The DIGA Podcast

In this episode of the DIGA Podcast, we sit down with two newly matched dermatology residents to discuss their journeys into dermatology and their experiences helping establish the national Psychodermatology Student Interest Group. Our guests share how they discovered their interest in dermatology, approached research and extracurricular opportunities, developed their residency applications, and n...

In this episode, we sit down with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Zoë Indigo. Dr. Zoë earned her MD from Wayne State School of Medicine and completed her dermatology residency at UCLA, where she trained in medical and cosmetic dermatologic surgery. We discuss her journey in dermatology, her work in skin of color, mentorship, and entrepreneurship. As the founder of the Derm Squad mentorship group...

In this episode, we hear from Dr. Elise Burger and Dr. Shadi Khalil about their new dermatology resource textbook: High-Yield Applied Dermatology. Designed to support medical students, residents, and practicing clinicians, this textbook connects clinical presentations with their underlying pathology and management. Dr. Burger and Dr. Khalil also discuss with us the process behind bringing a textbo...

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Stephanie Zone, Associate Program Director of the Dermatology Residency at the University of Utah. Dr. Zone shares her journey into dermatology and her perspective on what makes training at Utah unique. She describes the program’s diverse clinical experiences across multiple training sites and the different patient populations residents encounter throughout their...

In this episode, Dr. Noor Mukarram, a current PGY-2 and first-year dermatology resident at Larkin Palm Springs, shares an honest perspective on the realities of medicine and navigating adversity throughout the journey. We discuss the importance of maintaining a positive mindset, finding balance, giving yourself grace, and allowing yourself to grow through the challenges that come with a career in...

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Suzanne Sirota-Rozenberg. Dr. Sirota-Rozenberg is the program director of the St. John’s Episcopal Dermatology Residency Program in Far Rockaway, New York and is going on her 14th year in this position. She sits down to talk to us about details of the St. John’s Episcopal program including general curriculum, resident experiences and opportunities, audition rotati...

In this episode of the DIGA Podcast with Dr. Maria Trung, we discuss a feeling many medical students pursuing dermatology know all too well: imposter syndrome . Dr. Trung shares her journey to dermatology and opens up about navigating self-doubt, comparing herself to other applicants, feeling pressure to constantly “do more,” and dealing with rejection along the way. We also talk about how her per...

In this episode of the DIGA Podcast, we speak with Dr. Vinod E. Nambudiri, MD, MBA, MPH, EdM, Program Director of the Harvard Combined Dermatology Residency Program. Dr. Nambudiri shares his journey to dermatology and offers insight into the unique structure of the Harvard Combined program, the training experience, and what he is most proud of as a program leader. He also discusses what helps resi...

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Carsten Hamann, assistant program director at HonorHealth, associate professor at Dartmouth, and practicing dermatologist at Saguaro Dermatology in Arizona. Dr. Hamann gives an inside look at the residency application process from the other side of the table: ERAS changes, program signaling, what makes an application stand out, and how to build an application...

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Basia Michalski-McNeely, Program Director of the Dermatology Residency at Washington University in St. Louis. Listen in as she shares her journey into dermatology and to WashU, what makes the WashU residency program unique, and her perspective on what helps applicants stand out during the residency application process. Dr. Michalski-McNeely also discusses the qual...

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Mojahed Shalabi, MD. Dr. Shalabi graduated from the Baylor Scott and White dermatology residency program and is currently a Mohs fellow at Baylor University Medical Center. In the first part of the episode, Dr. Shalabi discusses all things audition rotations. He tells us about how students can handle the application system, how students can excel on audition rotat...

In this episode of the DIGA Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Jackie Nikakis, a graduate of New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine and current dermatology resident at Larkin South Miami. She shares her journey starting from school in Long Island to her transitional year at Peconic Bay Medical Center and now a research year at Larkin South Miami. Dr. Nikakis discusses navigati...

In this episode of the Dermatology Interest Group Association (DIGA) Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Sherry Ershadi to discuss one of the most common questions medical students ask when pursuing dermatology: Should I take a research year? Dr. Ershadi shares her personal journey into dermatology and provides an inside look at the dermatology research year experience. We discuss how students can deter...

