Dr. Stacy Kasitinon: Award for Excellence in Dermatology
A grandmother’s diagnosis of late-stage pancreatic cancer and lack of treatment options inspired Dr. Stacy Kasitinon to work toward helping others overcome cancer. With a combined M.D./Ph.D., she hopes to use her expertise to discover new treatments and prevention strategies, focusing in particular on melanoma.
What this award means: “I have been interested in dermatology since I began studying melanoma during my Ph.D. This award is meaningful because it recognizes all of the hard work and passion that I have put toward my career in dermatology and motivates me to make an impact in the field.”
Mentor comment: “Stacy exemplifies excellence in dermatology. From her work in graduate school on melanoma in Dr. Sean Morrison’s laboratory to her outstanding academic performance and commitment to volunteerism, Stacy had already made a big impact on dermatology. We are so proud of her and are excited to see how her career unfolds.” – Dr. Heidi Jacobe, Professor of Dermatology
Background and family: “My parents are first-generation immigrants from Taiwan, and I grew up in the DFW area. I have a sister who is eight years older than me who has always been my greatest role model. I met my husband, who is now a sports medicine physician, during my first year of medical school.”
What led to your career path: “When I was in elementary school, my grandmother was diagnosed with late-stage pancreatic cancer and was left without treatment options. She inspired me to pursue a combined M.D./Ph.D. to help discover new treatments for cancer patients. I shifted my focus to dermatology during my Ph.D. training when I studied the role of ion channels and transporters as therapeutic targets in melanoma. Then, from a clinical standpoint, I fell in love with dermatology after volunteering at the Agape Clinic and seeing how much of an impact dermatologists can have on a patient’s quality of life.”
UTSW activities: “I was a PRE+OP counselor, a Colleges peer mentor, a United to Serve Booth Chair, a regular Agape Clinic volunteer, a Medical Student Training Program Grand Rounds Chair, and Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society Research Committee Chair.”
Surprising fact: “In my spare time, I am an avid baker who specializes in making macarons. In fact, I own my own home bakery named after my dog, Meeko!”
Future plans: “I hope to continue my career as a physician-scientist at an academic institution. I am particularly interested in studying the drivers and risk factors associated with skin cancers that occur on sun-protected sites and in patients of color in hopes of developing more tailored prevention and treatment strategies for these patients.”
About the award: The award is given to a UT Southwestern graduating medical student who has advanced dermatological patient care, research, or teaching in a special way, or who shows promise for leadership in these areas. The recipient receives a certificate and $1,000.