Mona Shahriari, MD, FAAD

How to Get Involved in Community Service in Dermatology, With Elizabeth Kiracofe, MD

, Mona Shahriari, MD, of the Yale School of Medicine, continues her discussion with Elizabeth A. Kiracofe, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Airia Comprehensive Dermatology, about practical ways physicians can engage in community service without becoming overwhelmed by logistical or time-related barriers.

Kiracofe emphasizes that meaningful involvement does not need to begin with large-scale initiatives, instead pointing to the value of small, actionable steps. Referencing her work with My Block, My Hood, My City, she highlights the organization’s guiding principle, focusing on one simple action each day to improve the lives of others. This philosophy, she explains, reframes community engagement as something accessible and incremental, rather than requiring significant planning or institutional backing. Whether through small acts of service or participation in existing programs, she suggests that consistent, manageable contributions can evolve into more substantial efforts over time.

Kiracofe also underscores that service does not have to be limited to clinical or dermatologic care. She describes her involvement with the The Daisy Foundation, where philanthropic work has included supporting underserved schools through initiatives such as funding essential resources like playgrounds, teacher spaces, and basic household appliances for students in need. Through events like the organization’s “holiday magic” program, Kiracofe and collaborators have built relationships with local schools, which later enabled more targeted dermatologic outreach, including eczema education and screenings for hundreds of students.

A key takeaway from her experience is the importance of relationship-building in facilitating sustainable outreach. Kiracofe notes that earlier attempts to engage directly with school systems were met with skepticism, but partnerships developed through community organizations created trust and opened doors for ongoing programming. These efforts ultimately allowed her to integrate dermatologic education into broader community initiatives, demonstrating how nonclinical entry points can lead to meaningful health interventions.

The discussion also addresses barriers that often prevent dermatologists from participating in traditional free clinics, including administrative complexity, unfamiliar electronic medical records, and limited clinical infrastructure. In response, Kiracofe outlines a vision for simplifying participation through a “clinic-in-a-box” model, enabling physicians to deliver care directly in community settings such as shelters with minimal logistical burden. By bringing essential tools and support staff to patients, rather than relying on centralized systems, she suggests more clinicians could realistically engage in outreach.

Ultimately, Kiracofe frames the challenge not as a lack of willingness among physicians, but as a need to reduce friction. She and Shahriari emphasize that creating accessible pathways to service, much like simplifying patient adherence strategies in clinical practice, can empower more clinicians to contribute. The conversation reinforces that impactful community involvement begins with small, intentional actions and grows through connection, adaptability, and a focus on practicality.

Editor’s note: This segment was summarized with the help of AI tools.

Shahriari M, Kiracofe E. The Medical Sisterhood: Exposure is Power-Women in Medicine Creating Opportunity, With Elizabeth Kiracofe, MD. April 30, 2026. Accessed May 4, 2026. 

https://www.hcplive.com/view/the-medical-sisterhood-exposure-is-power-women-medicine-creating-opportunity-elizabeth-kiracofe-md

Videos

In this segment from the April episode of The Medical Sisterhood podcast, the speakers discussed simple ways for physicians to get involved in community service without feeling overwhelmed.

Getting Involved in the Community as a Dermatologist, With Elizabeth Kiracofe, MD

, host Mona Shahriari, MD, speaks with Elizabeth A. Kiracofe, MD, about her early career path, formative influences, and the organic development of her community-focused 

Kiracofe, known for her role as board-certified dermatologist and founder of Airia Comprehensive Dermatology, reflects on initially planning to pursue pediatrics, shaped by her background working with children and influenced by her parents’ careers as educators. However, during medical school, she found that the realities of pediatric care, particularly the emotional demands of treating seriously ill children and interacting with distressed families, prompted her to reconsider her direction.

Her eventual transition into dermatology was influenced in part by an early mentor, a dermatologist who exposed her to the specialty at a young age and encouraged her interest. Even as she explored other fields, including emergency medicine, Kiracofe found herself consistently drawn to dermatologic cases. This pattern ultimately solidified her decision to pursue dermatology, aligning both with her clinical interests and her comfort within the specialty.

Alongside her clinical journey, Kiracofe highlights the parallel development of her commitment to community engagement and advocacy. Early experiences, including involvement in grassroots efforts such as founding a local Relay for Life initiative, helped shape her perspective on service and impact. These experiences later translated into her work with the Women’s Dermatologic Society, where she became involved in community outreach initiatives focused on underserved populations.

Kiracofe describes how her involvement in shelter-based educational programming, initially limited to occasional volunteer sessions, evolved into a more hands-on commitment. Over time, she increased the frequency of her visits, ultimately establishing a regular presence at a local shelter to provide dermatologic education and guidance. A pivotal moment occurred when a shelter resident’s dermatology appointment was unexpectedly delayed by several months, despite extensive preparation. Confronted with the limitations of the healthcare system, Kiracofe recognized an unmet need and took direct action.

This experience led to the creation of her foundation, which emerged not from a formal strategic plan but from an immediate need to provide care. Leveraging the flexibility of her private practice, she began delivering dermatologic services on-site, illustrating a pragmatic, patient-centered approach to addressing care gaps. As she recounts, the initiative began with minimal resources but was driven by a clear commitment to meeting patients where they are, both literally and figuratively.

Shahriari M, Kiracofe E. The Medical Sisterhood: Exposure is Power-Women in Medicine Creating Opportunity, With Elizabeth Kiracofe, MD. April 30, 2026. Accessed May 1, 2026. 

Elizabeth Kiracofe, MD, speaks in this segment of her recent The Medical Sisterhood podcast about her career and other community initiatives.

