{"id":14087,"date":"2024-10-10T09:18:41","date_gmt":"2024-10-10T08:18:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/touchderma.com\/?p=14087"},"modified":"2024-10-10T10:17:49","modified_gmt":"2024-10-10T09:17:49","slug":"from-clinic-to-cnn-dr-shari-lipner-journey-in-advancing-nail-disorders-and-mentoring-future-leaders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/touchderma.com\/2024\/10\/10\/from-clinic-to-cnn-dr-shari-lipner-journey-in-advancing-nail-disorders-and-mentoring-future-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"From Clinic to CNN: Dr. Shari Lipner’s Journey in Advancing Nail Disorders and Mentoring Future Leaders"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dr. Shari Lipner is a leading expert in dermatology, best known for her specialization in nail disorders. As an Associate Professor of Clinical Dermatology and Director of the Nail Division at New York-Presbyterian\/Weill Cornell Medical Center, her work bridges both clinical care and research. With over 400 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Lipner has significantly advanced the understanding and treatment of nail diseases.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Her career is distinguished by numerous accolades, including the Richard D. Granstein Award for Excellence in Dermatology and an American Academy of Dermatology Presidential Citation. As one of the world\u2019s foremost experts in nail disorders, she provides alternative therapies for challenging cases. Dr. Lipner also mentors the next generation of dermatologists, holds leadership roles in various societies, and has been featured in outlets like CNN and <\/span>The New York Times<\/span><\/i> to raise public awareness on dermatological health.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this expert Q&A, we explore Dr. Lipner\u2019s key career milestones, the lessons she\u2019s learned, and her advice for early-career clinicians and aspiring leaders. She also offers forward-looking insights on the future of dermatology and nail disorders.<\/span><\/p>\n

What initially drew you to specialize in dermatology?<\/span><\/h1>\n

There are probably two different experiences that are behind my interest. I did an MD\/PhD program and during my PhD, I worked on a project related to Waardenburg syndrome, a genetic disorder. During the project we worked with mice models for this condition. These mice had various systemic defects, including hearing loss, but interestingly they also had dermatological manifestations, such as white hair and white patches of skin. It was these skin-related manifestations that really first sparked my interest in dermatology.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, during my dermatology rotations, I became really enthralled by the visual nature of dermatology\u2014how many diagnoses can be made just by examining the patient. Unlike other fields where you often need lab tests, <\/span>electrocardiograms <\/span>and so on, dermatology offers a very visual approach. As a chemistry major in college with a minor in art history, I\u2019ve always appreciated the visual side of things.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nail disorders have become a significant focus in your career. What led you to specialize in this area of dermatology?<\/span><\/h1>\n

My specialization in nail disorders happened somewhat by accident. After completing my dermatology residency at <\/span>Weill Cornell<\/span>, I worked as a general dermatologist, seeing a wide range of conditions. A few years later, Dr. Richard Scher, widely regarded as the father of nail disorders, joined our faculty. I worked briefly with him, and he encouraged me to focus on nails. At first, I was unsure, but over time, I grew more interested and started shadowing him to learn more. I figured I\u2019d eventually become the \u2018nail person\u2019 over the course of 20 years learning from him, because nail training during residency is quite limited.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, as soon as I told him I was interested, he informed me he\u2019d be retiring in three months! It was certainly nerve-wracking at the time, but it just worked out.<\/span><\/p>\n

What recent advancements are you most excited about in the field of nail disorders?\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n

One major advancement has been in recognizing antifungal resistance in onychomycosis patients. In the past, antifungals were often prescribed without confirming whether the issue was truly fungal. Now, through our research and others, we\u2019re more aware of the potential for antifungal resistance and the importance of accurate diagnoses.<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve also made strides in diagnosing and treating nail psoriasis. One recent study utilized video capillaroscopy to examine blood vessels in the nail folds of patients with psoriasis, comparing them to healthy controls. We found significant differences, which may offer a new way to diagnose nail psoriasis, which is often difficult to diagnose.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a leader within multiple dermatologic societies and as an editor, how do you balance your clinical work with these roles?\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n

