Dr. Fatma Nalbant, MD (Turkey)

Mentor: Dr. Jacek Szepietowski, MD 

Wroclaw, Poland. 2019

Major goals for your mentorship experience: Major goals for my mentorship were to observe the patient population in a different country, learn different diagnostic and therapeutic methods, and gain experience in dermatosurgery.

What did you like best about your mentorship experience?: I really enjoyed observing basic surgical procedures including suturing techniques and flap designs. I saw a wide range of skin diseases in the ambulatory clinics and the busy inpatient unit.

Describe any special experiences with your mentor: Prof. Szepietowski shared with me the history of the university and the important people who have been there. I also joined him for the opening ceremony of the university.

Describe a skill acquired during your mentorship that you will definitely use when you return home: I learned how to improve wound care via different dressing skills. When I return home I will be more courageous in performing the methods that I observed in the dermatologic surgery unit.

How will your mentorship experience impact your patient care and professional goals over the next year?: I will consider employing different treatment options that I had not previously used. I will also continue to improve my dermatologic surgery skills.

How will your mentorship experience make an impact five years from now, including for your region or country?: In my country, dermatologists don't perform many surgical procedures. I have learned what is possible with proper training, and I hope to see the number of dermatologists performing surgery increase over the next 5 years.

Share a pearl you learned during your mentorship experience: It is always good to see different places, meet different people, and have new experiences.