Since I was 3 years old, I have been a skier, in fact, I feel equally at home on skis going down the mountain as I do practicing my specialty of dermatology. I find that being present in both skiing and dermatology is essential, if I don’t pay attention in either discipline, the consequences will be disastrous. At the end of 2018, I packed my skis and took them to the Hakuba Valley in Nagano, Japan. Although the lifts haven’t been updated since the 1998 Olympics, the sites, culture and experience in the land of the rising sun were epic. Japan, its place in history, the people, their heritage, manners, attention to detail, and the food continually fascinate and overwhelm. The Japanese take pride in all that they do, from the way they bow to greet you, to how they respectfully, as a society, do not talk on cell phones in closed public spaces. Being in Japan is like spending time in a different world, where hot drinks come out of vending machines on bullet train platforms and janitorial staff bow with appreciation of their efforts on behalf of customers and themselves after cleaning a magnificent train that transports you around the country with precision and grace, accentuating society’s possibilities. If you get the chance, take it and visit the historic Ginza district of Kyoto where the memoirs of a Geisha book is set, or witness history in the now thriving cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
As 2019 begins, I am most looking forward to the addition of an amazing person to our staff. Dr. David Cotter, a Las Vegas native with an M.D. and PhD will be completing his Dermatology Residency at the University of California, San Diego in June and joining team LV Derm in August. When David was an Intern at UNLV’s medicine residency program, he spent a month rotating in the Las Vegas Dermatology office- it was easily one of the best months of my entire medical career. During Dr. Cotter’s dermatology rotation, I was energized to spend time with another physician who shared my passion for the field, and I relished the opportunity to show David our practice and assist him in seeing the, “real world” life of a dermatologist. One thing Cotter said to me during a particularly difficult day with staff, patients, insurance companies, pharmacy and our electronic record was, “I know that you’re having a rough day, but just know that your worst day as an attending physician is better than my best day as a resident.” I feel blessed to have such an insightful bright, dynamic and caring young man come and join our team. We will have a number of events during the year for you to get the opportunity to meet UNLV’s 2015 Medicine Intern of the Year and our newest physician.
Being present means paying attention to what is happening now and appreciating the experience. Whenever I walk into an exam room, my goal is to treat each patient like the most important person in the world. If I’m not present with my patients while they are seeking answers and care, they will go elsewhere. I am being present in that exam room, listening to the problems at hand and devising potential solutions- I love being a Board Certified Dermatologist. In 2018, I spoke at 5 national or international meetings, presented lectures in our clinic and to multiple different groups on a variety of topics, including innovative trends in hair growth and anti-aging- like using ones own blood with Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) to regrow hair and help treat wrinkles. Las Vegas Dermatology invested in the HydraFacial machine/procedure in 2018, a dermal infusion and skin brightening procedure that is used to cleanse, remove brown spots and treat acne- its results will help provide patients with a healthier & more beautiful life. Planning for the future, while enjoying what is happening in the moment and being present is my goal for 2019. Keep up to date with us on our social media platforms, have your skin examined at least once a year, and visit our fabulous aesthetic team, so we can help you look your best in 2019 and beyond.
