dermatology – Page 2 – CA Work Experience Program

Day 2: Audrey Echt, MD, PA Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center

Day 2 was an exciting day of many more new experiences! The patient count exceeded yesterday’s as we saw a total of 9 patients! Rather than solely focusing on moles, today, we extracted a plethora of concerns ranging from cysts on the back and the head, to marks and moles on the skin. Once again, I got to see the whole process from numbing, to extraction, to suturing! Seeing the cysts removed and their different consistencies depending on where on the body they were located was very cool! I learned that cysts on the head are specifically referred to as pilar cysts and when removed, they look like pearls or the lens of an eye! Another special activity I got to partake in today was patient check-up, where patients that had previously gotten procedures done came back so that Dr. Echt could observe their healing process. I enjoyed listening to the patients and learning about their lives and listening to their sage advice. While today was my last day with Dr. Echt, I am grateful for the short amount of time we spent together and I feel as though I truly learned a lot! Once again, I did not take any pictures of the patients, however, I have included a picture of a pilar cyst that has yet to be extracted! I look forward to tomorrow!

picture 1: https://healthfixit.com/pilar-cyst/

Halo’s and Threading: Southern Dermatology’s Cosmetic Thursday’s

One of the typical laser rooms at Southern Dermatology!

Today i spent my second day at Southern Dermatology with Dr. Boyse and shadowed her performing cosmetics procedures. I got to see some of the same things I saw my first day, like Botox or lip filler, but then I also got to experience two new procedures, threading and halo laser. Threading actually has nothing to do with your eyebrows in a Dermatologist’s clinic, but is a fantastic way to lift skin in places where it appears saggy. By placing metal threads under the skin (metal thread is wrapped around a needle and then used to insert the thread under the skin), collagen then grows around it, and causes the face lift. The Halo laser was a very innovative and new procedure as it utilized two lasers at two different wave lengths to get rid of brown spots on a patients face as well as smoothing out the skin and giving it a healthy glow. It was a long procedure, but it definitely worth it. Next week Monday and Tuesday will be my last two days shadowing Dr. Boyse and it’ll be sad because i have been able to meet so many people who have been so helpful, kind, and appreciative of my interest in dermatology. They kept it real. Can’t wait for next week though!

1st day at Cary Dermatology w/Dr. Mangelsdorf!

Some of the tools needed to get ready for a biopsy (collection of a skin sample sent off to lab to be analysed)!

Today I shadowed Dr. Mangelsdorf at Cary Dermatology. I was there with Hannah George and we worked through Dermatology modules Dr. Mangelsdorf helped us find from the American Association of Dermatology in between switching rotations of who would stand-in for each appointment. I got to see the differences between Cary Derm. and Southern Derm. such as procedural and some equipment differences. There was a nurse and a medical assistant which I met today, so that was consistent with the number of nurses/medical assistants I saw Tuesday! I also got to see a different type of machine used for cosmetics which is called Secret RF. This machine uses radio-frequency micro-needling to help tighten the skin. It was overall super nice to come to a different place today as well as have a partner to work with! In between the modules teaching us about different skin diseases and going in to see patients, I enjoyed spending the day with Dr. Mangelsdorf, Hannah, and the other staff!

Day 1: Audrey Echt, MD, PA Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center.

Today was my first day at the center and it was tons of fun! I was lucky enough to be involved with the nitty gritty from the start as Dr. Echt graciously invited me to tag along. We saw a total of 6 patients who all got extractions on various parts of their face using the Mohs surgery method, which is a method of removing and analyzing the problem area to keep as much healthy skin as possible. With each patient I observed the full process from numbing and extraction to analyzing the skin cells and suturing. It was truly fascinating to observe the extraction process and to get insight on what sorts of things people get removed. I had a lot of fun observing the process of mounting the different layers of the extraction onto slides and the staining process. Dr. Echt kindly allowed me to observe the skin cells as well and helped point out the anatomy of the cells. Having the privilege of being alongside Dr. Echt also helped me closely examine the process of closing the wounds and gave me a deep appreciation for the art of suturing. Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures, but I have included some to hopefully provide a helpful visual. Overall, today was an action packed day full of wonderful new people and brand new experiences!

photo 1: https://www.bvderm.com/mohs-surgery/

photo 2: http://www.lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au/mb140/CorePages/Integumentary/Integum.htm

1st Day of Work Experience!!

I started my work experience, at my first location of shadow ship, at Southern Dermatology in Raleigh. I was shadowing under Dr. Boyse, who exposed me to a day in the life of a Dermatologist. I got to meet her nurse, a medical assistant, and many other nice ladies at the checkout desk. I spoke with people throughout the clinic and explained to them why I was there. In no time, I was talking to people about what they specialized in at the clinic and how they like college and medical school. At 8:00 sharp, work started. I quickly followed Dr. Boyse to our first patients room. Over the course of the day I had met over 40 patients and learned a lot about what could be done to fix your skin. From Juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) and plaque psoriasis, to Botox and melanoma, I got to see procedures as well as learn about the signs of disease and the right course of action to prevent them from returning. The biggest thing I learned today was the care that goes in when talking to each patient. Dr. Boyse was friendly with everyone, sparking up conversations, making everyone in the room laugh, and creating a great ambiance during the appointments. Today was fast paced, but every minute brought something interesting to learn, and I’m looking forward to Thursday!