Achievement, an engineering feat. One that is beautifully designed by hard work and relentless pursuits of excellence. These distinct elements bring us face to face with destiny while unveiling the enormity of our talents. Rooted in the driving force behind our every action is the desire to succeed. One such story of excellence is that of Dr. Ariel Knowles who overcame the odds and matched within the highly competitive field of dermatology. With the fascinating organ of the skin being the center of speculation in this field, dermatology goes beyond acne and wrinkles. It is humanity’s first line of defense and a mirror of our overall health. From the common problem of skin cancers to severe autoimmune disorders, dermatologists are crucial tools in helping patients manage the severity of these conditions.
“I first became interested in dermatology during my clinical rotations in medical school and internship at the Princess Margaret Hospital and Rand Memorial Hospital. One of my most memorable patients was one with severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa who was being managed predominantly by the Plastic Surgery team and had extensive scarring.”
Dr. Knowles’ curiosity got the best of her and she found herself down a path which sparked the flames of an exceptional journey.
“I found myself researching the skin disease and realizing that Hidradenitis Suppurativa fell under the umbrella of dermatology. Though it is notoriously difficult to treat, there are treatments that can mitigate the progression of the disease and it is currently a popular area of research.”
She also realized the demand for dermatologists was great in the Bahamas as many other specialists in the Bahamas are filling in the void for dermatology issues.
“In The Bahamas, Pediatrics, Plastic Surgery, Allergy & Immunology, and Family Medicine are standing in the gap for a lot of illness that fall under the specialty of dermatology.”
Her continued research and interest fueled her journey making it easier for her to be even more passionate about the field.
“The more I learned about dermatology the more I became interested in pursuing it. Dermatology appealed to me because it is the best field that represents medicine as both an art and science. Practice of dermatology encompasses medicine, surgery, and cosmetics and allows me to fully use my creative and academic skills.”
With dermatology residency being a challenging arena to enter, Dr. Knowles explains why.
“Dermatology is a highly competitive field to get into, mainly due to the small number of training spots relative to other fields and rigorous application requirements.”
She however, did not allow this to act as a deterrent for what she was truly passionate about.
“Pursuing dermatology was particularly challenging as I didn't know anyone who had pursued dermatology residency so I had to create a path for myself, by myself.”
This is when she realized there was a great challenge faced by international students like herself.
“At the time I started my journey to pursue dermatology, the dermatology residency at UWI Mona had not yet started so my options at the time were the UK or the USA. In the USA, it attracts the best of the best of US medical students. International graduates are not readily considered for training positions. All of this results in the match rate for IMGs in the USA being very low. In 2024, sixteen (16) International Medical Graduates matched into Dermatology, which had five hundred and forty-seven (547) available spots.”
Now that the initial hurdle of getting into the Dermatology program has been long overcome Dr. Knowles remains inspired and motivated about her cause.
“I really can’t see myself practicing any other medical field. I would have kept trying until I got into dermatology. I plan on focusing mainly on scarring processes and contributing greatly to the treatment of Keloids, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, and scarring alopecias. I feel very blessed that I got in when I did and to be doing my training at such a great program like the University of Oklahoma.”
She leaves this advice for those wanting to pursue the same career dynamic.
“For anyone attempting to pursue a competitive medical specialty, simply follow your passions and interests. The hard work you will have to put in and the length of time it may take to match into your specialty, including research years, reapplying etc., won’t be so bad if it’s something you’re interested in. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help. I would not have achieved what I did without great mentors who were invested in seeing me succeed. Ignore the naysayers or those who may doubt you. One of my new favorite things to say to the medical students I mentor is, ‘You have to be a little delusional about what you're trying to achieve.’”
Dr. Knowles’ journey is an outstanding example of what can be achieved through genuine commitment while remaining both enthusiastic and goal oriented. With her passion shining through and fueling her journey, and with the need for dermatologists continuing to be in great demand, Dr. Knowles remains steadfast in her professional trajectory. It is through this she has learned that success is not a birthright. It is earned through hard work, dedication, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. And, it is the standard of excellence that reaps the greatest reward.
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