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Department of Dermatology Department of Dermatology
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UCSD Dermatology Residency – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)

Mission Statement /Aims:

The UC San Diego Department of Dermatology is committed to equity in patient care, training and research. We strive to promote a work environment defined by respect, fairness, cooperation and intellectual curiosity. We see diversity as essential to achieving these goals.


The UC San Diego Dermatology Residency Program is committed to enhancing diversity. This includes recruiting trainees from diverse backgrounds and providing resources that support them. We strive to provide opportunities to expand culture competence and train socially responsible physicians. We aim to promote equitable dermatologic care to our community. Diversity includes race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, socioeconomic status, religion, and immigration status, among other traits.

DEI Curriculum

  • Didactics:
    • Skin of Color Didactic Series
    • Journal club in didactics addressing issues of LGBTQ health disparities and dermatologic issues

  • Dermatology Grand Rounds Lectures:
    • 07/29/2021: “HPV and the skin: Genomic profiling of carcinomas reveals health disparities and distinct tumor subtypes” – Erik Williams, MD – Clinical Instructor in Dermatopathology, UCSF, Department of Dermatology
    • 09/10/2020: “Skin of Color – Lessons from the Literature and Practice” – Roopal Kundu, MD – Associate Professor of Dermatology and Medical Education, Northwestern University
    • 08/27/2020: “Dermatology for Sexual and Gender Minorities”—Brian Ginsberg, MD—Asst Clinical Professor of Dermatology, Mount Sinai
    • 05/14/2020: “The Dermatologist and the Gender Non-Conforming Patient” –Susan Boiko, MD, Associate Professor of Dermatology and Pediatric Dermatology, UCSD
    • 04/9/2020: “Diversity and Implicit Bias” –Luis Castellanos, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine, Director, PRIME Health Equity and Diversity in Medicine & Faculty Outreach

  • Workshops and Activities:
    • Health care disparities discussion section in resident continuity clinic (quarterly)
      • Topics recently covered: dermatologic quality of care/outcomes in non-English speaking patients, morbidity and mortality due to skin cancer in patients of color, health care disparities in atopic dermatitis, homelessness and dermatologic care

Scholarly Work

  • Romero L, Broder K, Natsis N, Bodor R. “Chapter 13, Dermatologic Conditions in the Homeless Population.” Homeless Older Populations A Practical Guide for the Interdisciplinary Care Team, edited by Diane Chau, Springer, 2018. 

Our initiatives/Community Work and Outreach

  • Hansen’s Clinic
  • VA Stand Down
  • Clean Slate Laser Tattoo Removal
  • Student-run Free Clinic
  • Community skin cancer screening
  • UC San Diego Dermatology Interest Group Skin of Color and Dermatology Event 
  • Recent relevant residency service/leadership activities
    • Skin cancer screenings through the Vista Community Clinic (VCC)
    • UCSD Health COVID19 Recovery Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Task Force and Leadership Team

Departmental Diversity Equity Inclusion Committee

  • George Hightower, MD, PhD – Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Pediatric Dermatology
  • Victoria Barrio, MD – Professor of Dermatology and Pediatric Dermatology
  • Robert Dorschner, MD – Assistant Professor of Dermatology
  • Jeremy Schneider, MD – Assistant Professor of Dermatology

Resources