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Heather Woolery-Lloyd, Director of the Skin of Color Division at the University of Miami Department of Dermatology. She earned her medical degree and completed her dermatology residency at the University of Miami, where she served as Chief Resident. Board-certified in both dermatology and lifestyle medicine, she is also the founder of DermFriends and serves as...

In this episode, we talk with Kundan Malik, DO, MS who successfully matched this past cycle into St. Johns Episcopal Dermatology Residency in New York. Her journey to dermatology is distinctly non-traditional. After initially not matching into dermatology, she completed a preliminary year in Internal Medicine at Highland Hospital in Oakland, California, while also becoming a mother during her reap...

In this episode, we talk with Lauren and Christopher Guirguis, a recently matched dermatology couple. Lauren and Christopher graduated from Georgetown University School of Medicine May of 2026 and successfully couples matched into dermatology at Geisinger Dermatology, with transitional/preliminary years also at Geisinger. Listen in as they share their individual paths to dermatology, what it was l...

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Mojahed Shalabi, MD. Dr. Shalabi is a recently graduated dermatologist from the Baylor Scott and White Dermatology Residency program in Temple, Texas. Today he shares with us all of the various aspects about the BSW program from its curriculum to what an audition rotation looks like and opportunities for residents. Dr. Shalabi describes the well-rounded approach t...

In this episode of the DIGA Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Paige Daly, a recent graduate from Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine and incoming dermatology resident at Hackensack Palisades. She discusses her tips and tricks to excelling during clinical years, putting together a clear application, and finding ways to collaborate along the way. We hope you enjoy! --- DIGA Instagram: @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

In this episode of the DIGA Podcast, we continue our Dermatology Crash Course mini series with a high-yield discussion on Melanoma led by Dr. Jane Grant-Kels. We hope you enjoy! About the Dermatology Crash Course Series  The Dermatology Crash Course is a DIGA Podcast mini-series focused on delivering short, high-yield episodes that cover foundational dermatology topics. Each episode features a der...

In this episode of the DIGA Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Sergey Rekhtman, Program Director of the Northwell Health Dermatology Residency Program. Dr. Rekhtman shares his journey into dermatology and offers valuable advice for medical students considering a career in dermatology. We take a comprehensive look at the Northwell Dermatology Residency Program, including its clinical training structure,...

In this episode of the DIGA Podcast, we continue our Dermatology Crash Course mini series with a high-yield discussion on Hair Loss led by Dr. Douglas Johnson. We hope you enjoy! About the Dermatology Crash Course Series  The Dermatology Crash Course is a DIGA Podcast mini-series focused on delivering short, high-yield episodes that cover foundational dermatology topics. Each episode features a de...

In this episode of the DIGA Podcast, we had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Anna Bruckner, MD, Professor of Dermatology, pediatric dermatologist, and Residency Program Director at the University of Colorado. Dr. Bruckner completed her undergraduate and medical education at Northwestern University, her Pediatrics and Dermatology training at the University of Colorado, and a Pediatric Dermatology...

In this episode of the DIGA Podcast, we continue our Dermatology Crash Course mini series with a high-yield discussion on Psoriasis led by Dr. Nikki Trupiano. We hope you enjoy! About the Dermatology Crash Course Series   The Dermatology Crash Course is a DIGA Podcast mini-series focused on delivering short, high-yield episodes that cover foundational dermatology topics. Each episode features a de...

In this episode, we are excited to welcome Dr. Amelia Van Doren, a recent graduate of Albany Medical College who matched into dermatology residency at Boston University. Dr. Van Doren offers a candid look at what it takes to successfully match into a competitive specialty from an institution without a home dermatology program. From building research experience and securing mentorship, to navigatin...

In this episode of the DIGA Podcast, we continue our Dermatology Crash Course mini series with a high-yield discussion on Acne led by Dr. Nikki Trupiano. We hope you enjoy! About the Dermatology Crash Course Series  The Dermatology Crash Course is a DIGA Podcast mini-series focused on delivering short, high-yield episodes that cover foundational dermatology topics. Each episode features a dermatol...