2023 U.S. Virtual Magic Wand Participants
2023 U.S. Virtual Magic Wand® (VMW) Participants
Adarsh Ravishankar, MD
Adarsh Ravishankar, MD, is a PGY-3 resident in the combined internal medicine-dermatology program at the University of Minnesota. He received his Bachelors in Physics and medical degree from the University of Minnesota. Prior to medical school, he has had experience in semiconductor physics research, medical imaging technology, and medical device engineering. Adarsh is passionate about technology in medicine, and its implementation to reduce barriers to care in dermatology.
Ajay Nair Sharma, MD, MBA
Ajay Nair Sharma, MD, MBA, is a dermatology resident at the University of California, Irvine. As a PGY-2, Ajay has already demonstrated a fierce commitment to leadership within his field, applying his business school background in healthcare management and policy to provide a data-driven approach to some of the most pressing issues within dermatology. Ajay’s research has focused on cutaneous oncologic treatment, predictive analytics for outcomes, and quality improvement in medicine, with over 30 peer-reviewed publications and counting. His experience as Student Body President of his medical school similarly exposed him to the myriad challenges faced by his peers in training. To this end, Ajay co-founded Diary of a Med Student, a best-selling book turned non-profit organization that captured stories from medical students across the world. Today he is the recipient of several awards and an elected member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and the Gold Humanism Honor Society. In his free time, Ajay enjoys working as a talented medical artist, playing soccer, and public speaking.
Andjela Nemcevic, MD
Andjela Nemcevic, MD, is a resident at NYU Langone's Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology. Originally from Serbia, she moved to the United States to pursue her education and athletic career at the University of Washington. Excelling as a collegiate tennis player on the University of Washington Women's Tennis Team, she reached the pinnacle as the number 1 player in singles and received numerous academic honors. Dr. Nemcevic obtained a B.S. degree in cellular, molecular, and developmental biology and later completed her medical degree at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. During her time there, she conducted cutting-edge basic science and clinical research, focusing on wound healing and hair loss. Her exceptional contributions led to publications as a research fellow at the esteemed Dr. Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery. This experience fostered her passion for innovation and novel treatments. As an immigrant, Dr. Nemcevic is devoted to bridging the healthcare gap for marginalized populations and driving advancements in dermatology to enhance accessibility to therapies for all individuals.
Anisha Guda, MD
Anisha Guda, MD is a rising PGY-3 dermatology resident at UT Southwestern Medical Center. She graduated from the accelerated BS/MD program at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas. She graduated with a Distinction in Research in 2021. During medical school, she spearheaded several community service projects, has given podcasts and started a platform for mentorship for medical students. She has numerous publications in Dermatology. Her areas of interest including skin care product development, skin of color, innovation and entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence and digital health.
Benjamin Tran, MD
Benjamin Tran, MD, is a dermatology resident at MedStar Georgetown University with a passion for entrepreneurship and healthcare innovation. He attended the University of Virginia for medical school where his medical education startup was selected to participate in the competitive Venture Lab Incubator program at the Darden School of Business. His research interests include exploring the applications of artificial intelligence in healthcare, computer vision and natural language processing, and physician workflow optimization. On the clinical side, his interests include laser-based therapies, scar management, and telehealth.
Christine Pham, MD
Christine Pham, MD, is a rising second-year dermatology resident at the University of California, Irvine Dermatology Residency Program. She grew up in Orange County, CA and attended the University of California, Irvine where she majored in Biological Sciences and minored in Conflict Resolution. She received her medical degree from the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine where she was involved in various community service and leadership roles including the Orange County Alopecia Areata Foundation. She spent a year as a Hair Research Fellow with Dr. Natasha Mesinkovska studying various hair loss disorders risk factors and therapeutics. She has a strong interest in research and innovation and hopes to use this to provide quality care to patients.
