Wei Li

• Weill Cornell Medical College 2028
• Yale College 2022

I joined the Combined Dermatology and Clinical Research Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Fellowship to develop my clinical skills and gain insight into the daily responsibilities of a physician. It was with these goals in mind that Dr. Kuohung entrusts fellows with many aspects of patient care as soon as the fellowship starts, with responsibilities ranging from administrative work to phlebotomy and scribing. With guidance from the senior fellow, I learned to effectively utilize the EMR and understand basic clinic workflow. While I remember feeling overwhelmed and incredibly nervous in my first few months in the clinic as each mistake could affect patient care, I reminded myself that these skills were necessary to become a strong physician. With support from Dr. Kuohung and the team, I learned systems to manage the many details clinicians use to minimize error, including using a checklist and double-checking biopsies, blood samples, and notes daily. Working in the clinic often meant catching up on more work at night and on weekends, but I have grown more confident in my ability to follow clinical reasoning in each patient encounter. I’ve also been able to translate for Mandarin-speaking patients and learn about the complexities of healthcare and insurance.

In addition to working as a medical assistant, each fellow coordinates multiple clinical studies through Beacon Clinical Research. This CRC role helped me build on my previous experiences from college in basic science research by demonstrating firsthand how discoveries can be translated into medicine and tested for safety and efficacy. While there was a lot to learn at first about the regulations in the clinical research field, over time and through many questions asked, I gradually felt comfortable explaining informed consent, processing blood, managing study visits, and communicating with monitors, amongst other important tasks. I also had the opportunity to attend investigator conferences where I met PIs and site personnel from across the nation and learned about the many issues that still exist in clinical research today.

One of the unique aspects that drew me to the premedical fellowship was the opportunity to engage meaningfully with the community around me. Throughout the program, Dr. Kuohung connected our team with leaders, from program directors at Quincy Asian Resources, Inc. to principals at St Paul’s Choir School. As a first-generation college student, I mentored local high school students in applying to college and gave presentations on career discernment to community organizations like EVKids and the YMCA. Additionally, I had the opportunity to travel with Dr. Kuohung to the Dominican Republic on a Waves of Health medical mission trip to support the primary health and dermatological needs of underserved communities in Dajabón

Starting from minimal clinical experience, I’ve learned so much through the fellowship: patient care, clinical research, and community engagement opportunities. I will take the skills with me through medical school and in my career as a physician.

Belunda Moise

• Duke University School of Medicine 2028
• Stonehill College 2021

When I came across the Combined Dermatology and Clinical Research Premedical Fellowship listing, I applied without hesitation. It aligned perfectly with my criteria for a program that would challenge me, enhance my clinical skills, and prepare me for the rigorous demands of medical school. After completing the fellowship, I can say that it surpassed my expectations.

The fellowship was rigorous and demanding, particularly during the initial training period. With little familiarity with patient care in a clinical setting and the field of dermatology, the learning curve was steep. After long clinic hours, I spent nights reviewing the day’s progress notes and charts for the following day. Most of my weekends were spent studying dermatological conditions and mastering the EMR software. I received constant, blunt feedback, which, though difficult at times, pushed me to work harder. It was the most challenging endeavor I had encountered, making me question whether I had what it took to pursue a career in medicine.

However, as the days went by, I grew more confident in my capabilities. I developed habits and skills that allowed me to balance a busy clinic schedule, administrative tasks, and clinical research. This experience strengthened my resilience and perseverance and helped me cultivate adaptability. I learned to navigate stressful situations with composure and to remain focused and determined despite setbacks.

The workload, responsibilities, and treatment we received as fellows provide a glimpse into the rigors of clinical training as a medical student. This fellowship has not only enhanced my clinical skills but also fortified my determination to pursue a career in medicine. I believe that the qualities and skills I’ve acquired from the fellowship will help me excel as a medical student.

Ada Zhu

• University of Massachusetts Medical School 2027
• Cornell University 2021

I came to DermCare Experts from another practice hoping to find more mental stimulation and mentorship during my gap years – and I most definitely did. My time in the Combined Dermatology and Clinical Research Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Fellowship has made me more confident, empathetic, diligent and resilient in preparation for the rest of my medical education.

