Historically, in healthcare, not all people were fairly represented. Whether you were a person of color, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, or any minority, many "physicians'' would either refuse to treat you, improperly diagnose you or completely disregard your feelings and concerns when making medical decisions. An actual physician can see where others are coming from and collaborate with the patient and other staff, which is vital for successful patient treatment. The values of diversity and collaboration are things I strive to emulate in pursuing my dreams, and both pushed me toward a healthcare career. I am currently in the second year of my undergraduate degree at UMass Boston, majoring in Biology and focusing on Pre-Medical studies. My goal is to become a Board Certified Dermatologist. I currently work as a Medical Assistant in Urgent Care and volunteer with the Dana Farber Skin Cancer Institute's Blum Van project. One of the reasons why I chose even to pursue dermatology was because I wanted to help underrepresented people groups, especially Women of Color. As a Middle Eastern man, I naturally have curly hair, which was an insecurity for me growing up. While learning to take care of it, I stumbled across the Natural Hair Community on Youtube. This community primarily comprises Black women with textured hair who teach other people with textured hair how to keep it healthy. My confidence increased dramatically through their tips and tricks, and I felt beautiful for the first time in a while. I began passionately researching haircare and ingredients, and through that, I discovered how underrepresented Black women are in the Beauty and Healthcare industries. When you go into the textured hair section in Target, the selection is much smaller than the general haircare section. Women of Color in America's bodies were historically used to practice surgical techniques and test the effectiveness of medications barbarically. Even today, myths that people of color do not need sunscreen or can't get skin cancer are often pushed forward by the media. I was shocked and saddened to learn this, but it made me realize that change is needed. I plan to embody diversity in my career by educating myself on the conditions and experiences of people other than myself. The world needs providers who are equipped to listen and empathize with the unique concerns of their patients, not shut them down. I plan to be that for people by implementing effective listening skills, collaborating with other physicians, investing my time in my education, and constantly learning ways to improve patient care. One example of a way that I worked in a collaborative setting was during my career as a Beauty Advisor at Sephora. A client had come in to find products to cover her melasma. She told me with tears in her eyes that it was a massive insecurity for her and that people treated her poorly because of how she looked. She tried multiple products, but none of them worked. I tried my best to reassure her and tell her that she was beautiful the way she was, but if it were her goal to cover her melasma, I would help her do that! I spoke to my colleagues to get ideas on some products, and I collaborated with my coworker Wendy to find her the perfect concealer and treatment. We tested them in-store, and it gave results she had never seen before. She was so happy that she left a positive review for us at the checkout counter and told us personally how kind we were and how grateful she was for our help!

Greetings, My name is Chrisovalantis Christoforos, and I am currently in my second year of undergrad pursuing a degree in Biology with a focus on Premedical Studies. My career goal is to become a dermatologist, and I am currently working as a Medical Assistant in Urgent Care to gain more clinical experience. I was born into a Greek immigrant family, with Greek being my first language. I am passionate about connecting with my roots by performing traditional Greek dances and tutoring in my community's Greek language school. My journey to medicine has been arduous, with lots of twists and turns. I was diagnosed with severe cystic acne when I was 13 years old. My face felt constantly inflamed, and it even hurt to smile. I tried everything from Proactiv to clindamycin to multiple prescribed topical medications and face wash, and it seemed like the acne came back stronger every time. Kids in middle school were ruthless, and I was picked on for how my skin looked almost daily. At one point, a classmate even told me my face was too ugly to look at. I suffered constant anxiety around my physical appearance and was diagnosed with body dysmorphia because of that trauma. I was at my widths end, and eventually, I had no choice but to try Accutane. This potent Vitamin K-based medicine drastically clears the skin of acne and is known for being a savior in preventing a rebound of acne. The medication can have drastic side effects like depression and extremely dry skin. After a long six months, my skin was finally cleared, and since that experience, I realized that no one should have to go through what I went through. People of all ages should feel confident in their skin, which is why I am pursuing dermatology! I plan to provide patient care so that the patient feels heard and understood. I want to diagnose and treat patients, but not because I am trying to shove a pill down their throats or make a profit, it's because I WAS one of those patients at one point. If someone, like a provider or an adult, told me at the time that I was perfect the way I was and that acne treatment should be done because I wanted to do it, not because the bullies said I should, it would have made a world of difference for me. So to heal that inner child, I want to make a difference in the lives of others, and the Kamyar Afshar scholarship would make it easier for my family and me financially to get through the many years of school ahead of me to make that dream possible.