Mona Shahriari, MD, FAAD

The Medical Sisterhood—The Global Sisterhood: When She Speaks the World Listens

's The Medical Sisterhood, host Mona Shahriari, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale University School of Medicine and the associate director of clinical trials at Central Connecticut Dermatology Research, welcomed Canadian dermatologist and global thought leader Melinda Gooderham, MD, MSc, the Medical Director of the SKiN Centre for Dermatology, for a candid and inspiring conversation on building a high-impact career in dermatology while navigating the complexities of leadership, motherhood, and self-doubt.

01:09 Early experiences in medical field journey

04:03 Challenges in joining the clinical trial space

08:42 Tips for on-stage charisma during presentations

10:53 Advice on becoming a global speaker

12:48 Ways to balance work travel with free time

17:21 Tips for self-care during travel for work

25:08 Balancing family obligations with travel

Gooderham recounts her journey from a competitive Canadian 

 residency match to founding the first and only dermatology clinic in Peterborough, Ontario. What began as a solo community practice evolved into a clinical research hub after she entered trials to bring innovative therapies—especially biologics—to underserved patients. She reflects on being one of the few women in the early days of clinical research and how mentors empowered her with presentation coaching, trial expertise, and encouragement despite early doubts about her fit in the field.

A core theme of the episode is public speaking and professional presence. Gooderham shares how storytelling, emotional resonance, and patient transformation are key to delivering impactful presentations. She offers tangible tips: rehearse frequently, leverage tools like PowerPoint’s rehearsal coach, and never underestimate the power of audience connection. She and Shahriari discuss the value of feedback, coaching, and continuous learning—reinforcing that even seasoned speakers benefit from support and revision.

The conversation then turns to global visibility and the hidden costs of travel and work-life balance. Gooderham shares honest reflections on mom guilt, logistical challenges, and deciding which opportunities align with her goals in career and in life. Despite glamorous perceptions, she underscores that late nights, missed birthdays, and travel unpredictability are part of the job—and preparation and self-care are essential.

Gooderham also offers advice on building a digital presence, encouraging younger physicians to embrace LinkedIn for visibility while overcoming imposter syndrome and self-promotion hurdles. She closes with a touching reflection on the impact her work has had on her daughters—particularly her youngest, recently selected to a women’s leadership council—underscoring the ripple effect of visible female leadership.

This episode may serve as a reminder that authenticity, passion, and perseverance can pave the way for a fulfilling and transformative career in medicine.

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

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Videos

Melinda Gooderham, MD, MSc, joins The Medical Sisterhood to discuss balancing mentorship, leadership, and family, as well as the empowerment of women in the medical field.

2025 Revolutionizing Atopic Dermatitis (RAD) Conference

 in Nashville, Mona Shahriari, MD, FAAD, spoke with 

 about the biggest takeaways from her conference session titled ‘The Psychosocial Burden of [Atopic Dermatitis]’.

Shahriari is known both for her work as associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine and as host of 

 podcast The Medical Sisterhood. During her RAD 2025 interview, she was asked about why she pursued the topic of atopic dermatitis’s psychosocial burdens.

Psychosocial Burdens of Atopic Dermatitis, with Mona Shahriari, MD

“I think a lot of times as clinicians, when we're seeing patients with atopic dermatitis, we focus on objective scores like EASI or IGA,” Shahriari said. “But the reality is the skin doesn't always tell us the whole story, and there is that burden of disease beyond what we can see that we need to keep in mind in each and every patient encounter.I've had so many patients where sleep, itch, quality of life have been impacted by their disease, but many of the treatments they're on are just doing one thing: treating that one dimension of skin clearance.”

Shahriari noted that she hoped by targeting this exact conversation in her session, the talk could bring the subject to the forefront and remind clinicians to focus on patients’ experiences first and foremost.

“We discussed itch, which is by far the most significant burden that atopics struggle with,” Shahriari explained. “A lot of times itch, in and of itself, can have so many different impacts on a patient. But one thing that we really emphasized was that even patients with mild atopic dermatitis, clinically, can actually have a moderate to severe impact on their itch. There have been studies that have been done that show people with completely clear skin may still have a burden of the itch. Oftentimes, those individuals, from a patient perspective, rate their disease as being severe, whereas their healthcare provider actually rates their disease as being less severe.”

Shahriari highlighted the disconnect between what a physician may perceive and what a patient experiences.

“We also talked about sleep disturbance, because besides the fact that itch can impact sleep independently, I consider it to be a symptom of atopic dermatitis,” Shahriari said. “And not only do I ask about how their sleep is impacted by the disease, when I start a patient on therapy, I actually monitor how their sleep is going. That can speak volumes as to how well their disease is controlled. We talked about the mental health burden [as well], because that's one of those things where I don't think, as dermatologists, we always want to go there. It's a topic that is a little uncomfortable for us, but we made the uncomfortable comfortable today by bringing it to the forefront.”

Shahriari even touched upon suicidal ideation, which she notes some patients with atopic dermatitis can struggle with.

“It independently impacts a lot of our patients,” she explained. “And as clinicians, we need to prioritize not managing the skin solely, but also managing the mental health burden of the disease. I have a couple of psychologists as well as psychiatrists in my community that I partner with to make sure that dimension of the disease is also covered. We went through the obvious financial burden of the condition as well, because sometimes you lose sight of that, but that's an obvious pain point that, for some of our patients, can lead to them being unable to comply with therapy or even start on therapy.”