Simultaneously working as a medical assistant and clinical research coordinator, I was compelled to work and think like a medical student or even a resident. Even with previous experience working in dermatology, the learning curve for this job was one of the most difficult that I’ve ever had to overcome. The pace and patient-load at the clinic pushed me to work extremely efficiently and think quickly on my feet to respond to unforeseen circumstances that occurred regularly. After busy days sometimes seeing up to 50 patients a day with just one doctor, I was always very proud of myself and our team for working together and getting through what often seemed like an impossible clinic day. The immense responsibilities that Dr. Kuohung entrusts in the fellows encouraged me to really understand each patient’s case and follow through with their care while building truly intimate rapport with many patients.

One of my many responsibilities was writing progress notes during patient visits. Writing and re-writing patient notes under Dr. Kuohung’s direction was one of the most difficult skills to hone. Dr. Kuohung is very meticulous about progress notes and can be very blunt with her feedback. Her teaching has pushed me to be scrupulous with everything I do in clinic as well as resilient to feedback. Writing up summaries following extensive conversations with patients in the exam room has made me think through cases like a physician. I recall shadowing a physician in the ER during my second gap year and rejoicing that I was able to follow the physician’s diagnosis and treatment plan as he discussed with his resident despite knowing very little medical knowledge about the condition. Now as a first year medical student, I am already completely comfortable with the patient interview and have no anxiety going into my pre-clinical rotations with attendings. I know that with these past two years at DermCare Experts under my belt, I am so much more prepared for the difficult journey ahead as a future physician.

Finally, Dr. Kuohung is an incredible mentor who truly wants her students to excel. She can be blunt and has very high expectations for her students, but it is this type of mentorship that built my diligence, resilience, and preparedness to enter medicine. The opportunities that Dr. Kuohung has connected me to range from landing incredible volunteer positions like Camp Discovery to shadowing a wide range of specialties including an interventional cardiologist in the OR. She goes above and beyond to network and help her students as much as she can. I’ve seen how her mentorship extends way beyond the fellowship as I watch her guide previous fellows throughout med school and even in residency. I know that she will be there to guide me whether it’s dermatology or whatever specialty I decide to pursue.

Amelia Tian

• Team lead, Clinical Research IO
• Columbia University 2020

This fellowship is jointly hosted by DermCare Experts, a medically-focused dermatology clinic, Beacon Clinical Research, a clinical research organization, and CRIO, a healthtech firm. Under MD supervision, I interviewed and scribed for up to 25 patients daily, reviewed pathology, coordinated care with outside clinicians, completed prior authorizations, fielded patient communications, and assisted in procedures. As a research coordinator, I interfaced with subjects and monitors to manage pharmaceutical trials. I’ve led initiatives such as setting up public skin cancer screens, translating counseling materials to Mandarin, collaborating with outside physicians on case reports, and launching a mentorship program for underserved high school students. Shifting from the mindset of an undergraduate to that of a premed fellow deeply involved in patient care was difficult but formative. During my three training months, the steep learning curve, long hours, and difficulty of juggling three roles (MA, CRC, administrative staff) filled me with self-doubt. By regularly seeking feedback and reflecting on my shortcomings, I was motivated to work harder. With each obstacle I overcame—each blood draw, each insurance approval of a biologic—my confidence grew until I could complete my duties effortlessly. By studying patient cases, I began to understand the scientific and ethical considerations behind clinical decision making. By expanding my interpersonal skills and cultural awareness, I helped my patients feel understood. Finally, in arranging community outreach programs, I’ve been exposed to what it means to be a thoughtful and informed physician who plays an active and impactful role in my community.

It was with Dr. Kuohung’s encouragement that I decided to pursue a separate path and am currently Support Team Lead at CRIO. Although the decision was difficult, I am extremely grateful for Dr. Kuohung’s support throughout the transition. Having studied computer science in undergrad and completed a technical internship during the pandemic, I wanted to further pursue my interest in working at the intersection of technology and pharmaceutical research. I elected to remain as a full time employee at CRIO because of the collaborative and supportive company culture, flexibility of remote work, and myriad opportunities to lead teams and projects. The clinical research experience I gained while at the Fellowship at Beacon Clinical and then at CRIO has been truly invaluable to my current role on the CRIO team. On a personal note, being as deeply immersed in medicine as I was while at DermCare Experts exposed me to certain shortcomings of a career in medicine. I’m grateful to Dr. Kuohung for the lessons learned, and the opportunity she provided in matching me with an appropriate career path at CRIO.

