The fellowship allows students, between their third and fourth year of medical school, the opportunity to conduct research related to ethnic skin conditions and pigmentary disorders that will advance skin of color dermatology.

La Roche-Posay is supporting the Skin of Color and Pigmentary Disorders Research Fellowship at the Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California (USC).

The fellowship allows students, between their third and fourth years of medical school, the opportunity to conduct research related to ethnic skin conditions and pigmentary disorders that will advance skin of color dermatology.

The USC Skin of Color and Pigmentary Disorders Program includes medical and procedural clinics specializing in comprehensive, personalized, and culturally sensitive care for a broad variety of conditions that disproportionately impact the skin of color population. To create a comprehensive center of excellence, the program aims to increase education and research through the Skin of Color and Pigmentary Disorders Research Fellowship. Nada Elbuluk, MD, MSc, FAAD, an associate professor of clinical dermatology, created the USC Skin of Color and Pigmentary Disorders Program with the support of Department Chair Dr. David Peng.

This year's Skin of Color and Pigmentary Disorders Research fellow is Sarah Gonzalez, a medical student from Wayne State in Detroit, Michigan. Under the guidance and mentorship of Dr. Elbuluk, Ms. Gonzalez, and future students, conduct important dermatologic research with a focus on skin of color, pigmentation, and diversity. 

"The USC Skin of Color and Pigmentary Disorders Research Fellowship will help us move towards health equity for all," says Dr. Elbuluk in a news release.

The fellows also lead service-related initiatives aimed at supporting underserved communities: DermRISES, a pipeline service program with the goal of increasing exposure to the sciences, medicine, and dermatology among inner-city students, and Dermmunity, a community service program aimed at increasing education about dermatologic health in underserved Los Angeles communities.

La Roche-Posay supports a variety of grants in dermatology to advance research, humanitarianism, and programs that encourage and promote diversity in the specialty. 

"We're proud to sponsor the USC Skin of Color and Pigmentary Disorders Research Fellowship. Not only will this research improve dermatologic care for people of color and health equity for all patients, but the fellowship also helps pave the way for a medical student to become an incredible dermatologist" says Tyler Steele, VP, medical & media relations, La Roche-Posay, USA.

To learn more about the USC Skin of Color and Pigmentary Disorders Program: https://keck.usc.edu/dermatology/training-and-education/diversity-and-Inclusion/usc-skin-of-color-and-pigmentary-disorders-program