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More Than Skin Deep
Community series brings dermatology expertise to people of color . BY AMANDA M . GROSVENOR
When dermatologists Uzoamaka Okoro , MD , EB Henebeng , MD , and Nicole Negbenebor , MD , organized the Skin of Color Community Series in 2019 , their goal was to bring dermatological expertise to marginalized communities chronically overlooked by the medical establishment .
What they didn ’ t expect was to inspire new friendships and therapeutic healing .
The three friends bonded over a shared passion for outreach . “ We were all looking for some way to involve more of the community and make [ skin of color ] more of a priority — not only for Brown Dermatology , but for Providence in general ,” says Okoro , a graduate of The Warren Alpert Medical School . “ Before we knew it , we had a program started .”
Even at elite universities , much of medicine is still taught using a “ one size fits all ” approach , and in dermatology , lighter skin is the default , says Negbenebor , a dermatology resident at Rhode Island Hospital .
“ Dermatology is a very visual field , and pattern recognition is huge ,” Negbenebor says . “ If you ’ re taught that eczema ’ s always red or pink and dry , but you come across somebody with darker skin that might be a bit purple or darker brown , it could be a lot of different things .” Without proper training , “ it can lead to an easy misdiagnosis .”
Negbenebor references a common myth : that individuals identifying with different ethnic groups do not get certain skin conditions , and thus don ’ t require dermatological care .
“ In America , skin represents so much of who you are , that for dermatology not to be a part of your health story doesn ’ t make sense ,” she says . Even more crucial was connecting with community members “ who didn ’ t already have care established .”
Brown ’ s dermatology department lends faculty support to the monthly series , which includes panels of professionals like aestheticians , hair stylists , surgeons , or therapists as well as dermatologists who present on a topic and take questions from the audience .
6 HEALTH DISCOVERIES l WINTER 2022