Omar Taweh

• Resident, George Washington university Department of Emergency Medicine
• University of Massachusetts Medical School 2024
• University of Connecticut 2019

A member of the DermCare Experts team for a summer internship before medical school, I can confidently say that Dr. Kuohung is the most dynamic, energetic, and amazing mentor I’ve had in any clinical setting, insofar. A well-rounded student, I wasn’t expecting a challenge like the one I encountered joining the summer clinical internship: one set in an intense work environment and that began with a steep learning curve.

A physician trained in both law and in medicine, Dr. Kuohung helps activate her interns critical thinking skills from the medical, legal, and social justice perspectives. Having been granted a gradually increasing level of autonomy over the course of my time at the clinic, I was not only exposed to the thought processes used in medicine but was also granted the opportunity to engage in them myself. Under the guidance of Dr. Kuohung, I learned how to do things I had not imagined I would have done until the end of my medical school career, if not until residency.

All compliments aside however, this program pushed me far more than any other job, class, or internship had previously. I was held to high expectations with Dr Kuohung, and as a result, have stood out among others during medical school and now, residency. In my time at DermCare, I learned what true “tough love” from a mentor and boss looked like – one that held your hand at times, and at other times let you figure out how to swim on your own. I can confidently say that it is NOT for simply any pre-med; to thrive and succeed, one must be motivated, dedicated, and extremely open to rebuilding their understanding of what a clinical internship would look like. All in all, this program will help set you on a trajectory to become the best physician you can be.

Kalvin Nash

• Resident, University of Maryland Family Medicine
• Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine 2024
• Hamilton College 2018

The Combined Dermatology and Clinical Research Fellowship afforded me many opportunities for personal and professional development that have subsequently formed me into a more thoughtful, competitive, and efficient medical professional. I have been, and still am, surprised by how much I learned under Dr. Kuohung’s tutelage. As a junior fellow, I recall how timidly I approached venipuncture or new administrative tasks. Now as a medical student at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, I confidently complete all my clinical responsibilities. My early journey through medicine did not come, however, without sacrifice or hardship.

My transition, from the mentality of an undergraduate to that of a medical student was arduous and miserable. My commitment to the clinic and its patients took a heavy toll. Every day for my first four months as a premedical fellow, I considered quitting. The overwhelming torrent of knowledge paired with demanding clinic hours led me to reevaluate my professional aspirations and trajectory. Indeed, I arrived at the clinic each morning at 7:45 AM and did not leave until we documented and advised our last patient on their disease. Somedays, the clinic closed at 5:00 PM. Other days, the clinic did not end until well past 7:00 PM. And even after having left the clinic, my mind lingered there within. “Did I complete all my progress notes accurately?” “Did I move the TB blood to the Quest drop-box?” My second guessing was crippling at times, worsened still by my failure despite my enthusiastic endeavors. This transition, as difficult as it was, was important and formative. My acknowledgement of my inadequacies and failures is what I needed to inspire me to work harder. If it were not for this difficult transitional phase, I would not have had the humility and motivation to persist through the program, nor would I have been poised to begin medical school in the summer of 2020

Now, as a current M2 preparing to transition to the wards, I am grateful to have been a premedical fellow. In retrospect I realize that it was thanks to Dr. Kuohung that I learned how to take a patient history, a skill at the core of any diagnosis and essential to the practice of medicine. In the clinic, I remember using my developing medical reasoning skills to ask pertinent questions during the patient interview. For instance, I recall the algorithm I developed for interviewing patients who present with a scaly hypopigmented rash localized to their torso and upper extremity. I learned to ask such patients about their fitness habits since tinea versicolor, a differential diagnosis, is associated with athletes. A positive patient history that interrogated exercise habits could clinch this diagnosis (in addition to a positive KOH). A good history can therefore make or break a diagnosis which is why I am so lucky to have developed this skill early.

The core history taking and clinical reasoning skills I developed at the fellowship make me an effective and efficient thinker in the exam room. Recently, I used these very skills to help diagnose a case of lymphangitis, an infectious dermato-vascular process. An 84 Y/O woman presents to the clinic with 2-day history of acute pain, limited range of motion, and erythema affecting the left wrist, palm, and ventral forearm. She reports that symptoms began at the time of waking and denies overuse of the arm and hand. She does not recall sustaining any injury prior to the day of symptom onset. Initial pain was followed by swelling and erythema of the affected area 1 day after symptom onset. The erythema expanded in a linear fashion along the ventral aspect of her forearm. Her pain is 8/10. Her symptoms worsened progressively and include pain, swelling, and reduced range of motion. The pain as sharp and radiating. She treated her symptoms with an OTC topical cream for arthritis but did not note improvement.

