Does Mentorship Improve Outcomes for Patients of Color?

Some of the most valuable lessons in medicine happen outside scheduled clinical hours, according to a discussion between Andrew Alexis, MD, MPH, professor of clinical dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, and host Jessica Mercer, MD, co-managing owner of Georgia Dermatology Partners near Atlanta, Georgia, on the most recent Skin of Color Savvy podcast episode.

How Should Mentees Make the Most of a Mentorship Experience?

Alexis advised mentees to treat mentorship as more than a scheduled 9-to-5 obligation, encouraging trainees to stay engaged during informal moments after the last patient leaves, such as when a mentor reviews charts, checks labs, or handles administrative tasks. He said these unstructured windows often create space for more relaxed conversation, reflection, and questions that may not arise inside the exam room.

Alexis noted mentees who take this approach tend to build stronger, longer-lasting relationships with their mentors. Mercer agreed, noting these moments give trainees a fuller picture of dermatology beyond the patient encounter itself, including the preparation and follow-up work that happens before and after every visit.

Does Mentorship Improve Outcomes for Patients With Skin of Color?

Alexis said mentorship can directly benefit patients with skin of color, since training exposure to conditions such as pigmentary disorders, keloids, and hair and scalp disorders varies widely across geographic locations and training programs. He noted mentees who pursue away electives or shadowing opportunities with mentors experienced in these areas gain exposure to patient populations they might not otherwise encounter, allowing them to supplement textbook knowledge with real-world clinical experience and expert best practices.

Mercer added that dermatologic disease often presents differently across Fitzpatrick skin types, making varied training experiences essential to building the breadth of knowledge needed to earn patient trust and deliver expert, well-rounded care.

To learn more about SOCS’s programs and initiatives, visit Skin of Color Society.

Editor’s note: This episode was summarized with the help of AI tools. Alexis and Mercer had no relevant disclosures of note.

References

1. Perlman KL, Williams NM, Park JH, et al. Skin of color lacks representation in medical student resources: A cross-sectional study. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2021 Jan 8;7(2):195-196. doi: 10.1016/j.ijwd.2020.12.018. PMID: 33937492; PMCID: PMC8072497.