Biography

Susan Taylor, MD, is the Bernett Johnson Endowed Professor of Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, President-Elect of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), and Director of the Pre-Residency Fellowship in Skin of Color Program. In 2018, Dr. Susan Taylor, Vice Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Department of Dermatology, founded the Fellowship in Skin of Color program to support and mentor rising fourth year medical students, further research of skin of color dermatology, and promote community engagement.

Dr. Taylor began her undergraduate career at the University of Pennsylvania, earning a BA in Biology, and subsequently earned her MD at Harvard Medical School. Afterward, Dr. Taylor returned to Philadelphia briefly for her Internal Medicine residency at Pennsylvania Hospital before completing her Dermatology residency at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York. After residency, Dr. Taylor returned to Philadelphia and Penn to stay.

Dr. Taylor has spearheaded numerous initiatives promoting skin of color dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania and for dermatology nationwide. She founded the Skin of Color Center at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital in New York City and the Skin of Color Society, which promotes awareness and excellence in skin of color dermatology.

Her dedication to enhancing the quality of care for patients of color and promoting mentorship is commendable. In addition to serving as a mentor for Fellows in Skin of Color, she actively supports several programs focused on introducing dermatology to young students, including the PASH (Penn Academy for Skin Health) program and the Health Sciences Educational Pipeline Program, and helped innovate the Diversity and Community Engagement Position for the Department’s residency-training program.

Dr. Taylor has an impressive research career focused on skin of color, alopecia, and pigmentary disorders. Her research has been published in highly esteemed journals like the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Dermatologic Surgery, and JAMA Dermatology.

Dr. Taylor’s contributions to our Department have been invaluable. She served first as Director and currently as Vice Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). She was Sandra J. Lazarus Associate Professor of Dermatology, the first endowed professorship awarded to a woman of color in the Department. She is the recipient of the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching from the University of Pennsylvania, the Jacob Ehrenzeller Award from Pennsylvania Hospital and the John Kenney Jr.,MD Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Academy of Dermatology.

Academic and Professional Appointments

Bernett L. Johnson, Jr., M.D. Associate Professor, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine

President-elect of the American Academy of Dermatology

Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Department of Dermatology

Director of the Pre-Residency Fellowship in Skin of Color Program for the Department of Dermatology

Emeritus Professor of Dermatology, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York