How do you become a dermatologist?
Massick: Go to medical school, complete a four-year dermatology residency [including] an internship and three years of dermatology.
Specialist Q&A: What Can a Dermatologist Do For You?
Susan Massick, M.D. explains what it means to diagnose and treat skin disorders.
Susan Massick, M.D., is a dermatologist at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. While she specializes in general dermatology, her main areas of interest include acne, eczema, psoriasis, moles and skin cancers.
Massick has been in practice since 2003 and at her current location since 2007. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee.
"It is a true privilege to care for adult and pediatric patients and address their dermatologic concerns," Massick wrote in her Ohio State bio. "Every day brings new challenges, interesting disease presentations and opportunities to help my patients.
"I'm so thankful to work with incredible faculty and staff at a wonderfully vibrant and innovative medical center," she continued. "I'm blessed to teach medical students and residents, and honored to be training the next generation of aspiring dermatologists."
Massick serves as co-chair of the Women in Medicine and Science (WIMS) Advocacy Committee at the Ohio State College of Medicine. The committee focuses on promoting gender equity and improving women's faculty advancement. Massick also serves on the Ohio State College of Medicine's Admissions Committee and on the Editorial Committee of the national Women's Dermatologic Society.
Massick spoke to Giddy as part of a series on medical specialists.
Editor's note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What do you do as a dermatologist?
As a dermatologist, I take care of any skin condition or issues pertaining to the skin, which happens to be the largest organ of the body.
What attracted you to dermatology?
Dermatology is a truly fascinating field of study with a wide range of medical issues that we treat, from common concerns, such as acne and mole checks, to extremely rare conditions requiring investigative workup, holistic review and, occasionally, a multidisciplinary approach.
Dermatologists can see patients of any age, from infants to adults, and have clinical skills as well as procedural skills.
Why would someone be referred to a dermatologist?
The more common areas include acne, rosacea, moles, skin exams, rashes, eczema and psoriasis, to name a few.
How should someone prepare for their first appointment?
Like any medical appointment, come prepared with questions you may have and bring photos, prior evaluations, workups, etcetera. If you are coming in for a skin exam/mole check, no preparation is needed, but be ready to change into a gown in order for us to do a thorough skin exam.
What can someone expect from their first visit?
This depends on the reason for the visit. Skin checks are typically once a year unless people have significant sun damage, strong history of skin cancer or concerning moles. For ongoing treatment of skin conditions such as acne or eczema, you may need to be seen multiple times a year in order to determine the right combination of treatment options.
In general, how do you make a diagnosis?
Diagnosis of a condition can be based on a multitude of factors, including patient history, clinical exam, diagnostic testing such as bloodwork as well as skin biopsies, or a biopsy of the skin to be examined under the microscope for histopathology.
What is a medical breakthrough you'd like to see that would make a big difference in dermatology?
We have a number of skin conditions where we have medications that control symptoms but don't cure diseases. Dermatologists would love to be able to cure melanoma. [Melanoma is the most deadly of skin cancers and the rates of diagnosis have risen dramatically over the past three decades, making it one of the most common cancers among young adults in the United States.] There are exciting medical breakthroughs, such as new immunotherapies, that have improved survival but not cured melanoma.
There are also chronic conditions, including psoriasis, eczema and hidradenitis suppurativa, that have treatments that decrease inflammation but don't cure the disease.