Nada Elbuluk, MD, MSc, is a dermatologist in California. 

Nada Elbuluk, MD, MSc

Skin of Color Savvy: The Art and Science of Treating Patients of Color

Skin of Color Savvy: Improving Global Access in Dermatology with GLODERM

This special Clinical Episode of the Skin of Color Savvy: The Art and Science of Treating Patients of Color features an illuminating conversation between Nada Elbuluk, MD, MSc, current president of the 

, and esteemed dermatologists and global health leaders Esther Freeman, MD, PhD, and Karolyn Wanat, MD. Freeman is known for her work as Associate Professor of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School and Wanat as an Associate Professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.

Together, Elbuluk, Wanat, and Freeman explore the fast-growing field of global health dermatology, the work of the International Alliance for Global Health Dermatology (GLODERM), and an exciting new collaboration between GLODERM and SOCS. Freeman begins by defining global health dermatology as the practice of dermatology in under-resourced settings, whether domestic or international.

Freeman, GLODERM's co-founder, emphasizes that global health is not limited to crossing borders—it is about ensuring access to dermatologic care wherever inequities exist. Wanat, the current chair of GLODERM, describes the group’s mission: advancing global skin health for all by building partnerships across clinicians, trainees, and communities.

The conversation outlines GLODERM’s exponential growth since its founding in 2017—from a grassroots effort by 10 dermatologists to an international network of nearly 3000 members across over 60 countries. Freeman and Wanat explain how GLODERM fits into the broader ecosystem of international dermatologic organizations, operating within the International Foundation for Dermatology (IFD), the humanitarian arm of the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS).

A highlight of the discussion is the recently passed World Health Assembly resolution designating skin disease as a global public health priority—a milestone Freeman helped achieve after years of collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). Backed by multiple sponsoring countries, the resolution formally acknowledges the critical health burden posed by skin disease worldwide and urges ministries of health to address it through funding and policy action.

The episode also explores GLODERM’s flagship mentorship program, which pairs emerging dermatology leaders in low-resource settings with international mentors. Wanat and Freeman share real-world examples of how mentees have launched transformative programs in countries like Burundi, Ecuador, and St. Lucia, from creating albinism outreach initiatives to launching new residency programs and public health campaigns.

Education is another pillar of GLODERM’s work. The organization hosts global webinars, scientific symposia, and podcasts to amplify expertise and support knowledge exchange. These efforts led to the creation of SEED (Supporting Emerging Education in Dermatology), a peer network of educators working to build new dermatology training programs in countries such as Rwanda, Fiji, and Ethiopia.

Freeman and Wanat emphasize the synergy between GLODERM and SOCS, pointing to shared priorities around mentorship, advocacy, and educational equity. Together, the organizations plan to co-develop webinars, support SOCS’s new global council and SOC Serves platform, and broaden outreach to underserved communities around the world.

They conclude the episode on an optimistic note, pointing to the remarkable momentum building around global health dermatology. What was once a niche passion is now a growing field with a thriving infrastructure, a deepening pipeline of young leaders, and an expanding global reach—all anchored by the belief that skin health is essential to overall health and that access to care should be universal.

To learn more about the Skin of Color Society's (SOCS) mentorship programs and initiatives, visit 

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

Videos

This clinical episode of Skin of Color Savvy highlights the work of the International Alliance for Global Health Dermatology (GLODERM) and a new collaboration between GLODERM and SOCS.

A group of 9 experts reflect on what they are looking forward to most in 2025 following the AAD annual meeting. 

Expert Perspectives: Dermatology's Top Story to Watch in 2025

Although nearly all medical professionals can point to a “flagship” meeting or annual conference for their specialty, few serve the same role as or measure up to what the 

American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting

A testament to the draw and magnitude of the AAD’s annual showcase, the 2025 annual meeting, which was held in Orlando, Florida, from March 07-11, 2025, had more than 20,000 registered attendees. In addition to being the field’s largest meeting, one of the unique aspects of the AAD annual meeting is its placement on the calendar. While many organizations opt for end of year or mid-year meetings, the AAD annual meeting typically occurs in Q1 and, for many, sets the tone for the remainder of the year.

With this in mind, the editorial team of HCPLive Dermatology included a simple question on the end of our interviews from the meeting with 9 leading subject matter experts in dermatology: “What is going to be the most important storyline to watch for dermatology for the rest of 2025?”

In the above video, we highlight the perspectives of these experts. Below, you can find a brief summary of the backgrounds and expertise of each individual included in this feature video.

, is a professor and vice chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Perelman School of Medicine. She also serves as president of the American Academy of Dermatology.

, is chairman at Innovaderm Research. He is also the principal investigator of the ICONIC-LEAD trial, which was presented at AAD 2025.

, is a dermatologist and internal medicine specialist with Riverchase Dermatology.

, is an associate professor of Dermatology for the USC Keck School of Medicine. She is the founding director of the USC Skin of Color and Pigmentary Disorders Program and also the president of the Skin of Color Society.

, is the owner of Medical Dermatology Specialists, chief of inpatient dermatology at BannerHealth, and the founder of US Dermatology Partners.

, is a dermatologist and the medical director at the SKiN Centre for Dermatology.

, is an associate professor in dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine.

, is the director of the Advanced Acne Therapeutics Clinic at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the co-chair of the American Academy of Dermatology Acne Guidelines Work Group.

, is vice chair of research in dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and director of the Mark Lebwohl Center for Neuroinflammation and Sensation.

Nada Elbuluk, MD, MSc

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