PeDRA Launches 2026 Mentorship Program and Welcomes Inaugural Medical Student Research Cohort

January 27, 2026 — In celebration of National Mentoring Month, PeDRA is pleased to announce the launch of its 2026 Mentorship Program, continuing its commitment to supporting pediatric dermatology researchers at all stages of their careers.

The PeDRA Mentorship Program is designed for trainees, early-career, and mid-career clinician-scientists seeking to strengthen their research skills, deepen their knowledge of pediatric dermatology research, and expand their professional networks. Mentor–mentee pairs connect regularly throughout the year—via email, phone, or in person as often as they’d like. Participants are further supported through curated educational resources, Virtual Mentorship Mingles, and ongoing program communications led by PeDRA staff and the Early Investigator Committee.

“I started with PeDRA early in the organization in 2014 when I was a research fellow. It allowed me to get in on the ground floor and not only get involved with a research project, but it also connected me to all of these different mentors at all of these different institutions. Now, I’m able to go to those individuals and ask them research questions, and they’re super helpful and absolutely wonderful in terms of providing me with guidance, which has then allowed me to act as a mentor to other residents and research fellows.”

Dr. Colleen Cotton

Pediatric Dermatologist & Chair, Early Investigator Committee

The program is intentionally focused on building research knowledge and skills in pediatric dermatology. It does not provide residency-matching guidance or guarantee a research project, but instead aims to equip participants with tools and mentorship that support long-term research development.

New for 2026, PeDRA is excited to welcome the inaugural Medical Student Research Cohort. This new cohort was created in response to unprecedented interest in the mentorship program and is designed specifically to support medical students interested in pediatric dermatology research. The cohort model expands access to mentorship, learning, and peer connection for students early in their research journeys.

Special thanks to Chiesi & Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals for their support of the 2026 PeDRA Mentorship Program.

Interested in becoming a mentor? Please email Jenn Dawson, PeDRA’s Director of Education, to learn more about mentorship opportunities.

Renew your PeDRA membership by March 31 (or join us) to be eligible for the PeDRA Mentorship Program and other exclusive offerings.