Sneak Peak: The Diversity in Dermatology 2024 Conference
This article is Part 3 of a 3-part series of my review of the Diversity in Dermatology (DID) Conference. In Part 1, I reviewed the DID 2023 Conference in Orlando, Florida. In Part 2, I provided a strategy you can use when you attend your first or next dermatology conference and the significance of having a strategy. In this final installment, I review the agenda, the line-up of speakers, the Early Bird discount offer, membership benefits, sightseeing opportunities, and how to access continuing education.
6-minute read
Conference Location Details
The DID 2024 Conference will take place from Thursday March 21 at 8:15 am to Sunday March 24, 2024 at 1:00 pm in San Antonio, Texas at the Hyatt Regency Riverwalk hotel. At the time of this writing, the room rate of $252 (before taxes), includes the group discount for 2 queen beds or 1 king bed. The DID conference has historically taken place in Florida, earning the name, the Sunshine Conference amongst conference veterans looking to escape their cold winter climate. The DID leadership explored multiple venues and cities before choosing San Antonio. They flew out to make sure the accommodations would be inviting, comfortable, and entertaining.
The Riverwalk
The San Antonio River Walk is proclaimed as the #1 attraction in Texas. Compared to the Venice canals, the River Walk is 15 miles of scenic views lined with restaurants, breweries, museums, theaters, historic sites, native wildlife, the Japanese Tea Garden, and green spaces. It’s divided into three spaces: Museum Reach, Downtown, and Mission Reach.
San Antonio Fun Facts
-San Antonio is the most visited city in Texas. The 2nd largest city in Texas & 7th largest in the US.
-It’s known for the River Walk (site of the conference!) and delicious Tex-Mex
-Home to one of the largest SeaWorld marine life parks and the third largest zoo
-It’s the birth place of ice cream, soda, Fritos, seat belts, and aerobics
-Robert Cade, San Antonio native and a professor of medicine and nephrology, invented Gatorade
-Home to the first BiblioTech, the first all-digital library in the United States designed to bridge the gap between literacy and technology.
Transportation Details
- Southwest airlines is the largest hub and has the most flights
- San Antonio International (SAT) is 8.1 miles (about 13 minutes) from the Hyatt Regency Riverwalk (hotel location)
- Rideshare is available. Pick up is on the outer commercial curbside, lower level of Terminal A: Uber, Lyft, Wingz, and Wridz.
- Rent a bike via San Antonio BCycle. Download the app to make it easier. I’ve used BCycle in multiple cities, and I find purchasing the monthly pass is more economical than the day pass.
- E-scooters are also available for rent, including Bird and the recently approved Veo. Veo offers the Cosmo (seated scooter) and Astro (standing model).
Career Lounge. Attendees will enjoy our DID 2024 Career Lounge, including:
-Captivating headshots
-Professional advice to advance your career
-Dermatology side hustles revealed
-How to select a doctorate program
-Resume reviews by dermatology experts
-Steps to take to speak for pharma
Mona Shariari, MD
Inclusivity.Mona Shahriari, MD will be presenting, Being Sensitive in an Inclusive Environment. Dr. Shahriari is a board-certified dermatologist and Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine, the Associate Director of Clinical Trials at CCD Research, and a senior editor of the Journal of Psoriasis and Psoriatic arthritis. She serves as the President of the Connecticut Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery. Connect with her @PersianSkinDoc
Tracee Blackburn, PA-C
Integrative Medicine. Tracee Blackburn, PA-C and Brittany Scurto, PA-C are bringing Integrative Medicine to DID! The Skintegrative Medicine Series will explore alternative treatments that can be incorporated into your dermatology practice. Beginning March 1, 2024, all six lectures will be available online exclusively to DID conference registrants. Blackburn, PA-C is DID’s Integrative Medicine Co-Chair and a recent graduate of the George Washington University’s Integrative Medicine Graduate Certificate program. Scurto, PA-C is DID’s Integrative Medicine Co-Chair and the Medical Language Chair.
Shanna Miranti, PA-C
Prior Authorizations. Shanna M. Miranti, MPAS, PA-C will be sharing pro-tips to conquer prior authorization hurdles and optimize workflows. Some of her specialties are adult and pediatric dermatology, skin cancer, fillers, lasers, surgery, and tattoo removal. She is a friendly face on the lecture circuit speaking for Pharmaceutical companies like Warner Chilcott Pharmaceutical and Medicis Pharmaceuticals.
The current agenda names nearly 20 speakers, including physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician associates.
Conference Cost and Early Bird Discount for Members
At the time of this writing (November 18, 2023), the conference cost $149 for DID members and students. The Early Bird Discount is for members only. Both the Early Bird Discount and seating are for a limited time only.
Conference Continuing Education
Conference attendees will be eligible to earn 22.5 continuing education credits (CEs). After the conference has ended, you’ll be emailed a post-conference survey and in exchange, you’ll then be emailed your CE certificate.
Morgan's Wonderland
Entertainment
-Morgan’s Wonderland: The world’s first theme park designs with special needs people in mind.
-Legoland Discovery Center: The ultimate indoor LEGO playground with 2 rides, 10 LEGO build and play zones, a 4D cinema & much more.
-Hopscotch: An LBGTQ-owned art gallery (20,000 square feet) that focuses on immersive art and optical illusions.
