Dr. Teekz Yenpasook has overcame lymphoma, founded health clinics and mentored underrepresented students in dermatology and medicine. If you are interested in his story, please check out his previous podcast with DIGA where he dives deeper into his journey into dermatology. Now a dermatology resident at the University of Minnesota, Dr. Teekz shares insights on skin of color dermatology, LGBTQ+ health, and building more inclusive dermatologic education. In this episode, we discuss why representation matters in dermatology and his advice for medical students interested in skin of color research, mentorship, and advocacy. We hope you enjoy!

Please explore the links below for amazing SOC resources that Dr. Teekz provided.

How to get involved with Skin of Color Dermatology:

Mentorship Programs & Diversity Initiatives

• AAD Diversity Mentorship Program: A funded, one-month mentorship for underrepresented in medicine (URiM) students to gain hands-on experience with a dermatologist mentor.   

• https://www.aad.org/member/career/awards/diversity

• Skin of Color Society (SOCS) Mentorship Program: Connects students with experts in skin of color dermatology for long-term guidance and offers observership grants.   

• https://skinofcolorsociety.org/resources/student-resources

• Nth Dimensions Summer Internship (NDSI): An eight-week clinical and research internship for first-year medical students interested in competitive specialties like dermatology.   

• https://www.nthdimensions.org/programs

• AAD "Pathways: Inclusivity in Dermatology" Initiative: A major program focused on increasing the number of Black, Latino, and Indigenous dermatologists through scholarships, workshops, and mentorship.   

• https://www.aad.org/member/career/diversity/pathways

Professional Societies & Interest Groups

• Skin of Color Society (SOCS): The leading professional organization dedicated to advancing health equity in the care of patients with skin of color.   

• https://skinofcolorsociety.org/

• American Academy of Dermatology (AAD): The largest professional society for dermatologists in the United States.   

• https://www.aad.org/

• Dermatology Interest Group Association (DIGA): The national organization for medical student dermatology interest groups, offering resources on research, mentorship, and away rotations.   

• https://derminterest.com/

• Skin of Color Community: An organization focused on building an inclusive community and cultivating self-advocacy in healthcare through events and partnerships.   

• https://www.skinofcolorcommunity.org/

Educational Resources & Conferences

• AAD Skin of Color Curriculum: A free, comprehensive online curriculum with dozens of modules to train physicians on diagnosing and treating conditions in patients with skin of color.   

• https://learning.aad.org/Listing/Skin-of-Color-Curriculum-5719

• AAD Basic Dermatology Curriculum: A foundational resource for medical students to review dermatological terms and treatments for common disorders.   

• https://www.aad.org/member/education/residents/bdc

• AAD Upcoming Events & Meetings: A calendar of national AAD meetings, including the Annual Meeting and Innovation Academy, which are key networking and learning opportunities.   

• https://www.aad.org/member/meetings-education/upcoming-events

• AAD Free Skin Cancer Screening Program (SPOTme®): Information on how to volunteer for or host a free community skin cancer screening.   

• https://www.aad.org/member/career/volunteer/spot
  

---

DIGA Instagram: @⁠derminterest⁠

Today’s Host, Katelyn: @⁠katsteng

---

For questions, comments, or future episode suggestions, please reach out to us via email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

---

Music: "District Four" Kevin MacLeod (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠incompetech.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) Licensed under Creative Commons:

By Attribution 4.0 License:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/