Michele was born and raised in Almonte, Ontario, a small community outside of Ottawa. After completing undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Anatomy and Cell Biology, and Pharmacology and Therapeutics at McGill University, she stayed there to complete her MDCM. She matched to a dermatology residency at the University of Toronto, then transferred to continue her dermatology training at the University of Ottawa. Supported by the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and the University of Ottawa, she went on to do a fellowship in pediatric dermatology at Universite de Montreal, the only ABD-accredited pediatric dermatology program in Canada. She now practices in Calgary, Alberta, with her primary practice at the Alberta Children’s Hospital and general medical dermatology practices at the university clinic, as well as on the Stoney Nation in Mînî Thnî.

Dr. Ramien began her staff dermatologist career at CHEO in Ottawa, surrounded by a supportive, collegial community and many thoughtful mentors. She worked in a combined hospital and community model, conducting clinics at the Elisabeth Bruyere hospital to serve the predominantly francophone population of Gatineau, which provided her the opportunity to keep up her French, as well as at an outreach clinic in Kemptville, located approximately one hour south of Ottawa. After five years, having developed clinical research projects and a desire to contribute more holistically to a training program, she moved to a fully academic hospital-based position in Calgary. Outside of her clinical practices in Calgary, which focus on medically or dermatologically complex patients, she puts her energy into trainee education and research on severe cutaneous reactions, genetic skin diseases, and atopic dermatitis in children.

Dr. Ramien is well-connected through her extensive involvement in research, speaking, teaching, and volunteer work. With over 50 PubMed-indexed publications, including several high-impact publications in pediatric dermatology-particularly on severe cutaneous adverse reactions and atopic dermatitis-she is a recognized expert in her field. She invests time regularly in reviewing for many indexed journals, supporting and facilitating the critical peer review process.

As a dynamic and intentional speaker, Dr. Ramien is frequently invited to present her research and on various dermatology topics at local, regional, and international meetings, where she values the opportunities to collaborate with and learn from colleagues. She also credits her time as chair/organizer of the national resident exam preparation course (DRIVE), as a rewarding way to give back to the community and to connect with new peers.

Additionally, Dr. Ramien has been a long-standing volunteer on the Board of Directors for Camp Liberté Société, a summer camp founded by one of her mentors, Dr. Danielle Marcoux, to support children with skin diseases and provide them with the summer camp experience. Her commitment has extended to organizing committees for various meetings, including the CDA Annual Conference (resident representative), Society for Pediatric Dermatology Meeting (co-chair), Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance Meeting (member for five years and then chair), International Society for Atopic Dermatitis Meeting (co-chair), and Canadian Pediatric Dermatology Primer (member). She has a keen interest in organizational psychology and its application to improve meeting effectiveness.

Recently, Dr. Ramien was honoured with the Alberta Children’s Hospital (ACH) MSA Award of Excellence, making her the first hospital-based dermatologist at ACH and the first dermatologist to receive this award. This recognition highlights the impact of her contributions within the broader medical community.

Dr. Ramien became a full member of the CDA upon her graduation in 2014, having been a resident member since 2008. She previously served as the CDA-RFS resident representative on the CDA Board of Directors from 2010 to 2011 and was the resident representative on the CDA Annual Conference Committee for Ottawa 2013. In 2021, she joined the CDA Board of Directors as Vice President and has since contributed to several committees, including the Annual Conference Committee, Executive Committee, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee, Finance and Audit Committee, Governance and Nominating Committee, Human Resources and Compensation Committee, and the Nominating Sub-Committee.

During her presidency, Dr. Ramien worked on revitalizing and expanding the CDA dermatology community by recognizing and celebrating members’ strengths and exploring new ways to foster inclusivity. Her efforts were aimed at ensuring that all Canadian dermatologists feel welcomed and valued within the organization.

“Plant trees in whose shade you know you shall never sit.” Based on a Greek proverb, the usual form is “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit.” “But I don’t plan to wait until I’m old or leave it to the men,” says Dr. Ramien. In 2021, Dr. Ramien received the CDA’s Early Career Volunteer Award, a recognition of her commitment to paying it forward.

“Diversity, the full rainbow, is our strength. Each of us brings a unique skill set and perspective to dermatology. By aligning our common interests–such as providing the best care for patients, recognizing our expertise and critical role in the healthcare system, and ensuring adequate support for our dermatology practices–we can advocate more effectively together. I like to describe dermatology diagnoses as a rainbow. Our specialty covers a vast range of conditions, akin to the myriad colours of a rainbow that blend seamlessly into one another, creating thousands of unique colours. Without a trained eye (and mind), a given spot might look like a single colour, but it is far more complex. Knowing only the primary colours limits your perception. However, with a comprehensive understanding of the entire spectrum, you gain deeper insights. Our training as dermatologists equips us not only to recognize the full rainbow of subtleties but also how to interpret, curate, and apply them to benefit our patients.”

Professional Affiliations:

• Alberta Medical Association Member
• Alberta Society of Dermatology Member
• Canadian Dermatology Association Member
• American Academy of Dermatology Member
• Society for Pediatric Dermatology Member
• Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance Member
• Women’s Dermatologic Society Member
• Skin of Colour Society Member, Diversity in Action committee Member

CDA Committees & Working Groups:

• Executive Committee
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee
• Nominating Sub-Committee
• Annual Conference Committee
• JCMS Editorial Board

Connect with me

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