F059 Beyond the Boards
DESCRIPTION
This session equips residents, fellows, and early-career dermatologists with practical strategies to design intentional, fulfilling careers across diverse practice environments. Leaders representing private practice, academia, public sector employment, organized medicine, entrepreneurship, social media innovation, and public health will share actionable insights from their early-career journeys. Speakers will discuss contract negotiation, launching or joining a practice, navigating the first five years after residency, leadership pathways within the AAD and academic institutions, building a public-facing brand responsibly, and balancing clinical excellence with advocacy and innovation.
Bonus Perk: Ten lucky attendees will each receive a $25 Apple gift card—because investing in your future should come with a little fun, too. Don’t miss your chance to learn, connect, and win!
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Compare key early-career pathways in dermatology, including private practice ownership, partnership tracks, academia, public sector employment, organized medicine leadership, and entrepreneurial ventures.
Apply practical strategies for contract negotiation, leadership positioning, and brand development in the first five years after residency.
Develop a personalized framework for long-term career satisfaction aligned with professional values and evolving opportunities in dermatology.
SCHEDULE
1:00 PM
Welcome
Fatima N. Mirza, MD, MPH
1:08 PM
Building a Private Practice
Nader Aboul-Fettouh, MD, FAAD
1:20 PM
Contract Negotiations
Kristel Polder, MD, FAAD
1:32 PM
Academic Career Path
Abrar A. Qureshi, MD, MPH, FAAD
1:44 PM
Dermatology and Dermatopathology in the Public Sector
Cathy Massoud, MD, FAAD
1:56 PM
Organized Medicine Leadership
Bridget McIlwee, DO, FAAD
2:08 PM
Pearls for the First 5 Years
Arianne Shadi Kourosh, MD, MPH, FAAD
2:20 PM
Digital Presence, Innovation & Responsible Public Messaging
Muneeb Shah, DO
2:32 PM
Moderated Panel Discussion
DIRECTOR
Fatima N. Mirza, MD, MPH
SPEAKERS
Nader Aboul-Fettouh, MD, FAAD
Managing Founder and Director, Dermatology and Mohs Surgery, Blue Ribbon Dermatology, Dallas, TX; Voluntary Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Houston Tilman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Arianne Shadi Kourosh, MD, MPH, FAAD
Harvard Medical School / Harvard Chan School of Public Health
Cathy Massoud, MD, FAAD
Central Virginia VA Health Care System
Bridget McIlwee, DO, FAAD
Kristel Polder, MD, FAAD
Abrar A. Qureshi, MD, MPH, FAAD
Muneeb Shah, DO
HANDOUTS
DISCLOSURES
Nader Aboul-Fettouh, MD, FAAD
Apogee Therapeutics – Consultant (1099 relationship)(Honoraria); Johnson and Johnson – Advisory Board(Honoraria); Pfizer Inc. – Advisory Board(Honoraria); Veradermics – Consultant (1099 relationship)(Honoraria); Zenzema – Advisory Board(Honoraria);
Arianne Shadi Kourosh, MD, MPH, FAAD
AbbVie – Consultant (1099 relationship)(Fees); Guidepoint Global, LLC – Consultant(Fees); L'Oreal – Consultant (1099 relationship)(Fees); Veradermics – Consultant (1099 relationship)(Fees); ZO Skin Health – Consultant (1099 relationship)(Fees);
Cathy Massoud, MD, FAAD
No financial relationships exist with ineligible companies.
Bridget McIlwee, DO, FAAD
No financial relationships exist with ineligible companies.
Fatima N. Mirza, MD, MPH
No financial relationships exist with ineligible companies.
Kristel Polder, MD, FAAD
Allergan, Inc. – Investigator(Grants/Research Funding); Galderma Laboratories, L.P. – Investigator(Grants/Research Funding), Investigator(Honoraria); L'Oreal USA Inc. – Speaker(Honoraria); Solta Medical – Investigator(Grants/Research Funding), Speaker(Honoraria);
Abrar A. Qureshi, MD, MPH, FAAD
Galderma – Consultant (1099 relationship)(Honoraria); Incyte Corporation – Consultant (1099 relationship)(Honoraria); OM1, Inc – Consultant (1099 relationship)(Honoraria); UCB – Consultant (1099 relationship)(Honoraria);
Muneeb Shah, DO
EltaMD – Independent Contractor(Fees); Galderma Laboratories, L.P. – Consultant(Fees); Kenvue – Consultant (1099 relationship)(Fees); L'Oreal USA Inc. – Independent Contractor(Fees);