Sanjoli Agarwal, MPH (she/her)
VADTAD Co-Chair
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Virginia Campus
Sanjoli Agarwal is a fourth-year medical student at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg, VA. Prior to attending medical school, she graduated with a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Global Health from George Mason University. Sanjoli is very passionate about public health and health advocacy and hopes to integrate these principles into her medical practice, both in the United States and abroad. In addition to VADTAD, Sanjoli also serves as a Medical Student Representative on the Board of Trustees for the American Osteopathic College of Occupational and Preventive Medicine. When she’s not studying, Sanjoli enjoys volunteering at the local animal shelter, crocheting, photography, and spending time with her friends.

Iain Encarnacion, MS (he/him)
VADTAD Co-Chair
Eastern Virginia Medical School at Old Dominion University
University of Pennsylvania Skin of Color Dermatology Research Fellow
Iain Encarnacion is a fourth-year medical student at EVMS and a Research Fellow in Skin of Color Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania. He is deeply committed to advancing health equity and amplifying visibility for underrepresented groups, including LGBTQ+ communities and communities of color. Throughout his academic journey, Iain has held numerous leadership and advocacy roles. In addition to co-chairing VADTAD, he serves on the national Advocacy Committee for the Asian and Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA), and is a member of the Student Advisory Board for VisualDx. Additionally, he co-authored a chapter on considerations for sexual and gender diverse populations in the third edition of Taylor and Kelly’s Dermatology for Skin of Color. While at Penn Dermatology, Iain secured a national grant to establish Atopic Dermatitis Outreach Initiatives for communities of color in the greater Philadelphia area. He looks forward to integrating these experiences into his future career, where he is committed to dismantling healthcare disparities and advocating for underrepresented communities.

Elizabeth Rosenbaum, BS (she/her)
VADTAD Co-Chair
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Elle Rosenbaum is a fourth-year student at VCU School of Medicine. She graduated from Christopher Newport University with a B.S. in Cellular and Molecular Biology. Before medical school she worked as a pharmacy technician and server while volunteering as a medical interpreter, inspiring her to advocate for equitable and accessible care despite socioeconomic or cultural barriers. Elle is passionate about providing holistic,integrative care to patients that simultaneously addresses mental and physical health, a mindset that she is excited to bring into her service as a current member of the US Air Force. Outside of school, Elle enjoys cooking, the outdoors, going to the gym, spending time with family/friends, and watching an excessive amount of stand-up comedy.

Cosette Lim, BS (she/her)
VADTAD Marketing and Recruitment
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Virginia Campus
Cosette is a second-year medical student at VCOM-VA. She studied Chemical Biology and Science Communication at Stevens Institute of Technology. As a member of VADTAD, she hopes to promote accessibility and diversity in medicine, as well as encourage health care professionals to be more involved in advocacy. Before medical school, Cosette was a medical scribe in the emergency room and a medicinal chemistry research assistant, where she developed novel molecules for chemotherapy and antibiotics. She was also the founder and Editor-In-Chief of her school’s medical newsletter and a research assistant for a STEM education research center. At VCOM, Cosette is the Vice President of her school’s American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians chapter and is also conducting research on several topics, such as sleep medicine, AI-driven analysis on the vaginal microbiome, and follow up medical care for underserved communities. In her free time, Cosette enjoys cooking, working out, and fashion!

Alexis Swift, BS (she/her)
VADTAD Legislative Lead
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Alexis (Allie) Swift is a third-year medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond, VA. She completed her undergraduate education in Biochemistry at the University of Mary Washington Honors Program. She has served as the Vice President of her school’s Dermatology Student Interest Group and is pursuing research in the Pharmacology and Toxicology Department regarding post-operative and chronic pain. She is passionate about advocating for vulnerable populations and currently volunteers with the Richmond YWCA serving survivors of intimate partner violence. Outside of school, her hobbies include running, crocheting, and spending time with her husband and two cats.

