In dermatology, we are fortunate to have many insightful practitioners and great teachers and mentors. Some are bright stars in our special universe – others unsung heroes. All of these colleagues have much to share, from wisdom to humor to insights into dermatology and life. This column allows us to gain insight from these practitioners and learn more about them.
Dr. Scher received his medical education at Howard University College of Medicine, and trained as a resident in dermatology at New York University.
He is a nail specialist and professor of clinical dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. Dr. Scher is a leading expert in nail disorders, including fungal diseases and nail surgery, and is involved in clinical research and has established nail clinics at New York University, Brown University, Columbia University and University of North Carolina.
He is former president of the American Academy of Dermatology (2000), and author or editor of An Atlas of Diseases of the Nail, Nails: Therapy, Diagnosis, Surgery and Atlas of Hair and Nails.
Q. What Part Of Your Work Gives You The Most Pleasure?
A. The part of my work that gives me the most pleasure is advocating for my patients who have serious nail problems in today’s exasperating medical maze where patient/physician communication is becoming more and more difficult, if not impossible.
Q. Are An Understanding And Appreciation Of The Humanities Important In Dermatology And Why?
A. Yes, because humanities make us more sensitive to understanding patients’ problems and feelings. The humanities take us out of ourselves and the “me” syndrome, which facilitates our ability to help others.
Q. What Is Your Greatest Regret?
A. My greatest regret is not having been a department chair so that I could have influenced the direction of our specialty to a greater degree. It would also have enabled me to have a greater share in contributing to the development of our residents, who are the lifeblood of dermatology.
Q. Who Was Your Hero/Mentor And Why?
A. Dr. Alfred Kopf, who got me into the nail arena and was supportive all the way, was my mentor. His interest was a major contributor to my success and progress in this subspecialty of dermatology.
Q. What Is The Greatest Political Danger In The Field Of Dermatology?
A. The greatest political danger in the field of dermatology and all of medicine is that physicians will be so overwhelmed with large numbers of patients that they will not be able to devote the necessary time required for the best possible medical care. In addition, the positives associated with being a physician will diminish to such an extent that medicine will no longer be able to be competitive in attracting the highest quality of young people into the field of healthcare. n
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Visit The Dermatologist website at: www.the-dermatologist.com to read more Perspectives columns.
Dr. Barankin is a dermatologist in Toronto, Canada. He is author-editor of 6 books in dermatology and is widely published in the dermatology and humanities literature.
In dermatology, we are fortunate to have many insightful practitioners and great teachers and mentors. Some are bright stars in our special universe – others unsung heroes. All of these colleagues have much to share, from wisdom to humor to insights into dermatology and life. This column allows us to gain insight from these practitioners and learn more about them.
Dr. Scher received his medical education at Howard University College of Medicine, and trained as a resident in dermatology at New York University.
He is a nail specialist and professor of clinical dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. Dr. Scher is a leading expert in nail disorders, including fungal diseases and nail surgery, and is involved in clinical research and has established nail clinics at New York University, Brown University, Columbia University and University of North Carolina.
He is former president of the American Academy of Dermatology (2000), and author or editor of An Atlas of Diseases of the Nail, Nails: Therapy, Diagnosis, Surgery and Atlas of Hair and Nails.
Q. What Part Of Your Work Gives You The Most Pleasure?
A. The part of my work that gives me the most pleasure is advocating for my patients who have serious nail problems in today’s exasperating medical maze where patient/physician communication is becoming more and more difficult, if not impossible.
Q. Are An Understanding And Appreciation Of The Humanities Important In Dermatology And Why?
A. Yes, because humanities make us more sensitive to understanding patients’ problems and feelings. The humanities take us out of ourselves and the “me” syndrome, which facilitates our ability to help others.
Q. What Is Your Greatest Regret?
A. My greatest regret is not having been a department chair so that I could have influenced the direction of our specialty to a greater degree. It would also have enabled me to have a greater share in contributing to the development of our residents, who are the lifeblood of dermatology.
Q. Who Was Your Hero/Mentor And Why?
A. Dr. Alfred Kopf, who got me into the nail arena and was supportive all the way, was my mentor. His interest was a major contributor to my success and progress in this subspecialty of dermatology.
Q. What Is The Greatest Political Danger In The Field Of Dermatology?
A. The greatest political danger in the field of dermatology and all of medicine is that physicians will be so overwhelmed with large numbers of patients that they will not be able to devote the necessary time required for the best possible medical care. In addition, the positives associated with being a physician will diminish to such an extent that medicine will no longer be able to be competitive in attracting the highest quality of young people into the field of healthcare. n
Online Extra
Visit The Dermatologist website at: www.the-dermatologist.com to read more Perspectives columns.
Dr. Barankin is a dermatologist in Toronto, Canada. He is author-editor of 6 books in dermatology and is widely published in the dermatology and humanities literature.
In dermatology, we are fortunate to have many insightful practitioners and great teachers and mentors. Some are bright stars in our special universe – others unsung heroes. All of these colleagues have much to share, from wisdom to humor to insights into dermatology and life. This column allows us to gain insight from these practitioners and learn more about them.
Dr. Scher received his medical education at Howard University College of Medicine, and trained as a resident in dermatology at New York University.
He is a nail specialist and professor of clinical dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. Dr. Scher is a leading expert in nail disorders, including fungal diseases and nail surgery, and is involved in clinical research and has established nail clinics at New York University, Brown University, Columbia University and University of North Carolina.
He is former president of the American Academy of Dermatology (2000), and author or editor of An Atlas of Diseases of the Nail, Nails: Therapy, Diagnosis, Surgery and Atlas of Hair and Nails.
Q. What Part Of Your Work Gives You The Most Pleasure?
A. The part of my work that gives me the most pleasure is advocating for my patients who have serious nail problems in today’s exasperating medical maze where patient/physician communication is becoming more and more difficult, if not impossible.
Q. Are An Understanding And Appreciation Of The Humanities Important In Dermatology And Why?
A. Yes, because humanities make us more sensitive to understanding patients’ problems and feelings. The humanities take us out of ourselves and the “me” syndrome, which facilitates our ability to help others.
Q. What Is Your Greatest Regret?
A. My greatest regret is not having been a department chair so that I could have influenced the direction of our specialty to a greater degree. It would also have enabled me to have a greater share in contributing to the development of our residents, who are the lifeblood of dermatology.
Q. Who Was Your Hero/Mentor And Why?
A. Dr. Alfred Kopf, who got me into the nail arena and was supportive all the way, was my mentor. His interest was a major contributor to my success and progress in this subspecialty of dermatology.
Q. What Is The Greatest Political Danger In The Field Of Dermatology?
A. The greatest political danger in the field of dermatology and all of medicine is that physicians will be so overwhelmed with large numbers of patients that they will not be able to devote the necessary time required for the best possible medical care. In addition, the positives associated with being a physician will diminish to such an extent that medicine will no longer be able to be competitive in attracting the highest quality of young people into the field of healthcare. n
Online Extra
Visit The Dermatologist website at: www.the-dermatologist.com to read more Perspectives columns.
Dr. Barankin is a dermatologist in Toronto, Canada. He is author-editor of 6 books in dermatology and is widely published in the dermatology and humanities literature.
