New summer research training program seeks to increase physician diversity in dermatology

For most students, summer break is a welcome respite from the rigors of medical school. But not everyone will be taking the time to rest, relax and recharge. Mercy Iribarren and Franshesca Gonzalez — first-year medical students at the FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine — plan to work through their summer break. And they couldn't be happier.

They will be the first FIU medical students participating in a new dermatology research training program at Brigham and Women's Hospital, one of the major teaching hospitals of Harvard Medical School.

"We are grateful to Brigham for offering our students this excellent research opportunity," said Dr. Juan Cendan, dean of the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. Brigham will provide all lab resources, mentorships and stipends to cover the students' living expenses while in Boston.

"I'm very excited and nervous at the same time," Gonzalez said.

Both students selected to participate in the program describe the prospect of attending one of the most prestigious institutions in the world as surreal.

"I'm still processing it. I never pictured myself in the Ivy League!" said Iribarren.

The summer research program was developed by Dr. Robert Sackstein, former dean of the college of medicine and professor emeritus of dermatology at Harvard Medical School. He worked closely with Brigham's Department of Dermatology leadership to create this unique opportunity for minority medical students at FIU. The program was set to launch in 2020 but was delayed because of the pandemic.

Dermatology, the branch of medicine dealing with the skin, is one of the most competitive residency specialties. Residencies provide recent medical school grads with post-graduate training in specialized fields. In 2021, the National Residency Match Program offered more than 38,000 residency slots. Less than 500 of those spots were in dermatology. And prior research experience greatly improves an applicant’s chances for selection.

In addition to being highly selective, dermatology is one of the least diverse medical specialties — second to orthopedic surgery. Only about 3% of dermatologists in the United States are Black or Hispanic. This new research program looks to increase the diversity of physicians and physician-scientists within the field.  

"This is an important opportunity to open the doors to people not normally represented in this field," said Iribarren, a Miami native of Afro-Cuban heritage.

Gonzalez, who was born in Cuba and came to Miami as a toddler, agrees. "Opportunities like this were never at my disposal," she said.

Both young women are first-generation students for whom the path to medical school was challenging.

"It was really hard to get into college and most of all the medical field without anyone to guide you," said Gonzalez, whose parents struggled to learn a new language and make a living after leaving their homeland.

Iribarren says she faced similar challenges. "My mom cleans houses for a living, and I never met my dad, so I grew up in a single-parent home. This is a big deal for me!" 

Increasing physician diversity in dermatology is also important for the patient experience and health outcomes. Studies have shown better communication, trust and medication adherence when physicians and patients share the same race or ethnicity. And diversity is of particular significance in dermatology, where skin conditions can present differently in patients with skin of color. For example, a red rash may appear as a purple-like discoloration on people of color. And sunburn may be less obvious on dark skin.

There are also racial and ethnic disparities in access to care. For instance, skin cancer is less common in people of color but is often diagnosed at an advanced stage that is more difficult to treat.

"I hope this experience is going to build up my research skills and help me contribute to future treatment options for people of color,” Iribarren said.

The six-week training program starts in June.