Darya Mirebrahimi, BS (she/her)
VADTAD Topic Leader
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Darya Mirebrahimi is a third-year medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine (VCUSOM) in Richmond, VA. She wants to explore advocacy within all medical specialities because of her desire to increase healthcare accessibility and education to people from all walks of life. She honors the privilege to be able to work with vulnerable populations as a future physician and aims to create a safe and comfortable space for all patients. In addition to VADTAD, Darya was the Vice President of Internal Affairs at her American Medical Association (AMA) / Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) school chapter and Programming Chair on the AMA-MSS Women in Medicine Standing Committee. She is also currently planning dermatology education sessions for the Girl Scouts of Richmond with Kayla. In her free time, Darya enjoys traveling, dancing, singing, and playing songs on the guitar.

Kayla Tran, BA (she/her)
VADTAD Fundraising Co-Chair
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Kayla Tran is a second-year medical student at VCU School of Medicine in Richmond, VA. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a B.A. in Cognitive Science. Before starting medical school, she was a dermatology medical assistant, which sparked her initial interest in the specialty. Her current and past volunteer interests focus on working with vulnerable and underserved populations through endeavors such as nutrition education, food accessibility, and resources for women in crisis. Through her work, her passion for advocacy aims towards learning how to amplify the voices of those who have gone unheard and unseen. She currently serves as President of the Students Fighting Human Trafficking SIG and is working with Darya to plan a dermatology education series for Girl Scouts. In her free time, she loves reading, baking sweet goodies for her friends, and exploring yummy food near and far.

Nivitha Periyapatna, MPH (she/her)
VADTAD Marketing and Recruitment
Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Nivitha is a first-year student at Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Lynchburg, VA. She studied biology and public health at the University of Pittsburgh, where she found a passion for health advocacy and health policy. She hopes to continue to promote health equity and improve health education through VADTAD and the rest of her career. In addition to VADTAD, Nivitha is on the AMA-MSS Region 6 Committee of Legislation and Advocacy. Before medical school, she was a medical assistant at a dermatology clinic, where she found an interest in dermatology and dermatology health advocacy. In her free time, Nivitha enjoys dancing, traveling, and pilates!

Margaret “Meg” Mercante, BA (she/her)
VADTAD Topic Lead
University of Virginia School of Medicine
Margaret “Meg” Mercante is a second-year student at UVA School of Medicine. She received her BA from Vanderbilt University with a major in Medicine, Health, and Society and a minor in Art History. At UVA, she serves as the treasurer of the Dermatology Interest Group and as a community outreach logistics volunteer and newsletter writer for the Sun Bus, a national organization providing free skin screening through the only dermatology mobile clinic run by clinicians. She serves as a standing committee member for the AMA-MSS Women in Medicine Committee, and is the Charlottesville Director for the Sun Protection Outreach Teaching by Students program, teaching SPOTS curriculum to schools across the Charlottesville area. She is an executive board member of the Virginia Wellness Initiative, a group that organizes free health screenings around Charlottesville, and is also secretary of the Association of Women’s Surgeons chapter of UVA. To further her dermatology interests, she is involved in research on skin cancer and other dermatologic conditions outside of the classroom and sustains a patient-student partnership with an hidradenitis suppurativa patient in the UVA dermatology clinic. She also works with the national C.A.R.E. network on retrospective chart review research pertaining to dermatologic conditions. Meg has had the opportunity to volunteer with many organizations in Charlottesville and enjoys using her passions for health, fitness, and cooking to volunteer for organizations including Special Olympics, AccessMed, and Cooking for a Cause. Meg is passionate about health policy and global health and is looking forward to working with the VADTAD team for her second year and learning from experts in the dermatology field.

Emily Sheetz, MS
VADTAD Fundraising Co-Chair
Eastern Virginia Medical School at Old Dominion University
Emily Sheetz is a rising third year at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA. She graduated from Old Dominion University with a double major in Biology and Exercise Science. Prior to starting medical school, Emily completed a 2-year Medical Master's program, where she took classes such as anatomy, pharmacology, and gastrointestinal disease alongside first year medical students. Afterwards, she worked as a medical laser technician, focusing on specialized care for patients with urological disease and manifestations. Emily is currently organizing a second annual 5K run/walk dedicated to raising awareness for mental health and suicide prevention. She is passionate about education surrounding this topic. She also is extremely passionate about dermatology, and is enjoying expanding her knowledge in the field. She is currently serving as the dermatology clinic coordinator for EVMS’ student run clinic and as the Co-President of the Dermatology Interest Group. In her free time, she enjoys training for triathlons, playing soccer, and taking care of her rescue pup.

