The Journey of Your Skin: Health and Radiance at Every Age

Dr. Alina G. Bridges is Associate Professor in the Departments of Dermatology and Laboratory Medicine & Pathology at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, where she also serves as Directors of Dermatopathology and Cutaneous Immunopathology, and Cutaneous Pathology for the Northwell Cancer Institute. Dr. Bridges is a nationally and internationally recognized dermatologist and dermatopathologist who is triple board certified by the American Board of Dermatology (Dermatology; Dermatologic Immunology/Diagnostic and Laboratory Immunology) and the American Board of Pathology (Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology/Dermatopathology). A triple board-certified with over 26 years of experience. She trained at the University of Cincinnati and the Mayo Clinic, where she later practiced,served as Program Director and Associate Professor for 2 decades. Dr. Bridges has held numerous national leadership roles and is currently Chair of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Dermatopathology Committee, Deputy Chair of the Mohs Committee, and a recently elected member of the AAD Board of Directors. She serves on the AMA-Relative Value Scale Update, multiple AAD and American Society of Dermatopathology (ASDP) committees, is a board member of the Noah Worcester Dermatological Society, Vice Chair of the ASDP Strategic Planning Committee, and is Associate Editor of Cutis and editorial board member for JAAD. A widely published researcher and dedicated educator, she has trained over 500 medical professionals and regularly presents at national and international meetings. She advocates for excellence in dermatology, dermatopathology, immunodermatology, education, research, and health policy.

Dr. Shaigany is an Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. She serves as Co-Director of the Inpatient Dermatology Consultative Service and as an Attending Physician for the Cutaneous Toxicities to Chemotherapies Program in partnership with Monter Cancer Center.

Originally trained as a professional actor, Dr. Shaigany earned her undergraduate degree in Theater from Northwestern University before pursuing medicine. She received her medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and completed her dermatology residency at NYU. She also completed a research fellowship at Columbia focused on melanocyte biology and BRAF-mutated melanoma.

Her research has been supported by grants from the Rudin Foundation and the American Skin Association, and she is a recipient of the Women’s Dermatologic Society Mentorship Award. Dr. Shaigany has authored multiple peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, including JAAD and The Lancet.

Dr. Shaigany’s subspecialty interests include neutrophilic dermatoses, cutaneous toxicities to chemotherapy, vasculitis, dermatomyositis, connective tissue disease, infections, drug reactions, and inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. She also sees patients for general medical and cosmetic dermatology concerns.

Dr. Pooja R. Shah is an Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra and the Director of Women’s Skin Health & Wellness at Northwell Health. She is board certified by the American Board of Dermatology.

Dr. Shah graduated as class salutatorian from Macaulay Honors College at CUNY Hunter with a BA in Psychology (concentration in Behavioral Neuroscience) and double minor in Biology and Religious Studies. She earned her medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine, with distinction in Community Service and Global Health.

She completed her internship in Internal Medicine at North Shore University Hospital & Long Island Jewish Medical Center, receiving the ‘Intern of the Year’ award, and her dermatology residency at the University of Rochester Medical Center, where patients recognized her as a ‘Strong Star.’

Dr. Shah’s clinical and research interests include medical, procedural, and surgical dermatology, women’s skin health, integrative dermatology, and skin of color. She is an active member of national organizations such as the American Academy of Dermatology, Long Island Dermatological Society, Vulvar Dermatoses Research Symposium, and International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease.

She has published numerous peer-reviewed articles, served as an ad-hoc reviewer for leading dermatology journals, and presented at local and national conferences.

Dr. Shah is dedicated to improving dermatologic care access, patient education, community service, medical training, physician wellness, and mentorship.