The Medical Sisterhood: Exposure is Power-Women in Medicine Creating Opportunity, With Elizabeth Kiracofe MD

 podcast, host Mona Shahriari, MD, assistant clinical professor of 

 at the Yale University School of Medicine and the associate director of clinical trials at Central Connecticut Dermatology Research, is joined by Elizabeth A. Kiracofe, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Airia Comprehensive Dermatology, for a candid discussion centered on career evolution, entrepreneurship, and redefining success in medicine.

00:00 Introduction of Dr. Kiracofe
02:06 Career background
04:40 What sparked the Airia Foundation's beginning?
09:44 Helping patients with key issues
12:08 Mentorship experiences
19:19 Simple steps for clinicians to get involved in the community
26:17 Final thoughts on women in leadership

Their conversation highlights the personal and professional inflection points that shape a physician’s path, particularly for women navigating leadership, ownership, and work-life integration. Kiracofe reflects on her journey into private practice ownership, describing both the motivations and the realities behind building a dermatology practice from the ground up. She emphasizes the importance of autonomy, not only in clinical decision-making but also in shaping workplace culture, patient experience, and long-term goals.

While ownership can offer flexibility and fulfillment, she notes that it also requires a willingness to embrace uncertainty, take on administrative responsibilities, and develop new skill sets beyond clinical medicine. Financial literacy, operational knowledge, and leadership development emerge as critical competencies for physicians considering a similar path.

A central theme throughout the episode is the concept of alignment, ensuring that professional decisions reflect personal values and long-term priorities. Kiracofe discusses how defining a clear “why” can guide career choices, from practice structure to patient population and scope of services. Rather than pursuing traditional markers of success or external expectations, she encourages physicians to evaluate opportunities through the lens of sustainability, fulfillment, and impact. Shahriari echoes this perspective, emphasizing that career satisfaction is highly individualized and may shift over time.

The discussion also explores the challenges of balancing clinical responsibilities with personal life, particularly for physicians managing family commitments. Kiracofe speaks to the importance of setting boundaries, delegating effectively, and building supportive systems both at work and at home. She notes that while flexibility is often cited as a benefit of practice ownership, achieving it requires intentional planning and ongoing adjustment. The conversation underscores that “having it all” may be less about doing everything simultaneously and more about prioritizing what matters most in a given season.

Mentorship and community are highlighted as essential components of professional growth. Kiracofe credits mentors and peer networks with providing guidance, perspective, and support throughout her career transitions. Shahriari reinforces the value of these relationships, particularly for women in medicine who may face unique structural and cultural challenges. Both speakers emphasize the importance of seeking out mentors who align with one’s goals and being open to evolving those relationships over time.

Ultimately, the episode presents a nuanced view of career development in dermatology, moving beyond linear trajectories to emphasize adaptability, intentionality, and self-awareness. Through Kiracofe’s experiences, clinicians are encouraged to think critically about their own definitions of success and to pursue paths that align with their professional aspirations and personal values.

Editor’s note: This episode was produced with the help of AI tools.

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Podcasts

In this April episode, the discussion highlights how intentional choices and practice ownership can help physicians align professional with personal success.

The Medical Sisterhood: Exposure is Power-Women in Medicine Creating Opportunity, With Elizabeth Kiracofe, MD

Networking, Niches, and Why Authenticity Is Your Biggest Career Asset in Dermatology

, the conversation opened with both physicians sharing the speakers they most admire and actively try to emulate. Host Mona Shahriari, MD, named Linda Stein Gold as a formative influence, praising her ability to translate complex material through analogy and metaphor in a way that made audiences not just understand a topic, but feel it emotionally.

Guest Natasha Mesinkovska, MD, PhD, pointed to Ted Rosen as her model, drawn to his stripped-down presentation style, big letters, two words on a slide, a photograph, humor and a relaxed presence that made him feel like someone you just happened to know. She also credited Dirk Elston with teaching her the value of the pause, an acknowledgment that she naturally tends to run through material quickly. The throughline for Mesinkovska was clear: the speakers she gravitates toward are those who lead with images and simplicity, and that is the presenter she is working to become.

From there, Shahriari raised a more pointed question: whether women are judged differently on stage. Mesinkovska answered directly and without hesitation. She acknowledged that audiences scrutinize what women wear, down to their jewelry and shoes, in ways that simply do not apply to their male counterparts.

Rather than treating that reality as a liability, she reframed it as an opportunity. Women on stage, she argued, hold a particular kind of power and should lean into whatever makes them feel confident and authentic, whether that means a red dress, heels, or a sweatshirt. The message was simple: own it. Shahriari echoed the sentiment, noting that her own heels are a source of personal confidence she has never felt the need to apologize for.

The discussion then turned to authenticity and the pressures of personal branding in an era of social media and influencer culture. Mesinkovska was candid about the professional trade-offs that come with her commitment to honesty, acknowledging that her directness is not always considered industry-friendly. She has made peace with that, viewing the credibility she has built through institutional rigor and independent research as its own form of currency. She also admitted she is not well-suited to social media, finding the environment too harsh for someone who describes herself as sensitive.

Closing out the episode, Mesinkovska offered practical advice for women hoping to build a national presence. Her playbook started with human connection: find the people you admire and simply introduce yourself. From there, she stressed the importance of identifying genuine areas of interest rather than chasing prestige, finding a niche that excites you personally, and growing within it through research, collaboration, and willingness to change direction when your passions evolve. Her parting thought was characteristically direct: carve your own path, then carve a whole lot more of them.

This discussion reflects on great speakers, the unique pressures women face on the podium, and what it takes to build a national platform in academic medicine.

Mona Shahriari, MD, FAAD

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