When Nelson Mandela was asked what he was doing during his 27 years of imprisonment in a South Africa jail, the Black Anti-Apartheid reformist leader replied, “I was preparing”. After 27 years in prison and following his years of preparation, Apartheid ended and Mandela became South Africa’s president.
Challenges born of COVID-19 and the Coronavirus pandemic have now found us and are wreaking havoc on society and our Las Vegas community. Like Mandela, we are all preparing for a better future—a future when the pandemic ends. At Las Vegas Dermatology, we plan to hire more staff to support our growing clinical trials/medical research division (we currently have four ongoing research studies) and to aid us in treating more patients, as we are now limited to essential services. So many of our family and friends are struggling today in our quarantined reality as our humanity and dignity are affected by a silent killer robbing us of human interactions and destroying income, savings, entertainment, jobs, and businesses.
As an Internal Medicine Resident at Georgetown University Hospital, I spent a month working with Dr. Anthony Fauci as my attending physician while rotating through the National Institute of Health (NIH). At NIH, I learned about both common and obscure diseases including Severe Combined Immuno Deficiency (SCID), Job’s syndrome and HIV. The dedication and brilliance of NIH leadership inspired me to be a better physician.
My month at the NIH was one of the highlights of my time as a Georgetown Internal Medicine Resident Physician. The last time I saw Dr. Fauci at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. in 2016, Coronavirus was not even on the radar. At present, Dr. Fauci directs the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, a major center at NIH, and he also heads the country’s COVID-19 pandemic response team. My past experience working with the man who advises the country now tells me that we are in the most capable of hands today.
Dermatology is the study of the skin and its contents. Manifestations of dermatologic disease are diverse and require expert specialty care for diagnosis and management even during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, our practice remains open and ready to serve in this time of social distancing and pain.
The Las Vegas Dermatology team has developed a process and procedure to examine and treat patients whether by our new Telemedicine services initiated by Dr. David Cotter or essential in-office visits as noted on our website. Based upon CDC guidelines, Las Vegas Dermatology developed a set of written rules for cleaning our office and dealing with patients during this quarantine time.
Based upon my conversations as a Trustee of the Board of the Clark County Medical Society (CCMS) with the rest of the CCMS Board after Governor Sisolak’s press conference, medical practices, including Dermatology, are considered essential. Dr. Cotter and I have already treated patients whose disease would be difficult to diagnose or treat by anyone except a Board-Certified Dermatologist—including new onset fulminant Dermatomyositis, total body erythroderma, Hidradenitis, eruptive Psoriasis, inflamed abscesses, and more.
The Las Vegas Dermatology team takes pride in its mission “For a Healthier & More Beautiful Life.” The pain of this pandemic is real and it is awful. Do your best to stay positive, and to prepare for a brighter future ahead!
Contact Information:
- Website: www.lvderm.com
- Phone: (702) 456-3120
- Fax: (702) 823-1069
- Address: 653 N Town Center Drive, Suite 414, Las Vegas, NV 89144
