The Diversity in Dermatology 2023 Conference took place in Orlando, Florida in March 2023. The four days were filled with dermatology presentations, product review theaters, a trip to Disney World, and a reception for previous Achieve Program participants. In this article, I share Part 1 of a 3-part series of my review of the Diversity in Dermatology Conference. In Part 1, I share my experience, in Part 2 I will provide helpful tips for attending your next dermatology conference, and in Part 3 I will discuss pertinent details for the upcoming DID 2024 conference.
6 minute read
My Experience
The Socializing
I was really excited to attend my first dermatology conference! In fact, I posted a 30-day countdown on my Instagram. Disclaimer: If you didn’t know, I was named the Blog Chair for Diversity in Dermatology’s Publication Committee earlier this year and recently joined the Marketing Team. As an aspiring dermatology nurse practitioner, I highly advise you get as much education, training, and exposure to the clinical practice and business as possible. In addition to taking my own advice, I attended because it was a great opportunity for me to meet my new friends in person!
Prior to the conference I was very active on the Whova App which is a great tool to get to know other attendees, find out where everyone is from, discover other entrepreneurs and engage with speakers and leaders of the conference. I immediately saw one of my favorite dermatologists on Instagram was going to be speaking, Dr. Meena Singh! She’s charismatic, highly intelligent, well-traveled, has a great sense of humor, and loves 90’s music as much as she loves Kansas City Chiefs (from what I can tell by her Instagram feed and stories). If you’re not already, you should follow this Harvard/Mayo trained doctor who appears on The Learning Channel's Bad Hair Day.
When I got to meet Dr. Singh in person, I was everything but strategic. I admitted my girl crush, failed to ask an alopecia-related question, and was not shy about asking for a picture. As to be expected, she gave suggestions to make sure we got the best lighting. What do you think, did we nail it?
Dr. Kimberly Madison, DNP and Dermatologist Dr. Meena Singh
The Networking: You Can Do It
I also used the Whova App to make acquaintances and arrange meet-ups with other attendees based on shared interests posted on different forums. I had a ball networking! Admittedly, I did more networking and created more social media posts than I did learning from the lectures (with the exception of Dr. Edidiong Kaminska's lecture on Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia - she had my complete attention). I met so many wonderful people who I’ve stayed in touch with over the phone, virtually, and in person when I attended my second dermatology conference, Sunrise Dermatology in October 2023. I am definitely looking forward to seeing them again in San Antonio.
While it was my first conference, other attendees have been on the dermatology conference circuit for years and they said, DID is the best one! They said it’s inclusive, engaging, and the most diverse. I also find that it's a moderate size crowd which makes it easy for you to network with as many people as you desire without feeling overwhelmed, or comfortably start building your networking skills if you're new to the game.
The Most Important Diversity: Diversity of Thought
The lack of diversity in dermatology has received a lot of attention in the literature, and there are a growing number of initiatives to improve diversity in clinical trials, faculty, textbooks, and images – however, it remains that only 3% of dermatologists identify as Black and only 4% identify as Hispanic. The LGBTQIA+ population is often not included in clinical trials or our care is not properly documented to reflect health outcomes specific to the community. Skin of color, especially when it comes to cosmetic and aesthetic dermatology, is set aside as a separate topic, as opposed to a standard part of care and the conversation (although this is slowly changing on some platforms and with some speakers). The paucity of data on the lack of diversity in dermatology amongst nurse practitioners is an open door for DNP Projects, peer-review publications, textbooks, clinical guides, education, research and entrepreneurial opportunities.
When you see the words inclusivity in dermatology, it's referring to a welcoming atmosphere for Dermatology Nurse Practitioners (NP) and Physician Associates (PA), or advance practice providers (APP). Not every dermatology conference or organization offers full access or membership for APPs. DID specifically targets NPs and PAs, but all are welcome whether you practice in dermatology or not. The webinars and conference lectures are presented by physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. With more than 50% of patients presenting to primary care and urgent care with a dermatologic concern, the DID conference is the perfect place to improve your confidence and diagnostic accuracy when it comes to treating common dermatoses even if you don't specialize in dermatology. When we talk about diversity, we’re not just talking about diversity of people, but diversity of thought. DID is the place to learn from world renowned experts with a global perspective and decades of varied clinical experiences.
