2009 Mentor of the Year award recipient Tina Alster, MD, sharing her thoughts about mentoring to the huge crowd enjoying the WDS 34th Annual Meeting Luncheon.

2009 WDS Award Recipients
by Nicole Rogers, MD

Dr. Tina Alster, 2009 Mentor of the Year

Dr. Tina Alster has been a tireless mentor, teaching at least 1 or 2 physicians annually through the WDS mentorship program since its inception. She also established a scholarship endowment at Duke University and its medical school to support women pursuing careers in medicine. Perhaps most impressively, she has published 8 books and hundreds of journal article on the subject of laser surgery. Her work has inspired many young dermatologists to pursue and be enthusiastic about dermatologic laser surgery.

Receiving the award, Dr. Alster fought back tears, saying, “I myself have been the recipient of excellent mentoring, from high school teachers who recognized that I was not another dumb blonde….” She made us laugh by adding, “…never mind that I was not blonde!”

Dr. Alster shared that when she was in school, “Larry Summers had not yet informed the world that women could not do math or science!” She credited her husband Paul Frasier as her backbone and biggest cheerleader, and her 13 year-old son Nicholas who “at age 6 thought only women could be doctors or dentists.” She also credited Drs. Sheldon Pinnell and Elise Olson at Duke, who taught her that hair counts; Rick Edelson, Carmen Williams (who sent a letter of recommendation to the DC medical society without knowing her!), and Gary Lask, who provided advice, encouragement, and sent her business. She especially thanked Barbara Gilchrest and Elizabeth McBurney (“the TRUE queen of lasers- you know it by her email address!”)

Here’s to Tina and all the phenomenal women who have been recognized for their incredible contribution to the Women’s Dermatologic Society and to the profession. Congratulations!

For further information about Women’s Dermatologic Society, visit: www.womensderm.org www.playsafeinthesun.org Contact Kerry Parker, Executive Director, at 1-877-WDS-ROSE