Based on visual examination of the lesion alone, the differential is quite extensive. It could be a stress fracture, lymphangitis, tenosynovitis, gout, or even rheumatoid arthritis. Details I collected in her history, however, make the likelihood for some conditions on the differential less likely. For example, the warm, linear, red, progressive streak up the ventral aspect of the forearm might favor an infectious process like lymphangitis. No history of wrist overuse or strain might make tenosynovitis less favorable. The unilateral distribution of disease might make rheumatoid arthritis less likely. Thus, the patient’s history helps to parameterize their condition and can therefore dramatically affect our medical evaluation and pretest-probabilities. While history taking is taught in medical school, learning when, how, or why some questions are to be asked takes advanced knowledge and plenty of experience which is why an early immersive premedical experience is invaluable. Dr. Kuohung prepared me to grapple with such cases by challenging me to enter the mindset of a physician whilst in the exam room during my tenure in the fellowship. It was early experiences through her program that trained me to be an insightful addition to the medical team as a second-year medical student and stand apart from my peers.

Through performing countless patient interviews, engaging with up to 26 progress notes daily, liaising with laboratories, pharmacies, clinics, insurance providers, IRBs, CROs, reviewing benign pathology with patients under MD supervision, and assisting during surgical procedures, I acquired the necessary experience to think critically about what it means to be a physician in the community. As a mentor, Dr. Kuohung has created several occasions for me to shadow, speak with, and learn from several physicians across myriad specialties. She is committed to seeing all her fellows achieve their dreams which is what sets her apart from other physicians having similar programs. Even for me as a graduate of the program, she continues to demonstrate her allyship by offering to connect me to her colleagues, key opinion leaders in their respective disciplines. Dr. Kuohung’s commitment to her fellows, both direct and indirect by way of this program, prepared me to be a competitive and informed medical school applicant, and an equipped medical student. The premedical fellowship offers the unique opportunity for the professional development of aspiring physicians through a condensed, thorough, fast-paced, and intensive curriculum. From venipuncture to collecting a patient’s history, there are several occasions for one-on-one patient interaction. Dissimilar to many pre-medical gap year programs, this fellowship focuses on developing the skills of its fellows for the cultivation of thoughtful and informed future physicians. Dr. Kuohung accomplishes this by encouraging her fellows to take on new and sometimes challenging tasks under her supervision. Fellows, as a result, quickly begin to comprehend then engage with the scientific, medical, and ethical facets of clinical encounters and decision making.

Maxine Lai

• Manager, Clinical Research IO
• Wesleyan University 2017

The Combined Dermatology and Clinical Research Fellowship offers students a unique opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the multifaceted and complex world of medicine. While this program is challenging, I promise that it is also extremely rewarding.

In hindsight, the first four months of the fellowship are the toughest. In this short time, you are expected to master the fundamental skills and workflows that will allow you to succeed as both a medical assistant and a clinical research coordinator. Between meeting 20-25 patients a day in clinic, quarterbacking patient follow-up, reading up on new conditions or medications that I encountered, mastering study protocols, and completing study visits, it was easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer number of responsibilities and the level of autonomy given to me. It was only after 6 months that I started to feel comfortable balancing all my duties and even then, this position remained challenging. As I progressed through the fellowship, Dr. Kuohung pushed me to take on new tasks, dive deeper into medical literature and think about the business, legal and scientific aspects of practicing medicine.

To speak more about the clinical research component of this program, fellows are engaged in all parts of study initiation and maintenance. I learned how to interpret complex study protocols, build source documents, carry out study visits, juggle the many demands of sponsors and CROs, and build rapport with trial patients. Managing clinical trials across a wide range of indications completely transformed my basic understanding of drug development. I also saw firsthand how clinical research plays a role in furthering medicine and how that can trickle down into everyday patient management.

As a mentor, Dr. Kuohung is an enthusiastic, passionate, and knowledgeable teacher. She works closely with each of her fellows, offering frequent and direct feedback. Although she can sometimes be tough, it is because she cares deeply about her fellows and is invested in their success. You can always count on Dr. Kuohung to advocate for her students when it comes to learning opportunities inside and outside of the program.

