medicine, Ferris highlights her commitment to fairness and equity, often intervening behind the scenes to ensure opportunities and compensation are justly distributed. She underscores the importance of standardized policies to prevent inequities from favoring only the most vocal or “squeaky wheel” faculty. Mentorship, she adds, is essential in helping women recognize their value and advocate for themselves.

A central theme of the conversation is learning to ask—and to tolerate rejection. Ferris urges women to push past the discomfort of advocating for authorship, leadership roles, or trial involvement, reminding listeners that “the worst someone can say is no.” She also shares her decision-making framework, the “Three F’s” (fortune, fame, fun)—with some colleagues adding a fourth, family—which guides her in discerning which opportunities to accept or decline. Early in one’s career, she advises, saying “yes” often builds experience, but as responsibilities grow, strategic “no’s” become equally powerful.

Ferris closes with a message of empowerment: physicians, particularly women, are capable of more than they often believe. Balancing family, leadership, and academia is possible, and by embracing opportunities, advocating for fairness, and modeling resilience, women leaders elevate not only themselves but the entire field.

Editor’s note: This episode summary was edited with the help of artificial intelligence tools.

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Videos

Laura Ferris, MD, PhD, reflects on her unexpected path to department chair as well as the lessons of her journey as a leader in academic medicine.

The Medical Sisterhood: From MD to Medical Director—A Real Talk on Industry Careers

, host Mona Shahriari, MD, is joined by Amal Elkady, MBBCh, a physician-leader with deep roots in dermatology, immunology, and the pharmaceutical industry. Together, they explore the less-traveled path from academia to industry—a move Elkady made not out of frustration, but from an expansive desire to impact more patients worldwide.

From her early fascination with autoimmune skin diseases to conducting clinical research under Emma Guttman-Yassky, MD, PhD, at Mount Sinai, Elkady shares how a single case report—on a patient with overlapping vitiligo, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and alopecia—helped propel her into the global pharmaceutical spotlight. That experience ultimately positioned her to help shape a pivotal clinical trial for vitiligo, and later, to play a key role in developing what would become an FDA-approved treatment.

Elkady speaks candidly about the mindset shift required to thrive in the industry. 

“In clinical practice, you are the final decision-maker. In industry, you are a valued collaborator,” she explains, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, humility, and strategic thinking.

Throughout the conversation, both physicians reflect on the broader responsibilities women often shoulder and how those can influence their professional decisions. Elkady is passionate about representation—not just of women in leadership, but of women’s perspectives in clinical trial design and patient advocacy. She stresses that creating more genuine opportunities for women in industry leadership roles is not just about equity, but about enhancing outcomes for all patients.

Whether you're a student curious about life beyond the clinic, or a seasoned practitioner considering a new direction, Elkady’s journey offers insights into how to pursue industry roles with purpose, preparation, and authenticity.

Podcasts

Elkady joins the program to discuss her experience transitioning from patient care to clinical trials and industry. 

Advocating for Patients: Securing Access to Nonsteroidal Topicals Like Roflumilast

 RX Review Special Report, Mona Shahriari, MD, Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Yale University, sits down with David Hartigan, a biologic coordinator with Biologic Coordinators of Dermatology, to discuss strategies for overcoming access challenges to non-steroidal topicals like roflumilast foam for people with plaque psoriasis (PsO) on the scalp.

In this clip, recognizing that efficacy is irrelevant without availability, Shahriari and Hartigan share key documentation and communication tips that can help clinicians and staff navigate insurance approvals more efficiently.

Hartigan emphasizes the importance of accurate, detailed documentation—including treatment area, body surface area (BSA), and prior medication history—within provider notes and prior authorizations. He notes a recent trend in payers requesting evidence of concurrent topical therapy, especially non-steroidals, for patients already on biologics. Shahriari adds that correct ICD coding and alignment with FDA indications are essential for ensuring age- and condition-specific approval.

Both highlight the growing role of specialty pharmacies in simplifying access by applying manufacturer copay programs and proactively sourcing alternative funding. They also stress the value of persistence—sharing success stories where staff-led appeals and thorough documentation reversed initial denials. Shahriari, a patient herself, reinforces the medication’s utility as a safe, simple, and steroid-free option she routinely relies on and recommends.

Lastly, they emphasize the importance of advocacy and the responsibility clinicians and coordinators have in securing the therapies their patients need.

Editor's note: The FDA approved Arcutis Biotherapeutics's roflumilast under the name Zoryve as the first foam option available for scalp psoriasis in May 2025.

Tackling Real-World Barriers in Scalp Psoriasis Treatment Delivery

Formulation Matters: Managing Scalp Psoriasis Across Hair Types

The Role of Roflumilast in Long-Term Psoriasis Management

Counseling Patients With Psoriasis on Roflumilast and Nonsteroidal Topicals

Bridging and Enhancing Biologic Response With Targeted Topicals for Scalp Psoriasis

is Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine, the Associate Director of Clinical Trials at CCD Research and a senior editor for the Journal of Psoriasis and Psoriatic arthritis. She also hosts 

is a biologic coordinator for Optima Dermatology and the Education Chair for Biologic Coordinators of Dermatology. 

Relevant disclosures for Shahriari include AbbVie, Dermira, Cara, Dermavant, Novartis, Union, BMS, Leo, Eli Lilly, Sanofi, Regeneron, UCB, and others. Hartigan reports no relevant disclosures.

Arcutis Biotherapeutics. Arcutis’ ZORYVE® (roflumilast) Topical Foam 0.3% Approved by U.S. FDA for the Treatment of Plaque Psoriasis in Adults and Adolescents Ages 12 and Older - Arcutis Biotherapeutics. Arcutis Biotherapeutics. Published May 22, 2025. Accessed May 22, 2025. 

https://www.arcutis.com/arcutis-zoryve-roflumilast-topical-foam-0-3-approved-by-u-s-fda-for-the-treatment-of-plaque-psoriasis-in-adults-and-adolescents-ages-12-and-older/

In this video, the last in a 6-part series, panelists discuss recent advancements in PsO management.

Advocating for Patients With Psoriasis: Securing Access to Nonsteroidal Topicals Like Roflumilast

 RX Review Special Report, Mona Shahriari, MD, Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Yale University, sits down with David Hartigan, a biologic coordinator with Biologic Coordinators of Dermatology, to explore integrating topical roflumilast into the treatment regimens of patients on biologics, particularly for managing residual or scalp psoriasis. 

In this clip, Shahriari emphasizes that even among patients with moderate-to-severe disease on systemic therapy, topicals remain essential to maintaining long-term disease control. She outlines 3 key roles for roflumilast in biologic workflows. First, it serves as a therapeutic bridge while patients await biologic approval or navigate insurance delays. Second, for patients hesitant to initiate systemic therapy, it provides a non-steroidal, well-tolerated alternative that can manage symptoms while allowing time for decision-making. Finally, among patients already receiving biologics, tapinarof functions as a reliable adjunct for addressing breakthrough lesions—what she refers to as “touch-up paint”—helping maintain clearance and potentially delaying or avoiding unnecessary treatment switches.

She highlights the importance of minimizing disruptions in effective biologic regimens and notes that roflumilast can be safely used in combination with systemic agents, with no FDA contraindications. This flexibility allows for seamless integration into existing care plans while reducing the administrative burden on biologic coordinators and preserving therapeutic continuity.

In this video, the fifth in a 6-part series, panelists discuss recent advancements in PsO management.

Mona Shahriari, MD, FAAD

Articles