Why Mentorship Matters Most for Dermatology Trainees

In the latest installment of the Skin of Color Savvy podcast, hosted by Skin of Color Society (SOCS) leaders and produced by HCPLive, Andrew Alexis, MD, MPH, professor of clinical dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, spoke about how mentorship shaped his own career and continues to influence the next generation of dermatologists, in a segment of his conversation with host Jessica Mercer, MD, co-managing owner of Georgia Dermatology Partners near Atlanta, Georgia.

Alexis said looking back on his career made clear that no physician reaches success alone, crediting the support, guidance, and inspiration of his own mentors while expressing gratitude for the chance to pass those lessons on to students and residents, including Mercer, who trained and shadowed under him earlier in her career.

How Does Mentorship Shape a Physician's Clinical Focus?

Mercer credited Alexis, along with Susan Taylor, MD, who led the Skin of Color Center in New York, with laying the foundation for her current focus on hair loss and skin of color care. Alexis explained that exposure to varied clinical approaches during mentorship often sparks lasting interest in a specific subspecialty, noting that for many trainees, mentorship offers a first meaningful exposure to conditions prevalent in skin of color.

Why Is Mentorship Especially Important for Dermatology Trainees?

Mercer noted that trainees practicing in different regions may have limited exposure to certain patient populations and conditions depending on where they train, making mentorship a critical supplement to formal education. Alexis agreed, explaining that observing experienced clinicians model varying approaches allows trainees to build a broader toolkit they can later draw from in their own practice, often blending techniques learned from multiple mentors and clinical settings.

Mercer said she now applies this understanding in her own mentorship relationships, making a point to ask trainees what they hope to gain from the experience, since different mentees often need different forms of guidance and support.

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.