An Advanced Dermatology Fellowship Program
Enhancing Alopecia Care in Skin of Color for Advanced Practice Providers
Welcome to the Advanced Dermatology Fellowship program!
The Advanced Dermatology Fellowship is a specialized educational program designed for Advanced Practice Providers (APPs), with a focus on diagnosing and managing alopecias, especially in patients of color.
This program addresses critical gaps in dermatology training by providing a comprehensive, multimodal curriculum that emphasizes:
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Clinical, pathological, and dermoscopic distinctions of hair loss disorders
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Management strategies for both scarring and non-scarring alopecias
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Up-to-date therapeutic approaches, including JAK inhibitors and integrative options
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Skills in performing and interpreting biopsies, pathology reports, and SALT scoring
With limited standardized training in hair loss for APPs and underrepresentation of skin of color in current resources, this fellowship aims to enhance knowledge, diagnostic accuracy, and patient care — especially in underserved populations.
The program is ideal for APPs early in their careers or seeking to update their skills, and it is informed by real-world barriers such as delayed diagnosis, insurance access, and psychosocial impact on patients.
By equipping providers with evidence-based, inclusive education, the fellowship promotes health equity, clinical confidence, and improved patient outcomes in the care of those with alopecia.
Our program has been split into four easy-to understand modules to assist with learning comprehension and leave you thinking like an Alopecia All-Star!
Module 1
Clinical presentation and pathophysiology of scarring and non-scarring alopecias
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Recognize the diverse clinical presentations of alopecias across various skin tones to effectively diagnose the conditions in patients of color
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Gain a deep understanding of the pathophysiology of each alopecia to accurately differentiate them in a clinical practice
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Appropriately calculate a Severity of Alopecia Tool (SALT) score to guide management of patients with alopecia areata
Module 2
Dermoscopy
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Enhance proficiency in using dermoscopy as a diagnostic tool for evaluatingdifferent types of alopecias.
Module 3
Biopsy
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Acquire key clinical insights and procedural techniques for performing adequate biopsies in patients with alopecia
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Develop the ability to interpret pathology reports to tailor the management of patients with alopecia
Module 4
Management of scarring and non-scarring alopecias
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Enhance the ability to assess disease severity and burden in patients with alopecia, with a focus on improving care and treatment strategies and patient counseling.
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Gain a comprehensive understanding of managing both scarring and non-scarring alopecias.
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Understand current clinical trial data and applications in clinical use of JAK inhibitors.
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Enhance the ability to effectively counsel patients by gaining comfort in explaining the disease process and treatment options.
Our Instructors:
Dr. Sonal Choudhary is a double-board certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist at UPMC and has completed a fellowship in integrative dermatology. She has extensive experience in reading biopsies and conducting clinical research studies. Dr. Choudhary works closely with residents, medical students, and APPs, and is thoroughly involved in their clinical education and development. She has developed courses for the DCIE program through LearnSkin, which was specifically designed for APPs, primary care practitioners, and other healthcare professionals seeking to enhance their dermatologic knowledge. Her role in the project includes overseeing educational module production, recording the educational modules, leading roundtable discussion sessions, and responding to participant questions. Her expertise is in atopic dermatitis and integrative dermatology.
Sonal Choudhary, MD
Principal Investigator
Dermatologist
Dermatopathologist
Hemali Shah, MD
Instructor
Dermatology Resident
Dr. Shah is originally from Wintersville, Ohio. Prior to beginning residency, she successfully completed her undergraduate work at the University of Pittsburgh, moving on to earn her medical degree from Albany Medical College. Since starting residency, Hemali has worked on improving the medical student preclinical curriculum and clinical rotations. She also serves as a LearnSkin Integrative Dermatology Resident Ambassador, participating in monthly lectures and discussions about integrative approaches to various skin conditions. She is passionate about teaching and quality improvement projects to improve patient education.
Special Thanks!
Special thanks to Dr. Joseph C. English, III, Professor of Dermatology at the University of Pittsburgh and Medical Director of UPMC North Hills Dermatology, for his contributions to this project. As a nationally recognized expert in hair disorders, Dr. English generously provided patient images that enhanced the quality and educational value of these modules. His support and expertise are deeply appreciated.
