Inside DermFluencer University: Building the Next Generation of Medical Creators

In this episode of the Science of Skin Podcast, Dr. Patti Farris sits down with Dr. Dustin Portela and Mimi Banks (Principal, Mimi Banks Social) to talk all things DermFluencer University — the influencer education track heading into its third year at the Science of Skin Summit in Austin, TX (September 17–20).

Dustin and Mimi trace the program's origin from a single standing-room-only session to a full two-day experience combining a hands-on masterclass with practical, camera-ready workshops. They dig into why physicians need to show up in the spaces where health misinformation spreads — especially around topics like sunscreen and skin cancer — and share the systems, batching techniques, and content frameworks that make creating sustainable for busy clinicians.

The conversation also covers Med Creator 101, the podcast-turned-course born out of Dustin and Mimi's countless one-on-one conversations with physicians at AAD 2024, now distilled into an eight-module course covering everything from content hooks to HIPAA-conscious posting.

Whether you're a dermatologist, NP, PA, or aesthetician curious about content creation, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how to build an authentic, science-backed presence online — imperfections and all.

Topics covered: DermFluencer University · Med Creator 101 · content batching & systems · combating skincare misinformation · camera presence & branding workshops · Science of Skin Summit 2026