Stress Awareness Month: How Clinicians Manage Their Stress – Part 2

April is Stress Awareness Month, and while dermatologists spend their days treating the skin-deep effects of stress in their patients, they're not immune to it themselves. At the 2026 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting, Dermatology Times continued asking dermatologists how they manage the pressures of their careers. The responses in this second installment are as heartfelt as they are practical, and centered on the people, passions, and habits that help these physicians show up as their best selves, both in and out of the clinic.

Watch part 1 here, featuring Diego Ruiz Dasilva, MD; Alexa Kimball, MD, MPH; Margo-Angeliki Gkini, MD; Helen He, MD; Todd Schlesinger, MD; Hope Mitchell, MD; and David Oberlin, MD.

Steven Daveluy, MD, takes perhaps the most fun approach of the group: laughter yoga. A certified laughter yoga instructor, Daveluy explains that the practice combines breathing and laughter, and that even fake laughing carries real physiological benefits. "During laughter yoga, it gets so silly that you end up real laughing anyway," he said. For those curious to try it, he hosts a live session on Instagram once a month at @doctor_beard_MD.

Mary Spellman, MD, keeps it grounded with a philosophy built around intentional downtime. Whether it's reading, movies, exercise, or simply being present with family, she believes carving out personal time is the foundation of long-term resilience. "As we grow and learn, we get a little less stressed about the things we can't control," she said. "I think that's the best remedy for success."

For Brian Kim, MD, the most stress-free moments in his life happen at home with his young children. "Spending time with my children to forget about work" is his reset of choice, he said, adding with a laugh that his kids aren't shy about pulling his attention away from his phone.

Lauren Madigan, MD, wove together family, education, and collegiality as her 3 pillars of stress management. A piece of advice she received early on stuck with her: free time won't just appear, you have to make it. For her, that means sitting down for an hour of Play-Doh with her children. "I have 8 million worries in the world, and they have none, and it's really refreshing," she said. As an inpatient dermatologist working alongside oncology colleagues, she also emphasized how much she leans on her team when cases get difficult. "Without them, I would not do well."

Across specialties and career stages, these dermatologists remind each other that sustainable practice starts with knowing what fills your cup, and making time for it.