While I ultimately decided to pursue a different career path, I know that I wouldn’t be where I am now without this program and Dr. Kuohung’s continued support. In fact, it is because of my work as a fellow that I was able to reach my current position as Implementation Manager – Team Lead for CRIO. CRIO is the leading eSource and clinical trial management solution within the clinical research industry. When I first joined the team, I provided support to different departments including customer success, quality assurance and marketing as an associate. With my research experience and early exposure to the industry as a coordinator, I was able to transition to a client facing role and quickly grow upwards within the company. Now I help research sites adopt CRIO into their daily operations. Everything that I learned in the fellowship can be translated into my current work which is all about developing connections and helping research sites successfully utilize different parts of our platform.

I am grateful to Dr. Kuohung and the fellowship for all the lessons learned and the relationships gained. If you would like to learn more about the clinical research or CRIO components of the program, please feel free to reach out at maxine@clinicalresearch.io!

Nicole Mastacouris

• Resident, Northwell Health Department of Dermatology
• Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine 2023
• University of New Hampshire 2014

The premedical clinical training fellowship is an immersive and comprehensive experience that provides extensive exposure to dermatology and pharmaceutical clinical trials for pre-medical students. Under the guidance of Dr. Kuohung, I learned fundamental clinical skills that proved to be tremendously valuable throughout medical school, including taking a detailed medical history, delivering a concise presentation, writing a visit note, and assisting in surgical procedures.

The program also provides exposure to the administrative side of medicine, which involves scheduling patients, reviewing biopsy results and completing prior authorizations. As a recent medical school graduate, I can confidently say that Dr. Kuohung’s program has been essential to my success thus far. Having a solid grasp of fundamental clinical skills as a pre-medical student allowed me to hit the ground running in my many of my clerkship experiences. The clinical research component of the program is also highly beneficial because fellows gain an understanding of informed consent, study protocols, data entry, and clinical trial monitoring processes. In this setting, I also learned how to navigate challenging clinical scenarios such as communicating with patients who experienced adverse reactions to study therapies.

Overall, these experiences helped me effectively navigate patient encounters and excel in standardized patient exercises throughout medical school. In addition, Dr. Kuohung’s program provides the opportunity to gain experience in the healthcare technology sector as an electronic data source study designer at Clinical Research IO (CRIO). This role allowed me to expand my clinical knowledge and understanding of protocol design to effectively create electronic source workflows. Because of my interest in healthcare technology and innovation, I was offered additional responsibility and even had the opportunity to represent CRIO at an international research summit.

Through my connection with Dr. Kuohung, I was able to continue working with CRIO during medical school and assisted in company sponsored research studies. In summary, Dr. Kuohung’s premedical fellowship has been invaluable to my success in medical school. I would highly recommend this program to any pre-medical student who is passionate, eager to learn, and work hard. Although the journey to medical school can be challenging, Dr. Kuohung and her team are incredibly resourceful and will prepare you for success in your future medical training. Despite completing the program in 2017, I would still consider Dr. Kuohung to be one of my biggest supporters. She has always offered excellent advice and genuinely cares about my career trajectory.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the fellowship, please don’t hesitate to contact me: nmastacouris@luc.edu.

Michelle Nguyen

• Resident, Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency
• Tufts University School of Medicine 2023
• Boston University 2020

I gained insight and expertise into the necessary intricacies of clinical pharmaceutical trials, allowing myself to understand the importance of research in furthering the medical field. Along with these specific skills, I also gained an underlying yet imperative set of skills in clinical interaction and face-to-face time with patients. By being able to not only work with patients for prolonged visits, of up to 3 hours at a time, but also follow them throughout the course of the trials, I practiced developing and building patient rapport, a vital skill necessary within clinical interactions.

The program allowed me the freedom to have more responsibilities than most other roles all while providing the necessary guidance when encountering different types of situations. By interacting with a diverse patient population, I was able to hone in on not only clinical procedural skills, but also learned how to navigate sometimes awkward situations, a necessary attribute I will need in the future working in the medical field.

I enjoyed working with Dr. Kuohung and the staff because of how supportive they were and how much teamwork was emphasized. I will carry these vital skills with me forward in the medical field as a future clinician.

As I near the end of medical school, I reflect on my journey that has been both rewarding and challenging in preparing me for the next stage of training: residency. One aspect I am thankful for is my time at Beacon Clinical Research and DermCare Experts, where I developed the confidence to become a well-rounded provider that can communicate effectively with patients, understand their concerns, and provide compassionate care. Prior to beginning medical school, I attained these skills as a CRC at Beacon Clinical Research, where I developed longitudinal relationships with research subjects and thus was able to excel in my clerkship years. Good communication skills are vital for building trust and rapport with patients and I am grateful for DermCare Experts in allowing me to grow both personally and professionally!