Episode 31 - The Journey of Mentorship and Leadership with Dr. Tina Bhutani | The Future of Dermatology Podcast

Summary Dr. Tina Bhutani shares her journey to becoming a dermatologist and the challenges she faced along the way. She emphasizes the importance of being proactive in interviews and marketing oneself effectively. Dr. Bhutani also discusses the rewards and challenges of working in an academic setting, including the bureaucracy and administrative burdens. She highlights the significance of clinical trials and her interest in studying lifestyle modifications and their impact on skin disease. However, she acknowledges the difficulty of getting funding for these types of studies. In this conversation, she discusses her busy life as a dermatologist and the importance of patient-centered research and accessible clinical trials. Dr. Bhutani and Dr. Fara also talk about Dr. Bhutani's book that she co-authored on the use of biologics in psoriasis treatment. The conversation covers various chapters of the book, including laboratory monitoring, TNF-alpha inhibitors, IL-17 class of biologics, combination therapies, biologic agents for pediatric psoriasis, special site psoriasis, comparing biologic agents, long-term registry data, biologic agents in special populations, and adherence to biologic therapy. Dr. Fara and Dr. Bhutani emphasize the importance of individualizing treatment and having open conversations with patients about their preferences and needs.   Takeaways Be proactive in interviews and market yourself effectively Working in an academic setting has rewards and challenges Clinical trials are important for providing access to treatments Studying lifestyle modifications and their impact on skin disease is valuable Obtaining funding for non-traditional studies can be challenging Patient-centered research and accessible clinical trials are important for improving dermatology treatments Dr. Bhutani's book on the use of biologics in psoriasis treatment provides practical guidance and evidence-based recommendations TNF-alpha inhibitors are still valuable in psoriatic arthritis treatment IL-17 class of biologics work quickly and are effective for tough-to-treat areas Combination therapies can be beneficial for patients who have already tried monotherapy Treating special site psoriasis is important for improving quality of life and preventing comorbidities Comparing biologic agents is challenging due to individual patient factors and access issues Long-term registry data provides reassurance about the safety and efficacy of biologic agents Special populations, such as pregnant women and the elderly, require careful consideration in biologic therapy Adherence to biologic therapy is crucial, and treatment should be tailored to individual patient preferences and needs Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 08:39 Navigating the Challenges of an Academic Setting 29:27 The Value of TNF-alpha Inhibitors in Psoriatic Arthritis 36:04 Comparing Biologic Agents: Challenges and Considerations