Mentorship, Medicine, and Marginalized Communities: A Conversation with Dr. John Trinidad

We’re shining the ProjectIMPACT Spotlight on John Trinidad, MD, MPH, FAAD, a dermatologist making a positive impact by addressing healthcare disparities, particularly in underserved populations. Dr. Trinidad is interviewed by Iain Encarnacion, a fourth-year medical student at Eastern Virginia Medical School, Skin of Color Fellow at Penn Dermatology, and VisualDx Student Advisory Board member.

Can you tell us what sparked your interest in dermatology? What does your current role entail, and what excites you most about the work you do every day?

Dr. Trinidad: My journey in medicine began during my time at UCSF, where I was part of the Program in Medical Education for the Urban Underserved (PRIME-US). Initially, I planned to pursue internal medicine with a focus on HIV and infectious diseases in urban, underserved settings. However, during an HIV infectious disease rotation, I had the opportunity to work closely with Dr. Toby Maurer and Dr. Kieron Leslie in the HIV Dermatology Clinic at Ward 86.

Dr. Maurer left a profound impact on me. Her dedication to her patients, advocacy, and hands-on approach were truly inspiring. I vividly remember how she persuaded a patient with Kaposi sarcoma and poorly controlled HIV to re-engage in care, which solidified my interest in dermatology. This experience, coupled with Dr. Maurer’s encouragement, led me to consider a career in dermatology.

Now, as a faculty member at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Harvard Combined Dermatology Residency Program, I have several roles that keep me deeply engaged. I serve as the Director of Underserved Communities, where I am actively involved in teaching medical students and residents. A couple of times a month, I attend the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program clinic. Once a week, I have a dedicated continuity resident and a specialty clinic, where I handle referrals from the Sexual Health Clinic and the Transgender Health Program. Additionally, I spend a quarter of my time each year on inpatient dermatology consults at Mass General.

What excites me most about my work is that I have been able to fulfill my original goal of working in urban, underserved care. My focus on addressing health disparities for historically marginalized communities remains at the core of my practice.

Every day, I have the privilege of connecting with patients and making a tangible difference in their lives through direct patient care, mentorship, and collaborative research with students and residents.

Furthermore, my involvement in advocacy within the American Academy of Dermatology and other national societies allows me to address healthcare concerns on a broader scale.

What inspired you to focus on underserved populations, health disparities, and advocacy?

Dr. Trinidad: My focus on underserved populations, health disparities, and advocacy stems from my deeply held belief that “the personal is the political.” As a Filipino-American and a gay man, my personal identity is indivisible from my professional pursuits. Growing up in an immigrant community near San Francisco, I was involved in advocacy long before I considered a career in medicine. During high school, I worked with various community organizations in Oakland and Chinatown, focusing on youth empowerment, affirmative action, diversity, and anti-war efforts.

This early exposure to advocacy naturally extended to my interest in medicine.

I wanted to bridge the gap between social justice and medicine. These two areas are inseparable for me, and I have found numerous intersections where advocacy and healthcare overlap.

During medical school, my involvement in PRIME-US underscored that many physicians prioritize health disparities and advocacy as core aspects of their professional identity. I found great inspiration and mentorship in this community, which solidified my commitment to this path and to serving underserved populations.

As the Director of Underserved Populations at Massachusetts General Hospital, what specific initiatives or programs have you implemented to address health disparities, and what outcomes have you seen thus far?

Dr. Trinidad: I’ve only been at Massachusetts General for two years, but during this time, I’ve integrated myself into the Harvard Combined Dermatology Health Equity community. Some of the specific initiatives and programs I’ve implemented include:

• Dermatology Advocacy Days: I’ve been a core organizer for two annual state advocacy days, focusing on dermatology-related health equity issues.
• Research Fellowship Program: I mentored my first research fellow, Sophia Neiman, who has led several ongoing research projects. We have now formalized a dermatology health equity research working group, which hosts quarterly research symposiums. These symposiums allow medical students and residents to present current projects, propose new ones, and discuss ongoing or published research.
• Research Projects: Our research group has undertaken numerous projects, including:
  • A cross-sectional analysis of contact allergens in depilatory products.
  • Allergenic characterization of personal lubricants for sexual use.
  • Identifying socioeconomic and demographic factors that predict patient no-shows to dermatology visits.
  • An editorial on research ethics and care for transgender and gender-diverse patients in dermatology.

In terms of outcomes, it’s still early to measure long-term impacts definitively. However, the number of projects initiated, the ongoing research, and the publications produced in this short time frame are significant indicators of our progress and commitment to addressing health disparities in dermatology.

How do you see the field of dermatology evolving in its approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly in serving marginalized communities, and what role do you envision playing in this evolution?

Dr. Trinidad: Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are currently very prominent and politically charged topics in many fields, including dermatology. DEI is not only essential but has also become a standard in education and corporate environments. Many professionals, including myself, have benefited from DEI programs through various pipeline initiatives that help increase access to education and professional opportunities in healthcare.

However, DEI programs face significant political challenges, as demonstrated by recent events at the 2024 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting, where DEI initiatives were at risk of being dismantled. This heightened political climate has mobilized many beneficiaries of DEI programs to actively support and protect these initiatives. In terms of the future, I believe the field must protect existing DEI programs, strengthen mentorship and pipeline programs, and advocate for policy changes.

My role in this evolution involves active participation in leadership positions where I can advocate for DEI. Many of my mentors have emphasized the importance of involvement with the saying, “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” This principle has guided my efforts to ensure DEI remains a priority. I have served on various task forces and committees, such as the inaugural AAD Diversity Task Force, and later on the Congressional Policy Committee, Grassroots Advocacy Committee, and now the Healthcare Finance Committee. By being at the table, I can help ensure that DEI considerations remain central to our discussions and policies in dermatology, ultimately benefiting marginalized communities.

Many medical students and residents are passionate about tackling healthcare disparities. What advice can you share based on your experience as they embark on this journey?

Dr. Trinidad: Here are some pieces of advice based on my experience:

• Engage in meaningful work: It’s crucial to find advocacy work that aligns with your passions. This alignment helps you gain a deep sense of gratification from your efforts so that you feel like you are making a meaningful impact. This makes it easier to sustain your commitment over time. If your advocacy work doesn’t resonate with you, you can easily burn out.
• Seek Inspirational Mentors: Having mentors who inspire and guide you is vital. These mentors help keep your moral, ethical, and career compass pointing toward your true north. I’ve been fortunate to have both formal and informal mentors who I can call on for advice about projects, applications, and career decisions.
• Get Involved in Decision-Making Groups: Participating in leadership and decision-making groups, even if the work seems tangential to healthcare disparities, can be incredibly valuable. For example, my involvement with the Ohio Dermatological Association (ODA) allowed me to play a crucial role in the ODA’s COVID-19 task force. This position enabled me to advocate for underserved patient populations during a critical time, ensuring they were considered in statewide guidelines.
• Align with Your Story: Authenticity is key. People respond and understand when your efforts are intertwined with your personal story and passions. Engage in activities that reflect your true interests and values. This genuine commitment not only enhances your effectiveness but also inspires others around you.