Christopher Torres, MD
Christopher Torres, MD is a rising PGY-2 dermatology resident at New York University with an interest in artificial intelligence, healthcare technology, dermatology education and skin of color. He completed his undergraduate degree and an accelerated three-year medical degree at New York University. He has a background in computer science, developing mobile and web applications to improve spatial learning with 3D modeling and educating patients on the importance of photoprotection. He is passionate about promoting innovation in healthcare to advance dermatology. He anticipates that the Magic Wand Program will equip him with the tools to design personalized solutions, ensuring the provision of exceptional patient care.
Fatima Mirza, MD
Fatima Mirza, MD, is a rising second-year dermatology resident at Brown. She completed her undergraduate degree at Harvard College in chemical and physical biology, her graduate degree at the University of Cambridge in public health, and her medical degree at the Yale School of Medicine. Fatima's passion lies in cutaneous oncology, with a focus on developing innovative solutions that address health disparities in historically marginalized communities. She has bench, epidemiologic, and translational research experience, including her college thesis on heat-stable protocells with potential applications for drug delivery, public health dissertation on the burden of skin cancers in the United Kingdom, and her medical school thesis on the development of novel therapeutics in the treatment of cutaneous lymphomas, funded by a NIH TL1 grant. By fostering diversity in clinical trials, she believes we can better understand the unique needs and responses within these populations, ultimately paving the way for tailored treatments and more equitable dermatologic care.
Lily Park, DO
Lily Park, DO, is a dermatology resident at Larkin Community Hospital in South Miami, FL. After her undergraduate studies in mathematics at Boston College, she conducted clinical research at the Proton Therapy Center of Massachusetts General Hospital. This experience sparked her passion for medicine, leading her to pursue a medical degree at Touro University-NV. Following her internal medicine residency at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital, Dr. Park gained valuable experience as a hospitalist in Modesto and San Francisco, CA. It was during this time that she discovered her interest in dermatology. She devoted two years of training in clinical dermatology in Oregon and Texas. Driven to serve the underserved, Dr. Park worked as an internist focusing on dermatology in the community of Placerville, CA. However, her insatiable thirst for knowledge and desire to enhance her skills compelled her to pursue further dermatology education at Larkin Community Hospital in Miami. Her areas of interest encompass cosmetic procedures, including laser and light-base devices, and Mohs micrographic surgery and cutaneous oncology. Additionally, she remains committed to ensuring access to quality care for the underserved. Beyond her medical pursuits, Dr. Park finds solace and adventure in rock climbing.
Melissa Laughter, MD
Melissa Laughter, MD, is a resident at NYU Langone's Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology. She graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in Chemical and Biological Engineering. She then went on to obtain her MS and PhD in bioengineering and MD from the University of Colorado. She has an extensive research background with over 150 book chapters, publications, abstracts, and presentations within bioengineering and dermatology. In addition to her research achievements, Dr. Laughter is actively engaged in innovation and completed a rigorous two-year licensing analyst fellowship at the University of Colorado technology transfer office where she developed a portfolio of biotechnology, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. She is passionate about exploring the potential of AI algorithms and machine learning techniques to enhance diagnostic accuracy and treatment outcomes for various skin conditions. She also has a particular interest in drug delivery development within dermatology therapeutics. She is dedicated to advancing the field by investigating innovative drug delivery systems and technologies that can improve the targeted delivery of medications for dermatological disorders.
Neha Jariwala, MD
Neha Jariwala, MD, is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania. She completed her dermatology residency and cutaneous oncology fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania, after obtaining her medical degree from Drexel College of Medicine. Dr. Jariwala's research interests include cutaneous oncology and enhancing access to dermatologic care. She currently holds the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery’s Jumpstart Research Grant and serves as an appointed member of the AAD Teledermatology Committee. Additionally, Dr. Jariwala is involved with the Pennsylvania Academy of Dermatology’s Political Action Committee. She aims to contribute to positive changes in dermatological care and policy.
Sonya Kenkare, MD, FAAD
Sonya Kenkare, MD, FAAD, is an assistant professor at Rush University. She completed her residency in 2014 at the University of Chicago and medical school in 2010 at University of Illinois. She is passionate about treating patients with skin of color, global medicine and cosmetic dermatology. She looks forward to developing and enhancing the array of cosmetic treatment options for patients with skin of color.
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