Today we’d like to introduce you to Folasade Fayiga.
Hi Folasade, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in South Florida in a Nigerian-Honduran household as the oldest child. From the age of 12, I knew I wanted to be a dermatologist. Although I had physicians in my family, my first exposure to medicine came through my mother, who faced challenges navigating healthcare, including language barriers. As a child, I helped her as a Spanish interpreter while she struggled with periorbital syringomas (chronic, recurrent benign sweat gland tumors around the eye) which gave me my first introduction to patient advocacy and caring for others. As I got older, I began to understand my father’s role as an emergency medicine physician, a career where he served the people of Miami and West Palm Beach for over 35 years, and it showed me what a career in medicine could look like and the kind of impact a physician can have.
I went on to study at Florida State University and then earned a Master’s in Skin Biology and Dermatological Sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, where I was part of the program’s third cohort. During that time, I worked as a medical assistant in both pediatric and adult dermatology, volunteered as a Spanish interpreter at a local clinic called DOCS, and learned from a mentor who shaped my clinical approach and strengthened my passion for dermatology.
Medical school then took me to Ohio,my first time living outside of Florida, where I drew on my experiences from South Florida to establish a Latino wellness community. This program went beyond medicine to support overall wellness, offering blood screenings to check cholesterol and blood sugar, dental cleanings, vision and hearing testing, and even helping families navigate banking, housing, or access to affordable local produce. There was even a “teddy bear clinic” where children could learn about the medical field by running their stuffed animals through a mock MRI, giving them a fun, hands-on introduction to healthcare.
Building on this, I co-founded Good Skin Knowledge with my friend Hermon Feron, a public health initiative aimed at teaching grade school students about common skin, hair, and nail conditions. Misunderstandings about these conditions can lead to teasing and bullying, and through this program, children not only learn about dermatology, but also gain confidence and feel comfortable in their own skin. By introducing kids to medicine at an early age, we hope to spark interest in healthcare careers while also giving them tools to take care of themselves.
Along the way, I faced skepticism, from being told medical school might be out of reach to being told dermatology could be unattainable, but those challenges motivated me to work harder and make a meaningful impact. Today, I’m in my final year of medical school graduating with my MD in May 2026. I will find out where I match for dermatology on Match Day in March of this year. No matter where my path takes me, my focus remains on patient care, community advocacy, and education.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My journey has definitely had its challenges. In college, I didn’t perform as well as I wanted in some classes and even had to retake a few, which brought scrutiny and made the path to medical school feel uncertain. At one point, I even had a letter writer decline to write a recommendation for me. I didn’t get into medical school on my first attempt, which is more common than people realize, but I found support in graduate school that helped me strengthen my application.
When I entered medical school in Ohio, it was my first time living away from home. I started through a bridge program, which meant I had to prove myself in a preparatory year before my acceptance was fully confirmed. Navigating that pressure while being away from family, combined with personal health scares with my father, was challenging—but it reinforced how much I value staying connected to home and giving back to my community.
I think it’s important to acknowledge that everyone’s path in medicine is not linear. There’s a lot of scrutiny around failures, and not everyone feels comfortable talking about them. Many people don’t pursue their dream careers because someone told them they couldn’t, or because they focused on setbacks instead of possibilities. I’ve learned to block out the negativity and be in control of my career. Now, I make it a priority to mentor pre-med and medical students, showing them that despite hiccups in grades or applications, they can still achieve their goals and build the career they want.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a dermatology applicant in my final year of medical school, and my work spans research and community advocacy. Clinically, I’ve worked in both pediatric and adult dermatology, even vascular surgery, and my research focuses on laser safety and efficacy in skin of color and pediatric dermatology. I’ve also co-founded initiatives like Good Skin Knowledge, which teaches underserved youth about skin, hair, and nail health, and a Latino wellness community, which provides holistic resources for families, from preventive health screenings to guidance on access to food, banking, and community services.
Beyond medicine, I’m really passionate about wellness and education, and I’ve also explored creative outlets like TikTok, where I share medical content as well as beauty, fashion, and lifestyle. It’s a way for me to connect with people, educate the public, and even help support myself financially during the year.
I think what sets me apart is that I’ve known from a very young age that I wanted to be a dermatologist. Most people discover their specialty in medical school, but for me, it’s been a lifelong passion. I also think my upbringing, growing up in a multicultural Nigerian-Honduran household, gives me a unique perspective on patient care and community service. People often recognize me for my commitment to dermatology, my community work, and my drive to make medicine accessible and relatable to everyone I serve.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is making a meaningful impact in people’s lives, especially through education and community care. From a young age, I saw the difference that understanding, access, and support can make, first through my mother’s experience navigating healthcare and later through my own work as a Spanish interpreter and medical volunteer. That shaped my commitment to not just treating patients, but also empowering them with knowledge and confidence in their own health.
This value drives everything I do, from teaching underserved youth about skin health, to establishing a Latino wellness community that addresses both medical and social needs. Medicine, to me, isn’t just about treating disease; it’s about supporting people as whole individuals and helping them feel seen and capable. That’s what keeps me motivated every day and what I hope to carry into my career as a dermatologist.
Contact Info:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/folasade-fayiga-3208/
- Other: https://youtu.be/zbLw8aR3B5M?si=g03lbKhkxQjfetpG
Image Credits
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