Mentee: Mitchell Hanson
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Henry
Medical College of Georgia
Dear Skin of Color Society,
I want to formally thank you for the financial and career opportunity afforded by the Skin of Color Society Observership Program. As a student applying to dermatology this fall, this grant afforded me professional connections and reflections about my journey into dermatology, both vital for the application cycle. Furthermore, this grant allowed me to gain a unique immersive clinical and media experience with Dr. Michelle Henry in her practice at Skin & Aesthetic Surgery of Manhattan. In my time with Dr. Henry, we were engaged in clinical dermatology, cosmetic procedures, advisory board leadership, and media responsibilities for patients of diverse backgrounds.
While in her clinical workspace, I was able to witness a range of procedures and conditions across darker skin tones. Some of the most valuable procedures to witness included non-invasive surgical procedures like filler and botulism toxin in which I was able to learn more about aesthetic considerations like canthal tilt and individualizing recommendations based on feminine/masculine beauty standards. Most importantly, Dr. Henry was valuable in discussing clinical considerations for each recommended treatment based on a patient’s skin tone. For example, selecting a Nd:YAG laser that bypasses melanin compared to a CO2 resurfacing laser.
In addition, witnessing a routine week for Dr. Henry was valuable for my own career interests. By relying on other people to help organize her week and compartmentalize between roles, it was valuable to see her transition into different roles to be able to contribute her undivided attention. Seeing her leadership strategies in advisory boards like the Melanoma Research Foundation was helpful for building on my current leadership experience and material learned through the concomitant AMA Leadership Institute program.
Lastly, as one of my main interests in this observership, the media training facilitated through this program is unmatched to any other experiences I have been afforded. Witnessing Dr. Henry planning her dialogue for on-the-air specials with the Today Show and company affiliations was extremely helpful for me in how she decides her word-choice for the populations she’s catering to. Furthermore, observing how her speech cadence, power in silence, and emphasis placed on certain words carried her message to listeners in a personal way has made me aware of this tool in my own public speaking toolkit. Ultimately, this was such an incredible experience I would not have been afforded without the Skin of Color Society and L’Oreal.