Dr. Jenna C. Lester is a graduate of Harvard College and the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She completed her dermatology residency at UCSF where she is now on faculty as an Associate Professor and the founding Director of the Skin of Color Program. As part of this program she has developed a clinical service, curriculum for residents and medical students, and is building a research program. Dr. Lester enjoys teaching and sees it as a valuable moment for building important dermatologic concepts but also imparting information about healthcare disparities and how advocacy can play a role in mitigating these effects. She was recently awarded the UCSF Medical Center’s Academy of Medical Educators Teaching Award.
Dr. Lester’s work in the Skin of Color Program has been discussed in the NY Times, NPR, CNN.com, and many other news outlets nationwide. In recognition of her work in developing the Skin of Color Program, she was named a 2021 TED Fellow, a competitive, international fellowship for “thinkers and doers who have shown unusual accomplishment, exceptional courage, strength of character, and potential to create positive change in their respective fields.” She has used this platform to continue to push forward the message about equity in dermatology.
Dr. Lester has served on the AAD’s Augmented Intelligence Committee and is a member of the Skin of Color Society’s Board.