Mentee Efia Nuako, BS with mentor Leandra Barnes, MD
Stanford University
I completed my SOCS Observership with Dr. Leandra Barnes at Stanford University and alongside another student, Brianna Watson. I had a great experience during my 4 weeks at Stanford! During our time, Brianna and I were exposed to several subspecialties in dermatology. We had the opportunity to work with general dermatologists, dermato oncologists, and a gynecologic dermatologist. Additionally, Dr. Barnes is a Hidradenitis Suppurativa specialist and has a focused HS clinic, as well as a Skin of Color clinic. We were able to observe HS deroofing surgeries, which is a procedure I had never seen before. Working with her in these clinics allowed me to learn more about skin conditions which are more common in patients with Skin of Color, as well as how conditions present on different skin tones.
Brianna and I also attended events which immersed us in the community, such as the Karasek Annual Lecture in Dermatology and the Stanford Community Health Fair. Dr. Barnes even gave us the opportunity to present at Grand Rounds! Preparing a case and presenting it at Grand Rounds was a valuable learning experience, as Dr. Barnes gave us feedback and tips on how to best engage the audience. To supplement our experience, Brianna and I also had protected time to work on research projects. This focused time on research was beneficial because it allowed us to refine research skills and work directly with our mentor in person. Overall, this observership was a great opportunity to learn more about all aspects of dermatology, including community outreach and research!