-Go Rio Cruise: Enjoy an unforgettable experience on the San Antonio River Walk by riding an eco-friendly electric river boat inspired by Mexican folk art. You can take a narrated ride, a river shuttle, enjoy a private charter, or a specialty dinner cruise.
-DoSeum: Previously named the San Antonio Children’s Museum, includes the Spy Academy, Innovation Station, Little Town, Force Course and Sensation Station. Mission Astronaut will be there from February 17 – April 28 to allow children to experience an immersive astronaut training experience.
-St. Mary’s Strip (The Strip): An entertainment district in Midtown San Antonio just north of downtown.
-La Villita: A treasured Artisan and Entrepreneur district with over 25 shops and galleries showcases homemade goods and the site of more than 200 events annually.
-Mi Roti: Established by James Beard nominated and Best Chef Texas 2023, Chef Nicola Blaque (also owner of the Jerk Shack) who modernizes Caribbean food including, jerk chicken, roti, and vegetarian options.
-Landrace: Founded by James Beard Award finalist and San Antonio's most celebrated chef, Steve McHugh. Partake in their selection of seasonal menus that celebrate regional Texas ingredients and heritage growers.
-Ultimate LGBTQ+ Guide to San Antonio: The city has a prospering LGBTQ+ community, more than a dozen nightlife options, five star restaurants, and drag scene largely thanks to the 131-year-old citywide spring celebration called, Fiesta.
DID 2023 Conference Attendees
DID Membership
At the time of this writing (November 18, 2023), DID membership is free. Simply, visit the website www.diversityindermatology.com, click on the menu option “Become a Member” and fill out the membership request form. Once completed, not only will you be eligible for the Early Bird Discount, but you’ll also receive access to resources which are only available to members.
Dermatology Education. Members receive email invites to educational webinars throughout the year sponsored by companies like Lilly and Sanofi Regeneron. Occasionally, participants who register early become eligible for rewards! You gain access to DID leadership, mentorship, and the network which includes physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician associates with a wide range of expertise in medical, cosmetic, and surgical dermatology. You’ll also gain access to an upcoming directory which was announced on our Instagram page during Physician Associate Week in October 2023. If you missed it, be sure to follow so you don’t miss other exciting news.
The Achieve Program. Only members can participate in the Achieve Program. The Achieve Program is designed to help nurse practitioners and physician associates in their first three years of dermatology practice, develop a foundation in medical dermatology through education and mentorship. The 12-month, virtual didactic program includes a rich collection of lectures, a textbook, live mentor meetings with DID leadership and world-renowned dermatologists, and a reception during the following conference year to recognize each cohort’s achievements.
Connecticut Dermatology NP & PA Organization. DID has an affiliate partnership with the Connecticut Dermatology NP & PA Organization led by: President and Founder, Lindita Vinca, DNP, APRN; Jennifer Silva, DNP, APRN; and Kayla Curtis, DNP, APRN. When you join Connecticut Dermatology NPPA (membership is free) you also become a member of Diversity in Dermatology! They are preparing for their 2nd annual Northeast Dermatology Conference from April 12-13, 2024 in Newport, Rhode Island. Visit them to learn more.
Get Published. Members receive mentorship and guidance to support them in publishing through our partnership with The Dermatologist. The aim is to help NPs and PAs expand their professional development, share their expertise with peers, and create a pathway for us to share our passion for medicine, aesthetics, clinical research, and more. We also welcome interested authors to write or co-author articles for the Diversity in Dermatology Blog.
Dermoscopy. Members receive 20% off a dermatoscope courtesy of Dr. Richard Usatine and 3GEN (read details for exclusion criteria). Dr. Usatine is a Professor of Dermatology, Cutaneous Surgery and Family Medicine at University of Texas Health, San Antonio; the lead author of 8 books and more than 130 journal articles; co-developer of the Dermoscopy: Two Step Algorithm (interactive app); and creator of the Interactive Dermatology Atlas website.
Medical Language. Members receive a 20% discount on Canopy Language course, the #1 medical Spanish course and the most comprehensive, flexible e-learning platform. CanopyLearn includes 40 hours of instruction, 36 lessons, role-play exercises, telenovela, and learning-by-speaking methodology. There are multiple subscriptions to choose from which include a completion certificate and the option to take a proficiency exam which comes with a Certificate of Bilingual Proficiency.
Scrubs. Members receive 25% off Jaanuu scrubs, co-founded by pediatrician Dr. Neela who partners with engineers using physiologic data points like temperature, sweat, and mobility to design data-informed, performance scrubs.
DID 2023 Conference Attendees
Diversity in Membership. We have members and conference attendees who practice in urgent care, emergency medicine, and primary care, in addition to dermatology providers. A large percentage of the membership identifies as female and has a multicultural ethnic background from around the world. All are welcomed and we grateful for our growing community.
If you have additional questions or interesting information to share about San Antonio, I would love to continue the conversation at kmadison@mahoganydermatology.com.
Kimberly Madison, DNP
Kimberly Madison is a nurse practitioner with a passion for writing, entrepreneurship, education, and mentorship. I created this blog to share my journey as source of motivation and as a blueprint as you embark on your journey. Most importantly, I’m looking forward to increasing access to dermatology education and clinical training for aspiring and practicing nurse practitioners. I invite you to view the mission and vision statement on the homepage to see how we can best partner to make our dreams align.
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