#90: From "Underdog" to a Dermatology Match!

Teekz ธีกซ์ (he/him/siya) is a passionate cancer survivor and community advocate from Oakland, California. With a focus in Dermatology and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (DEIB), he is dedicated to uplifting marginalized communities & addressing social determinants of health. Teekz's nontraditional journey began as he battled Lymphoma while attending community college, later transferring to the University of California San Diego to study neuroscience & physiology. At UC San Diego, he ran a free health clinic in Tijuana, Mexico, providing care to medically underserved communities. Teekz earned a master's degree in Medical Health Sciences and attended medical school at Touro University in Vallejo, California—an area known for its diversity & limited medical resources. Alongside his academic journey, Teekz made significant contributions to the medical community. He organized summer internships tailored to underrepresented youth, served as a mentor for pre-med and medical students, & offered dermatologic education specifically catering to individuals with skin of color and gender diverse identities. His unwavering dedication & outstanding achievements in these realms earned him the prestigious recognition of being named National Student Doctor of the Year. During his intern year Teekz returned to his home and worked at Highland Hospital in East Oakland, where he thrived serving underrepresented communities. Teekz continues his mission of educating future healthcare professionals through speaking engagements and evidence-based dermatology videos on social media (@DermDrTeekz). As an aspiring academic Dermatologist, he is committed to empowering his patients and advocating for skin of color in dermatology. Teekz is also an advocate for the QTBIPOC (Queer and Trans, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities, actively addressing their unique healthcare challenges and promoting inclusivity.With varying fluency in Thai (🇹🇭), Tagalog (Filipino 🇵🇭), and Spanish, Teekzenjoys cooking and traveling, embracing diverse experiences. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with other students interested in dermatology!   For questions, comments, or future episode suggestions, please reach out to us via email at [email protected]   Contact: DIGA: @derminterest Host: @diosa.mocha (IG), @diosa_derm (twitter) Guest: @DermDrTeekz (IG & twitter))   Music: District Four by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3662-district-four   License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/derminterest/message