Jayne Bird

July marks National UV Safety Awareness Month, which highlights the need to educate the public about skin cancer detection and prevention. One of our most recent Fellowship inductees is Board-Certified Dermatologist Jayne Bird, MD, FAAD, FCPP, who is passionate about providing her patients with evidence-based guidance to protect themselves from the sun.  

We spoke with Dr. Bird about what drew her to dermatology, the field's evolution, and her interest in the Mütter Museum’s documentation of medical history.  

 

You were inducted as a Fellow of the College during the Spring 2026 cycle this past May. What first drew you to the College, and what does becoming a Fellow mean to you?

“What’s past is prologue.” Since I was an intern at Pennsylvania Hospital, I have been fascinated by medical history. From seeing the cornerstone laid by Benjamin Franklin at Pennsylvania Hospital to exploring the exhibits at the Mütter Museum, I am intrigued by medicine’s intersection of past, present, and future and my own contribution in pushing forward the health of humanity.    

It’s incredible to walk through the Mütter Museum and see the preserved “facts.” While considered "grotesque" by some, their honesty provides reassurance that the human body is bizarre. We, as physicians, know this firsthand. Our interest in the “not normal” is what keeps us practicing. The more we study human biology, the more we help people understand themselves. 

 

You specialize in medical, cosmetic, and surgical dermatology. What inspired you to pursue dermatology as your career path?

Dermatology lands at the intersection of pathology and psychology. What are now considered common dermatoses and neoplasms (e.g., keratinocyte skin cancers, melanoma, psoriasis, eczema…), were once “zebras.” We have the capability, with simple procedures (e.g., biopsy, excision), to diagnose and cure skin cancer. Though now, the scar created is aesthetically unpleasing. Ironic, or just human nature, that “scar” has become the new zebra.

Dermatoses aside, the realm of aesthetics is an important and ever-growing aspect of medicine. While classically linked to dermatology, people seek beauty inside and out. Personal beauty and the search for it should not be considered vain. My goal, as a dermatologist, is to manage expectations, perseverations, and fascinations of the skin. Just as medicine has evolved, our classification of expectations, perseverations, and fascinations should also evolve. Historically, a large cutaneous horn, which was once quite fascinating, would now be an expected skin cancer that should be surgically excised. More recently, resting rhytids in the glabella (i.e., the “11s”), once (and still?) considered an expectation of aging, have become a perseveration for many. Aging skin, like scars, is expected, but can we, as physicians, make it better?

 

July is National UV Safety Awareness Month. What are some of the most important sun safety tips you would share with individuals and families who spend a lot of time outdoors?

My role is to provide evidence-based guidance in a tailored manner. For instance, we know that sunlight is the leading cause of skin cancer, and it ages the skin. We also know that melanin, our body’s pigment, is a “natural” sunscreen. As such, if you have a lighter skin tone and are more likely to get sunburned, I recommend broad-spectrum sunscreen SPF 50 or higher (re-application every 1-2 hours while outside) as well as sun-protective clothing (constant SPF, as I like to say) - e.g., broad-rim hats, rash guards.

If you have a darker skin tone (i.e., more melanin) and are less prone to sunburn, broad-spectrum sunscreen SPF 30 or higher with re-application every 1-2 hours is recommended. Regardless of skin tone, hanging out in the shade, particularly between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., will help mitigate the harmful effects of UV light. Whether the expectation is to avoid skin cancer or look your best as you grow older, avoiding sunburns is paramount. 

 

You completed your dermatology residency at Brown University and served as Chief Resident. How did that experience help shape your approach to patient care and leadership?

As a dermatologist, I view myself as a conduit for overall well-being through skin health. As a resident at Brown University, I learned the importance of dermatologic diagnosis and treatment.

 

You are a co-owner of Embrace Dermatology & Aesthetics. What inspired you and your colleague to open your own practice, and what makes your practice unique?

Working as an attending physician and co-owner of Embrace Dermatology & Aesthetics has taught me the invaluable importance of thinking wholly about the patient.

 

What is one of the most common misconceptions people have about skincare or skin cancer prevention? What do you find most rewarding about being a dermatologist?

The obvious is stated above. The less obvious, but perhaps just as important, is sunlight’s effect on our own aging. Physically, chronic UV light exposure breaks down the elasticity of the skin, leading to inevitable laxity and dyspigmentation. Mentally, this expectation would have been gladly received any time before the 20th century, as the notion that one might live long enough to see these changes “beats the alternative.” In 2026, we find ourselves in a time when we expect to live decades “over the hill.”

With this expectation comes perseveration about aging and how to continue to put “our best face forward.” As with all areas of medicine, the treatment revolves around the individual. Sometimes reassurance and counseling are enough. For others, medications and/or procedures help improve one’s perspective. While aging itself is not a medical malady, its components touch all areas of medicine, and as a doctor and new member of The College of Physicians, I take pride in helping others age well.