For any additional information on this topic, view Shahriari’s full interview segment posted above.

The quotes contained in this summary were edited for the purposes of clarity.

In this interview with Shahriari at RAD 2025, she highlights some of the most significant burdens that patients and caregivers face with atopic dermatitis.

Medical Sisterhood podcast episode with Amy Spizuoco, DO, and host Mona Shahriari. This episode debuted in May 2025.

Medical Sisterhood: Expertise into Influence—Owning the Podium in Dermatology, with Amy Spizuoco, DO

, host Mona Shahriari, MD, associate clinical professor of Dermatology at Yale University, is joined by her colleague Amy Spizuoco, DO, a dermatologist, dermatopathologist, and Mohs surgeon based in New York City. The conversation explores Spizuoco’s professional journey, her experiences in medical leadership, and insights into building a career in dermatologic education and public speaking.

Spizuoco shares her early training in dermatology in Arizona, followed by her dermatopathology fellowship at the Ackerman Academy, where she became the first osteopathically trained physician to complete the program. Her comprehensive clinical background led her to open her own private practice, True Dermatology, in March 2020—just days before the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a global shutdown. She reflects on the unique challenges and unexpected digital advancements that emerged during this period.

A central theme of the episode is the influence of osteopathic training on clinical practice. Spizuoco explains how osteopathic principles, particularly holistic and preventive care, have informed her approach to dermatology. The discussion transitions to her path to becoming a national lecturer and key opinion leader (KOL), including leadership roles within the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology and her contributions to organizing and speaking at national conferences.

Shahriari and Spizuoco candidly discuss the underrepresentation of women in the lecture circuit and offer advice for physicians aspiring to become KOLs. Key takeaways include the importance of being professionally responsive, prioritizing clinical experience, starting with local or regional opportunities, and always delivering high-quality, engaging presentations—regardless of the setting. Spizuoco underscores the value of authenticity and humor in connecting with audiences, and shares her perspective on overcoming imposter syndrome and finding her voice as a speaker.

The episode concludes with encouragement for aspiring female physicians to embrace public speaking opportunities with confidence, preparedness, and passion. 


Podcasts

Amy Spizuoco, DO, joins the show to discuss her journey as a key opinion leader in dermatology.

The Medical Sisterhood: Expertise into Influence—Owning the Podium in Dermatology, with Amy Spizuoco, DO

 editorial team, the topic of the evolving role of pharmacists and internal medicine physicians in the management of 

 was highlighted by Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD, and Mona Shahriari, MD.

Shahriari serves as assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University’s School of Medicine and as the host of the 

. Chovatiya is known for his work as clinical associate professor of medicine at Rosalind Franklin University Chicago Medical School and as the founder and director of the Center for Medical Dermatology and Immunology Research in Chicago.

Internal Medicine and Pharmacists’ Role in Managing Atopic Dermatitis, with Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD, and Mona Shahriari, MD

“I think that internal medicine and primary care in general are so important to get these patients to dermatology, and that's huge,” Chovatiya explained. “In the past, maybe there was a bit of a lag because they knew there wasn't much that we had as far as treatment goes, anyway. ‘You could go to a dermatologist, but I can give you a topical, and that's all they're going to give you as well.’ So much has changed, but that remains one important area that we need to be addressing, getting the patients to dermatology that really are in need of both nonsteroidal topical options and systemic therapeutics as well, that are not just intermittent oral steroids in an urgent care setting or a primary care setting.”

Chovatiya also addressed the role of pharmacists in the atopic dermatitis management space.

“From the pharmacist angle, I think that it's really important to note that our patients are getting more complex over time and they're going to be on more therapies,” Chovatiya said. “Really understanding what that looks like, and being very good stewards of people's polypharmacy is key, and that's a place where pharmacy really could shine.”

Shahriari spoke to the role of pharmacists and internal medicine doctors in atopic dermatitis as well, noting the importance of collaboration with dermatologists.

“I would hope that they do more referrals to their dermatology colleagues to ensure that patients are being treated appropriately,” Shahriari said. “But I think one place where I'm still struggling to get help from my pharmacy, as well as my internal medicine colleagues, is that there isn't a lot of education about the adverse events related to these medications. If a patient wants to get vaccines, for example, what are the do's and don'ts? Are these medications immunosuppressive? Are these medications going to interact with other medicines that the patient is on?”

Shahriari highlighted that giving patients with atopic dermatitis the correct information is vital, as any lack of awareness on behalf of the patient can make them hesitant to continue with an advanced therapeutic option.

“So I do think that now is the perfect time for us to collaborate with our colleagues from internal medicine and from pharmacy,” Shahriari explained. “If you have any doubts, if a dermatologist starts your patient on a medicine for atopic dermatitis, pick up the phone and call them before you tell the patient this may not be safe or it may interact with something, because this way we can ensure that patient's treatment is optimal and that there are no doubts in terms of trust in the system.”

For any additional information on this topic, view the full video interview posted above.

The quotes included in this summary were edited for clarity.

In this interview, Mona Shahriari, MD, and Raj Chovatiya, MD, PhD, touched on the evolving role of pharmacists and internal medicine doctors in atopic dermatitis.

Mona Shahriari, MD, FAAD

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