Emily Nguyen, BS (she/her)
VADTAD Marketing and Recruitment
Eastern Virginia Medical School at Old Dominion University
Emily Nguyen is a first year medical student at EVMS. After graduating with honors from the University of California, Santa Cruz, she worked as a medical assistant in a variety of specialities ranging from internal medicine to psychiatry to medical aesthetics. Additionally, she pursued research in the biotech industry for a year before pivoting to work in the Deisseroth Lab at Stanford University, studying fish as a model for aging and neurodegeneration. She is currently working on research addressing healthcare needs in the Asian American community in Virginia. She is passionate about immigrant and women’s health and the intersectionality of healthcare, wishing to integrate these interests into practice in the future. In her free time, she loves to read, do puzzles, and try new restaurants!

Naomi Matsuno, BS (she/her)
VADTAD Topic Lead
Eastern Virginia Medical School at Old Dominion University
Naomi Matsuno is a first year medical student at EVMS. She was born and raised on Guam. She attended George Washington University in Washington, DC and graduated in 2022 with a major in Cellular/Molecular Biological Sciences and a minor in teaching. After graduating in 2022, she returned to Guam and worked as lead medical assistant at a dermatology clinic for two years. She loved the work she engaged in as an MA and all her patient encounters. At this time, her passion is to become a physician and return to practice not only on Guam, but on the other Mariana islands as well having observed the extent to which specialty healthcare is needed on Guam. She enjoys weightlifting, playing volleyball, rock climbing, cooking and baking. Naomi is passionate about advocating for medically underserved areas lacking essential medical resources. She is excited to be joining VADTAD this year.

Isha Seelam, MBS, (she/her)
VADTAD Topic Lead
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Virginia Campus
Isha Seelam is a second-year medical student at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg, VA. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine, with a degree in Human Biology and a minor in Medical Humanities. Before medical school, Isha worked as a medical scribe, volunteer, and researcher. She has conducted extensive research on Neurobiology and Behavior and particularly on Alzheimer’s Disease and the medications used to treat it. She is passionate about health advocacy, expanding healthcare access, and integrating the field of humanities into medicine. In addition to her role in VADTAD, Isha is involved in research across various medical topics and volunteers with a broad array of organizations. In her free time, she enjoys running, creating art, meditating, and traveling.

Yagmur Bingul, BS (she/her)
VADTAD Logistics Chair
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Yagmur Bingul is a first-year MD/PhD candidate at VCU School of Medicine. She was born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey. She graduated with honors from the University of Richmond in 2024, earning a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, along with minors in Integrated Sciences and Health Sciences. At VCU, she is an active member of the Dermatology Student Interest Group and serves as Vice President of Internal Affairs for the Medical Society of Virginia/American Medical Association (MSV/AMA). She also volunteers at the VCU Dermatology Free Clinic and the Refugee Clinics in her free time. Her research journey began in Dr. Adli's lab at Northwestern Medical School, where she worked on bioinformatics for pancreatic cancer. Currently, she is conducting research with the Neurosurgery Department at VCU School of Medicine, focusing on bioinformatics, computational biology for brain tumors. Passionate about healthcare accessibility, she is very excited to join the Virginia Dermatology & Dermatologic Surgery Annual Meeting (VADTAD) this year as Logistics Chair. Outside of academics and research, she enjoys baking, Pilates, and fashion!

Welcome
Merrick Kozak, MD, FAAD
President, Virginia Dermatology Society

• Read More About the Speaker

Introduction to Advocacy

Importance and Foundations of Advocacy
Iain Encarnacion, MS
Eastern Virginia Medical School
Medical Student, Class of 2025
VADTAD Co-ChairElle Rosenbaum, BS
Virginia Commonwealth University
Medical Student, Class of 2025
VADTAD Co-Chair

How to Create Legislation
Sanjoli Agarwal, DO, MPH
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Virginia Campus
Medical Student, Class of 2025
VADTAD Co-Chair

Introduction to Advocacy for Skin Cancer Prevention
Meg Mercante, BA
University of Virginia School of Medicine
Medical Student, Class of 2027

