APMNA Student Interest Group

About Us

The APMNA Student Interest Group (APMNA SIG) is dedicated to spreading awareness and education about psychodermatology. Our mission is to provide opportunities for students and professionals to engage in research, volunteering, and networking within a collaborative space. We aim to foster a deeper understanding of the connection between psychology and dermatology and how it applies in clinical practice.

Teams and Goals

Social Media & Marketing:
- Expand our reach through strategic social media engagement, raising awareness about psychodermatology and its impact on healthcare.
- Share relevant content, including research highlights, clinical cases, and expert insights, to foster a well-informed online community.
Educational Outreach:
- Education & Awareness: Enhance understanding of psychodermatology and its significance in healthcare through informative resources, discussions, and expert insights.
- Clinical Insights: Provide in-depth perspectives on the application of psychodermatology in clinical practice, offering valuable knowledge on patient care and treatment approaches.
Community Outreach:
- Volunteering: Facilitate student engagement in initiatives that support psychodermatology patients, offering hands-on experience and exposure to clinical practice.
Academic Opportunities:
- Research Opportunities: Support students in exploring research initiatives by connecting them with mentors and resources tailored to their specific interests within psychodermatology.
- Publications & Conferences: Support students in preparing research for publications, conferences, and poster presentations to enhance academic contributions and professional development.

Meet Our Students

Our team consists of passionate students who are committed to advancing psychodermatology awareness and education.

Social Media & Marketing	Educational Outreach	Community Outreach	Academic Opportunities
Leads: Sheila Sharifi, Katelyn Stringer Team: Tamara Korkomaz	Lead: Olivia Katamanin	Lead: Nina Modelo	Lead: Veranca Shah

Board Members

Olivia Katamanin

Role: Medical student at Chicago Medical School
Team Lead: Academic Outreach
Location: Chicago, IL

Olivia has a profound interest in psychodermatology. After earning a degree in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience from the University of Michigan, she founded the A.S.K. For Help Foundation, a nonprofit focused on mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Her goal is to integrate mental health and dermatology to treat patients holistically.

Nina Modanlo

Role: Medical student at UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine
Team Lead: Community Outreach
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Nina has been researching alopecia areata, pediatric dermatology, and psychodermatology. Her interest lies in bridging the gap between dermatology and mental health, recognizing that these two areas of medicine often overlap. She is excited to be part of a movement that seeks to optimize patient care through this interdisciplinary approach.

Veranca Shah

Role: Medical student at Georgetown University School of Medicine
Team Lead: Academic Outreach, Educational Outreach
Location: Washington, DC

Veranca is a third-year medical student passionate about collaborative care and the mind-body connection. Her interest in psychodermatology stems from her own experience with vitiligo. To empower women with skin conditions, she founded a nonprofit that connects them with free gym memberships. Through this, she hopes to illustrate that true well-being is achieved through the synergy of physical strength, mental resilience, and self-empowerment.

Sheila Sharifi

Role: Medical student at Georgetown University & Research Fellow at University of Miami
Team Lead: Social Media & Marketing
Location: Washington, DC

Sheila is a third year medical student whose research explores the mental health impacts of inflammatory diseases and aesthetic practices. She holds a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology from UC Berkeley. Sheila’s passion for combining dermatology with mental health led her to this group, where she seeks to contribute to this underexplored field.

Katelyn Stenger

Role: Medical student at University of Hawaii
Team Lead: Social Media & Marketing
Location: Honolulu, HI

Katelyn is deeply involved in research regarding psychodermatology. Inspired by her own experiences with dermatologists who helped shape her self-confidence, she is committed to fostering a student-led community focused on exploring the critical relationship between dermatology and mental health.

Team Members

Chinonoye Eze

Role: Medical student at Central Michigan University
Location: Mount Pleasanton, MI

Chinonoye’s research focuses on dermatologic conditions in patients of color, particularly in the context of how these conditions impact mental health. Her personal experience with eczema inspired her to pursue psychodermatology, where she hopes to bridge the gap between dermatology and mental well-being for diverse populations.

Alyssa M. Iurillo

Role: Medical student at Indiana University & Research Fellow at Brown University
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Alyssa’s focus is dermatologic oncology, especially melanoma and keratinocyte carcinomas, with a particular interest in health disparities. Alongside this, she is driven by her passion for psychodermatology. Through her involvement, Alyssa is working toward improving patient outcomes by fostering a deeper understanding of how mental health and skin health intersect.

Tamara Korkomaz

Role: Research Coordinator at WoundPedia & Project ECHO Ontario Skin and Wound
Location: Toronto, Canada

Tamara’s fascination with psychodermatology grew during her Master’s thesis on non-pharmacological therapies for psoriasis. Having long recognized the mind-skin connection, she is excited to be part of a community that advocates for knowledge sharing, awareness, and discovery in this niche but vital field.

Allison Meihofer

Role: Medical student at Nova Southeastern University
Location: Davie, FL

Allison’s passion for psychodermatology began when she worked with Dr. Richard Fried, a dermatologist specializing in the mind-skin connection. Now, she is exploring the integration of mental health into dermatologic care through various research initiatives. She envisions a future where dermatology and mental health are more seamlessly connected in patient care.

Sabrina Zheng

Role: Medical student at Paul L. Foster School of Medicine
Location: San Marcos, TX

Sabrina’s interest in psychodermatology stems from her dual passion for mental health and skin. By joining this group, she hopes to contribute to exploring how these two fields intersect and help enhance patient care through this vital connection.

Get Involved

Stay up-to-date and join the conversation through our social media and email.

@psychodermatologySIG

psychodermatologysig@gmail.com

www.psychodermatology.us

Association for Psychoneurocutaneous Medicine of North America