S8 Ep2: Leadership and Advocacy with new CMA President Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi
“We are a small specialty in dermatology, but we need to be involved in larger discussions. There are a lot of things that we do well, both in leadership, in getting different perspectives, in being part of the community and seeing a variety of patients, that we can lend to any medical organization.” How can dermatologists help shape the future of medicine—inside and outside the clinic? Dr. Kerri Purdy welcomes Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi for a conversation about physician leadership, health advocacy and finding the confidence to put your hand up. A dermatologist in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and a clinical associate professor of medicine at Memorial University, Dr. Ogunyemi is the first Black president of the Canadian Medical Association. From student leadership to representing physicians on the national stage, he shares how taking on unfamiliar roles can build skills, broaden perspectives and create opportunities to make a difference. Together, Kerri and Bolu explore: Getting involved in leadership during residency—and why you don’t need a perfect résumé to begin. Building confidence in public speaking and working with the media. Social media’s influence on skin health, body image and patients’ expectations. The opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence in medicine. Improving education and care across all skin tones, and sharing that knowledge beyond dermatology. Plus, a lighter question: does the CMA president get the new medical school backpack? A special thank-you to Dr. Nickoo Merati, PGY5 dermatology resident at McGill University, for contributing a thoughtful question about building on dermatology’s progress in skin of colour education across Canadian medicine. For more on skin-of-colour care Enjoying Dermalogues? Follow the podcast and leave a rating or review. For more conversations from the world of dermatology, listen to JCMS Author Interviews , hosted by Dr. Kirk Barber. For more on the work of the CDA visit dermatology.ca Dermalogues is produced by David McGuffin with Graham McGuffin of ExploreProductions.ca