Principles of Advocacy and Strategies: Skin Cancer Prevention and Patient Safety
Dr. Bruce Brod, MD
Associate Dean of Continuing Medical Education and Interprofessional Collaboration (Interim) University of Pennsylvania Health System
Co-Director, Occupational and Contact Dermatitis Program
Clinical Professor of Dermatology
Penn Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• Read More About the Speaker

Melanoma Outcome Disparities Related to Demographics
Dr. Naiara Barbosa, MD
Dermatologist, Department of Dermatology
Department of Diversity and Quality Leader
Mayo Clinic
Jacksonville, FL

• Read More About the Speaker

Introduction to Price Disclosure in Dermatological Advertising
Naomi Matsuna, BS
Eastern Virginia Medical School
Medical Student, Class of 2028Isha Seelam, BS
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Virginia Campus
Medical Student, Class of 2027

History of Drug Pricing and Pharmacy Benefit Managers
Dr. Kristi Hawley, DO, FAAD
Owner and Dermatologist of The Derm Institute of West Michigan
Associate Clinical Professor, Michigan State University College of Medicine
Caledonia, MI

• Read More About the Speaker

Pharma Research Funding vs Advertising and Pricing Laws in Other Countries
Dr. Steve Daveluy, MD
Program Director and Associate Professor
Department of Dermatology
Wayne State University
Dearborn, MI

• Read More About the Speaker

Introduction to Dermatologic Challenges within a Climate and Environmental Crisis
Darya Mirebrahimi, BS
Virginia Commonwealth University
Medical Student, Class of 2026

TBD
Dr. Alexandra Charrow, MD, FAAD
Assistant Professor
Department of Dermatology
Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Boston, MA

• Read More About the Speaker

TBD
Dr. Eva Parker, MD, DTMH, FAAD
President, Nashville Dermatological Society
Assistant Professor of Dermatology
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, TN

• Read More About the Speaker

Climate Change: How-To Advocate
Darya Mirebrahimi, BS
Virginia Commonwealth University
Medical Student, Class of 2026

Legislative Meeting Preparation
Alexis Swift, BS
Virginia Commonwealth University
Medical Student, Class of 2026

11:30 - 11:45

Davis Michols, Legislative Director for Congressman Griffith, R-VA 9
(Facilitator: TBD)Lauren Jones, Legislative Correspondent for Congressman Scott, D-VA 3
(Facilitator: TBD)

11:50 - 12:05

Zoey Keeley, Legislative Correspondent for
Senator Warner, D-VA
(Facilitator: TBD)Siobhan (Shih-vawn) Murray, Legislative
Correspondent for Senator Kaine, D-VA
(Facilitator: TBD)Erica Eisenman, Legislative Fellow for Congresswoman
McClellan, D-VA 4
(Facilitator: TBD)

12:10 - 12:25

Delegate Betsy Carr, D-VA District 78,
accompanied by Luke Sweeney, Legislative Aide
(Facilitator: TBD)Delegate Bonita Anthony, D-VA District 92,
accompanied by Erica Callicut, Chief of Staff
(Facilitator: TBD)

Merrick Kozak MD, FAAD
President, Virginia Dermatology Society

Dr. Bruce Brod, MD
Associate Dean of Continuing Medical Education and Interprofessional Collaboration (Interim) University of Pennsylvania Health System
Co-Director, Occupational and Contact Dermatitis Program
Clinical Professor of Dermatology
Penn Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Dr. Naiara Barbosa, MD
Dermatologist, Department of Dermatology
Department of Diversity and Quality Leader
Mayo Clinic
Jacksonville, FL

Dr. Kristi Hawley, DO, FAAD
Owner and Dermatologist of The Derm Institute of West Michigan
Associate Clinical Professor, Michigan State University College of Medicine
Caledonia, MI

Dr. Steve Daveluy, MD
Program Director and Associate Professor
Department of Dermatology
Wayne State University
Dearborn, MI

Dr. Alexandra Charrow, MD, FAAD
Assistant Professor
Department of Dermatology
Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Boston, MA

Dr. Eva Parker, MD, DTMH, FAAD
President, Nashville Dermatological Society
Assistant Professor of Dermatology
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, TN