DID 2023 Conference Attendees
The Business of Dermatology
I learned about the major players in dermatology, including Medical Science Liaisons (MSL) and pharmaceutical representatives. The MSLs I met were all pharmacists who previously worked in the hospital. They felt they reached a ceiling when it came to professional advancement and financial compensation. Becoming a MSL offered a better pay structure, more opportunities to travel, the chance to offer customized clinical support, and better quality of life, especially in the post-pandemic healthcare system. You don’t have to be a pharmacist to become a MSL, you can also be a nurse practitioner! Shout out to one of my newest DNP Derm friends who recently made the leap.
I learned to appreciate pharmaceutical representatives, a key player I didn’t interact with in the acute care setting. I learned that pharmaceutical representatives are on the inner circle. They know the trends in practice, who’s opening a clinic, who’s leaving, and who’s hiring. If you’re looking to get into dermatology, you definitely want to get to know your pharmaceutical rep at your next dermatology conference. They are so well known as an MVP that many conferences offer some sort of gift or reward for interacting with as many reps as possible. Pro-tip!
The Presentations
Conferences are long days so organizers can pack as much content and continuing education credits as possible to make your PTO worth the trip! They start as early as 7:30 am for breakfast and 8:00 am for the first presentation. The agenda includes multiple Product Review Theaters which are pharmaceutical presentations given by MDs, NPs, and PAs- an excellent opportunity to learn about the research behind some of the most popular medications. On average, each back-to-back presentation is about an hour. Don’t wait for a break, just go to the bathroom when you need to. Like most hotels, the rooms are chilly, so bring a sweater. The chairs and tables are spread out with plenty of room and large screens for visibility from anywhere in the room. People bring notebooks and laptops to take notes. Breakfast and lunch are provided and you can eat during the presentations. You’ll also find snacks and beverages in the exhibitor hall and during the reception. If you’re plant-based, you may want to pack your own snacks or have a Plan B in place. I'm happy to say, DID had a good variety of plant-based options without dairy.
In the exhibitor hall, you’ll meet pharmaceutical representatives, learn about different medications, receive samples, and have an opportunity to network with other attendees. Most, if not all, the presenters shared their slides and you had the opportunity to ask questions before, during, and after each lecture.
The topics varied to include:
- Skin of color
- Atopic dermatitis
- Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia
- Vitiligo from the patient perspective
- Transgender medicine in dermatology
- Tropical medicine
- Gene expression profiling
- Prurigo nodularis
The last lecture typically ended at 5pm with the exception of the final day, where it ended early in the afternoon. Whova makes it easy to arrange meet-ups, ride shares, sightseeing trips, or make dinner plans with other attendees on the evenings. One night was dedicated to the Achieve Program Reception and another night was spent visiting Disney World and enjoying a selection of finger foods.
Part 2: A Dermatology Conference Strategy
I barely took notes, but also didn’t have a good organizational strategy for doing so. In Part 2 of this series, I’ll share a strategy for attending a dermatology conference based on my personal experience and the things I would do differently. Follow to be notified when the new article drops!
DID 2024 Conference
-March 21-24, 2024
-Hyatt Regency Riverwalk
-San Antonio, Texas
-22.5 CEs
-Seats are limited, so is the Early Bird registration which is for members only. Register now to receive $100 off. Membership is free!
Kimberly Madison is a nurse practitioner with a passion for writing, entrepreneurship, education, and mentorship. I created this blog to share my journey as source of motivation and as a blueprint as you embark on your journey. Most importantly, I’m looking forward to increasing access to dermatology education and clinical training for aspiring and practicing nurse practitioners. I invite you to view the mission and vision statement on the homepage to see how we can best partner to make our dreams align.
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