Breaking Barriers in Aesthetics: Joni Jefferson, DO on Representation, Patient Education, and the Power of Mentorship

To celebrate Black History Month, Joni Jefferson, DO, met with Dermatology Times to reflect on her career journey as a board-certified family physician, aesthetic medicine leader, and CEO/Medical Director of Zen Aesthetics in Morristown, New Jersey, highlighting the rewards and challenges of practicing as a woman and physician of color in a field where representation remains limited.

Jefferson describes entering medicine and aesthetics as both deeply fulfilling and persistently challenging. She notes that physicians of color represent a small proportion of the medical workforce, a reality that has shaped her professional experience. Despite these barriers, she emphasizes the profound satisfaction she derives from educating patients and communities about skin health and wellness, and from seeing tangible improvements in patients’ physical, emotional, and overall quality of life. Her practice extends beyond procedural aesthetics to include wellness and weight management, reflecting a holistic, results-driven approach that aligns with evolving patient expectations.

Addressing misconceptions among patients with skin of color, Jefferson underscored that many aesthetic and dermatologic procedures are appropriate for all populations when selected and performed correctly. She highlights persistent gaps in awareness, particularly around energy-based devices such as lasers, noting that not all technologies are suitable for every skin type. Effective consultation, she explains, requires education, transparency, and normalization—reinforcing that aesthetic treatments are inclusive while also tailoring choices to individual skin biology. She stresses that dermatologists and aesthetic clinicians must be well-versed in device selection and risk mitigation to ensure safe and effective care for diverse patient populations.

“Skin of color consists of African Americans, Asian demographics, Indian demographics, some of everyone, right? And so every skin type is maybe receptive to certain types of treatments and lasers. It's also important that we normalize that these treatments are for everyone, right? And that's just really through education and bringing awareness,” Jefferson said.

She also spoke to the importance of strengthening the pipeline for Black medical students and residents interested in dermatology and aesthetic medicine. While acknowledging that competitive medical school admissions remain a major bottleneck, she emphasizes mentorship as a critical factor once students enter training. Through shadowing opportunities and ongoing guidance, established clinicians can provide encouragement, practical insight, and visibility into career pathways that may otherwise seem inaccessible.

Looking beyond Black History Month, Jefferson advocates for sustained efforts to improve representation through education reform, equitable selection processes, mentorship, and increased visibility of physicians of color in professional and media spaces. She views inclusivity not as a niche focus, but as foundational to the future of aesthetic medicine. As interest grows in longevity, regenerative, and wellness-oriented care, she envisions a field that is increasingly holistic, innovative, and inclusive—one that serves diverse patients while empowering diverse clinicians to lead its continued evolution.

“As we are bringing more awareness to just dermatology in general, or the field of aesthetic medicine, it's a newer field that's evolving...there's so many different components that go into aesthetic medicine, but it's just about bringing awareness, and for us, we have a responsibility to reach back.” Jefferson concluded.