Progress Notes by
Olivia Perez, MD

Before matching into dermatology, Olivia began her career in family medicine, but realized by the end of intern year she was in the wrong field and wanted to pursue specialty training. Despite being advised that switching was highly risky, she left residency, applied to dermatology, and successfully matched. One of the key reasons? Mentorship. Olivia leaned on a network of peers who had made similar pivots, and in doing so, saw how isolating the process can be for others. To make career change in medicine feel less daunting, she began sharing her journey on social media, both to demystify the logistics and to offer advice. She’s now a postdoctoral researcher studying the genetics of hair follicle diseases, with a special interest in hair and skin health. A liberal arts grad, Olivia writes about the intersection of medicine and the humanities on her Substack. Before med school, she worked in business in New York and shares practical insights and soft skills drawn from that world. Outside of medicine, she enjoys racing sailboats, hiking at high altitudes, and spending time with her friends in NYC and London.