My work outside the clinic definitely complements my clinical practice. My journal activities, for instance, are related to my clinical work. I\u2019m incredibly busy, though\u2014I don\u2019t take much rest or time off and use small increments of time efficiently. For example, if a patient is having their history taken I\u2019ll use that time to edit a paper before we meet. <\/span><\/p>\n

What advice would you give to early-career dermatologists aspiring to take on leadership positions?<\/h1>\n

My best advice for someone starting out is to express interest. Reach out to leaders in societies and let them know you’re willing to help. Get involved in committees, even if it’s just as an observer. This way, you\u2019ll meet a wide range of people who can support you later on and help you learn. Being genuinely interested and saying \u2018yes\u2019 to opportunities will definitely help you develop into a leader over time.<\/span><\/p>\n

What do you find most fulfilling about mentoring in your career?<\/h1>\n

I mentor a lot of medical students, residents, and young faculty, and for me, it\u2019s a mutually beneficial relationship. I genuinely enjoy every aspect of mentoring. I write many papers with students, and I find each step rewarding\u2014from brainstorming project ideas to gathering and analyzing data, and finally to the editing process. Often, writing a paper can take twenty or thirty rounds of revisions, but it\u2019s amazing to see how it evolves from the initial draft to the final version. It really shows the impact you can have in clearly communicating your ideas and presenting them in a way that\u2019s both enjoyable and succinct.<\/span><\/p>\n

What key advice do you give to your mentees for success in dermatology?<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Enjoy every moment. Enjoy the patient care, enjoy reading about the conditions you encounter, and discussing them with colleagues. It\u2019s all about being genuinely interested in what you\u2019re doing.<\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019ve been featured in high-profile outlets such as CNN and The New York Times. What has been the most rewarding part of sharing your insights on such large platforms?<\/strong><\/h1>\n

It\u2019s one thing to care for patients and another to educate dermatologists about new developments in the field. But educating the public is a whole different challenge, especially nowadays with the internet and social media trends. There\u2019s so much misinformation out there. I find it rewarding to share accurate information with the public to help them avoid harm by better understanding their conditions and treatments.<\/span><\/p>\n

Where do you see the field of dermatology heading in the next five to ten years?<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Dermatology has already changed so much since I started. Our treatments used to be nonspecific and highly immunosuppressive, with many side effects. Now, through research, we\u2019re learning more about disease targets and developing more specific treatments. The push for clinical trials will continue to ensure these new treatments are safe and effective. I think the future is moving toward more targeted therapies for our dermatological patients.<\/span><\/p>\n

Interviewer:<\/i><\/b> This interview was conducted by Gina Furnival, Senior Editorial Director<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Support<\/i><\/b>: No funding was received in the publication of this short article.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Cite<\/i><\/b>: Lipner S. <\/span><\/i>From Clinic to CNN: From Clinic to CNN: Dr. Shari Lipner’s Journey in Advancing Nail Disorders and Mentoring Future Leaders<\/span>. touchDERMATOLOGY. October 10, 2024.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dr. Shari Lipner is a leading expert in dermatology, best known for her specialization in nail disorders. As an Associate Professor of Clinical Dermatology and Director of the Nail Division at New York-Presbyterian\/Weill Cornell Medical Center, her work bridges both clinical care and research. With over 400 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Lipner has significantly advanced the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":77782,"featured_media":14112,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14087","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorised","vocabulary_1-psoriasis","vocabulary_1-autoimmune-diseases","vocabulary_1-infectious-diseases"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/touchderma.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14087"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/touchderma.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/touchderma.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/touchderma.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/77782"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/touchderma.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14087"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/touchderma.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14087\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14382,"href":"https:\/\/touchderma.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14087\/revisions\/14382"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/touchderma.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14112"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/touchderma.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14087"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/touchderma.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14087"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/touchderma.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14087"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}