I asked and you came through NMA Derm! Thank you.
Since the annual meeting, I've had about 2 to 3 meetings each week specifically to launch new and purposeful NMA Derm committees. The Fundraising Committee has made incredibly bold pitches to industry to fund the efforts of the other committees. The Mentorship Committee, chaired by Dr. DiAnne Davis and student Co-Chair Sophia Ederaine, are already working to match hundreds of black medical students with mentees. The Advocacy Committee chaired by Dr. Caroline Robinson is already working on short term and long term advocacy projects specific to black patients and dermatologists. The Research Committee chaired by Dr. Hope Mitchell already has an event next Saturday for NMA Derm members and has ongoing events with a cohort of medical students. The Elections committee, that is, Chair Dr. Shari Hicks-Graham, has prepared our online elections that we hopefully can launch soon. At this time, I am currently deeply involved in each committee, but with such amazing committee chairs, that will soon be unnecessary. In the next phase, I will switch to launching the Website Committee, Regional Leaders, and more.
Please note that you can sign up to be an NMA Derm mentor right now and there is already an upcoming research workshop next week. This research workshop is for those of you who want to collaborate with NMA Derm members across the country in research projects, if you want to incorporate clinical research into your practice, and if you are a little rusty and need training on how to carry out research.
Finally, all of the committees (fundraising, mentorship, research, advocacy, etc) are connected. I will encourage as much cross-pollination as possible. For example, while pitching to industry, Dr. Mitchell and I also ask about creating a pipeline for NMA Members to be included in their clinical trials. The Research Committee will intentionally identify projects for mentees and prioritize projects that provide evidence for the Advocacy Committee. And so on.
For those of you who have recently asked how you can get involved, please see below.
Of note, the Skin of Color Society Chair of SOCS Research Committee Dr. Nada Elbuluk requested that we share details about the SOCS Research Award. LInks included in this newsletter.
Stay Safe, Wear a Mask
--Chesahna Kindred, MD, MBA, FAAD
Chair
NMA Derm
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NMA Derm Mentorship Committee |
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Many of you found yourselves overwhelmed with the number of medical students in need of mentors. If you were like me (CK), you tried your best but didn't couldn't give your best to each one. The mentorship committee chaired by Dr. Davis is now your go-to organization to find a mentee, to become a mentor, to help students find mentors, and to participate in a program with built-in education and training for your mentees.
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The Mentorship Committee comprises of Dr. DiAnne Davis (chair), Dr. Hope Mitchell, Dr. Peterson Pierre, Dr. Meena Singh, dermatology resident Dr. Zoe Smith, and medical students Sophia Ederaine (student co-chair), Zanaib Mohammodu, and Diane Ihebom.
Mission Statement
The NMA Dermatology Mentorship Committee was established to increase the representation of African Americans in the field of dermatology. By connecting mentees with mentors we aim to engage, enlighten, and empower individuals on their development to advancing their career as a dermatologist through guidance on the application and interviewing process as well as professional development beyond residency training.
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Meeting ID: 955 6320 7947
Passcode: 748050
"Research is important for mentees, medical students, patients and the future of dermatology. The research committee is committed to creating a pipeline for NMA Derm members to be supported as the Principal Investigator in research projects that address health disparities in which black people carry the burden of disease. Without question, NMA Derm should be the primary resource for lead clinical investigators. We need to make sure studies include a diverse population and that black students have opportunities to do representative research that ultimately produces relevant data and publications that will improve the treatment outcomes and quality of life of black patients.
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NMA Derm Research Committee |
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The committee has identified Tiffany Bennett, a black clinical research consultant based in California, as a powerful partner to help NMA Derm design and create robust protocols to address disease burdens in blacks. We are excited to introduce you to her and provide a general overview of clinical trials, protocols and strategies for multicenter studies. Mark your calendars and join us for two 1-hour sessions on Saturday(s), September 26th and October 10th, both at 1pm EST."
~ Dr. Hope Mitchell
The research committee comprises of Dr. Hope Mitchell (chair), Dr. Valerie Callender, and Dr. Bobbi Edwards. If you are interested in helping to organize research projects, please join the research committee. Send an email to dermatology@nmanet.org.
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NMA Derm Advocacy Committee |
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Committee Aims
The NMA Derm Advocacy Committee seeks to bring current and future leaders in dermatology together to actively advocate for dermatologic issues impacting the African American community. Our goal is to advocate for dermatologists as authorities of skin, hair, and nail disorders and leaders of the healthcare team particularly when care involves our most vulnerable patient populations. Our committee recognizes that the only way to improve patient care and outcomes for all Americans is through recognition of and resolution of healthcare disparities, culturally competent patient care, and improved access for historically underserved populations. There is an intricate
relationship between lack of diversity within the field and disparities in care and our advocacy work seeks to tackle these issues. We aim to collaborate with organizations with similar missions in an effort to be a collective voice for the underserved.
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The committee already has bold projects underway. However, in light of the need to be intentionally strategic, I will not divulge the endeavors prematurely.
The advocacy committee comprises of Dr. Caroline Robinson (chair), Dr. Candrice Heath, Dr. Aleta Simmons, and Dr. Susan Taylor.
If you are interested in joining the NMA Derm Advocacy Committee, please send an email to dermatology@nmanet.org.
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Fundraising Committee
The Funding Committee is really simply Dr. Hope Mitchell and myself. My reason for formalizing the funding committee is so that the responsibility for fundraising does not rest solely on the shoulders of the chair anymore. Dr. Mitchell and I plan to remain on this committee to ensure that the skills we are learning remain with NMA Derm for years to come.
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We have been busy making bold six-figure pitches to leadership at pharmaceutical companies on behalf of supporting the NMA Derm infrastructure and initiatives: ie. executive assistant, research, mentorship, advocacy and regional leaders. The funding committee is committed to finding funding to help build a strong infrastructure with financial stability for NMA Derm.
If you want to join the funding committee or learn how fundraising works in the world of dermatology, then come learn with us. Send an email to dermatology@nmanet.org.
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Please visit the SOCS website for more information.
Applications Available: August 1
Application Due: December 1
Please contact info@skinofcolorsociety.org for more information.
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Chair: Chesahna Kindred, MD, MBA
Admin: Lisa Jordan, BS
Administrator: Evelyn Gibson
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National Medical Association | Dermatology Section | |
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