Skin of Color Savvy: Savvy Stories—Building the Next Generation of Clinical Investigators

Welcome to Skin of Color Savvy: The Art and Science of Treating Patients of Color!

In this Savvy Stories episode of Skin of Color Savvy: The Art and Science of Treating Patients of Color, 4 leaders in dermatology discuss a groundbreaking collaboration between the Skin of Color Society (SOCS) and the National Medical Association (NMA) Dermatology Section aimed at expanding training and mentorship for future clinical investigators. The conversation is moderated by Leandra A. Barnes, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and physician-scientist at Stanford Health Care Dermatology Clinics in Redwood City and Emeryville, who also serves as co-chair of the SOCS Clinical Investigator Training Program.

She is joined by her co-chair Tarannum Jaleel, MD, MHSc, assistant professor of dermatology at Duke University School of Medicine; Cheri Frey, MD, assistant professor at Howard University, residency program director, and current chair of the NMA dermatology section; and Hope Mitchell, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, founder and CEO of Mitchell Dermatology, and past chair of the NMA dermatology section.

Mitchell and Frey outline the origins of the initiative, which emerged from a recognition that patients with skin of color remain underrepresented in clinical trials. Their joint efforts with then-SOCS president Valerie Harvey established a program to increase the number of principal investigators equipped to conduct trials that truly reflect the patient populations served. While SOCS contributed strength in mentorship, NMA offered structured curricula and training resources, creating a powerful combined model.

Jaleel explains the evolution of the program into an 18-month, multi-phase structure that blends didactic training, in-person meetings, and longitudinal mentorship. Trainees gain instruction on US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, clinical research ethics, and practical trial management, while also being matched with mentors and industry partners to build networks and hands-on experience. Participants meet regularly with mentors and peers, benefiting from real-world case examples and panel discussions.

Throughout the conversation, the panelists emphasize the program’s role in creating community and opportunity. Frey notes that structured research education is rarely integrated into residency, leaving gaps for early-career dermatologists. Mitchell underscores mentorship as vital to cultivating confidence and a sustainable pipeline of investigators. Jaleel highlights how mentees are already giving back by joining the program’s committee and shaping its future.

The episode concludes with the panel’s vision for broader expansion—strengthening collaborations with industry, exploring National Institutes of Health (NIH) and investigator-initiated grants, and scaling the model across dermatology. Collectively, the speakers frame this collaboration not just as a training initiative, but as a movement to ensure equitable representation in dermatologic research and improve patient outcomes across diverse populations.

To learn more about SOCS’s mentorship programs and initiatives, visit Skin of Color Society.

Editor’s note: This episode was written with the help of artificial intelligence tools.