Rutha Adhanom

Rutha is a second-year medical student at Charles R. Drew College of Medicine in Los Angeles, California. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, specializing in Neurobiology and Physiology.

Rutha is an aspiring dermatologist who is passionate about autoimmune dermatology, skin of color, and immune dysfunction and its effects on the skin. Specifically, she is interested in dermatological diseases that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. Rutha is dedicated to addressing health disparities through advocacy, biomedical research, and community service. Her goal is to improve outcomes in skin of color and address the disparities that hinder access to care, such as socioeconomic status and low health literacy. Her current research interests include pediatric dermatology, cutaneous lupus, non-scarring/scarring alopecia, and skin of color.