Mentee: Jordan Bui
Mentor: Leandra Barnes
Stanford University
I express my heartfelt appreciation to the Skin of Color Society for their support with an Observership Grant, and to Dr. Leandra Barnes at Stanford University for her unwavering mentorship. My time during this month was filled with many enriching experiences, academically and personally, and strengthened my commitment to advancing equitable and compassionate care in dermatology. I had the opportunity to attend the Skin of Color Program, an initiative spearheaded by Dr. Barnes, and the Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) Clinic. Through these experiences, I saw how Dr. Barnes provided each patient with individualized care to their needs, taking the time to understand the nuances of each patient’s presentation and the challenges they may have faced. With many HS patients having lived with painful symptoms for many years without a diagnosis, it was very impactful to see Dr. Barnes listen and validate their feelings, and reassure them that their diagnosis was not a cause of something they did. The relationship she created with patients with empathy and kindness is something I strive to emulate, taking her time with each patient. I also witnessed the importance of providing culturally sensitive care to patients, taking into account their customs and practices when creating a treatment plan. Dr. Barnes also had a wonderful procedure clinic where I got to learn about different surgical techniques she uses for deroofing procedures, especially in sensitive areas, and the extra consideration given to help patients feel more comfortable. Moreover, it was heartwarming to witness patients’ confidence increase after seeing their treatments work at follow-up visits of post-op visits for acne keloidalis nuchae or HS deroofing.
During my Observership, I also had the opportunity to work in other clinics such as Dermato-Oncology and High-Risk Skin Cancer. I learned how adverse cutaneous reactions from cancer therapies and different neoplasms may appear differently in patients with skin of color, and how to recognize the subtle nuances that can aid diagnosis. Each of the specialty clinics had a unique patient population, and I am grateful to have had the privilege to learn from these visits. In my final week of the Observership, Dr. Barnes coached me on how to give a Grand Rounds Presentation and create an engaging presentation. The compliments I received afterwards speak to the fantastic mentorship I had from Dr. Barnes. Lastly, Dr. Barnes and I designed a qualitative interview project for adolescent patients with HS to learn more about their lived experience and any barriers they may have faced in access to care. In having a better understanding of the challenges patients may face, we can better tailor our care and advocate for improved resources for our patients.
Overall, my observership was an incredible and inspiring experience to learn about the clinical, research, and collaborative aspects of dermatology. My time here has reinvigorated my passion for dermatology and research and the great potential for an academic career to advance the field. The warm and supportive environment at Stanford was apparent from the first day, and I am grateful to the entire department for taking the time to teach me throughout my observership. The mentorship I received has been invaluable, and I look forward to passing this forward in my future career and in the Skin of Color Society, championing the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in dermatology.