Alum Spotlight: Dr. Susan C. Taylor ’75
As we look forward to our October 17th celebration of the Friends Select community on the Falcon's birthday, we are proud to highlight alumni making a difference in their communities and the world.
Dr. Susan C. Taylor ’75 is a visionary leader whose groundbreaking work has transformed dermatology and advanced health equity. Recognizing a critical gap in care and education, Susan founded the Skin of Color Society, the first international organization dedicated to promoting awareness, research, and excellence in dermatology for patients with skin of color. Her leadership has not only improved care for millions of patients globally, but it has also reshaped how dermatologists are trained, ensuring that diversity and representation are integrated into the very foundation of medical education.
A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard Medical School, Susan has spent her career at the forefront of change. She also founded the nation’s first Skin of Color Center at St. Luke’s Hospital in New York, creating a space for research and clinical care focused on diseases affecting individuals of African, Hispanic, Asian, and other diverse ancestries. Today, she is a professor at Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine, where she mentors and inspires the next generation of physicians, encouraging them to see medicine through the lens of equity and inclusion.
Her advocacy extends far beyond the clinic and classroom. As President of the American Academy of Dermatology, Susan has shaped policies and initiatives to address disparities in healthcare. She has also authored two leading dermatology textbooks, including Dermatology for Skin of Color, which won the prestigious PROSE Award, and has become an essential resource for practitioners worldwide.
Susan has remained connected to Friends Select, reflecting the school’s values of intellectual curiosity, equity, and leadership. In 2018, she was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award for her visionary contributions to medicine and society. Her husband, Kemel Dawkins ’68, serves on the Friends Select board of trustees, continuing their shared commitment to education and community.
Susan’s journey embodies what it means to lead with purpose and courage. She has built pathways for underrepresented voices in medicine, expanded access to quality care for diverse communities, and inspired future physicians to see equity as integral to excellence.
We hope you will join Susan (Brown team) on October 17 for the Falcon’s birthday celebration! Throughout the day, we’ll be hosting a friendly giving competition online for the entire Friends Select community under the colors of Brown (odd graduation years) and Gold (even graduation years). We will also be hosting a Falcon Fest of games and activities for current students, faculty, and staff on the rooftop athletic field of our Parkway Building. We can’t wait for this joyous annual celebration of our community.
